Showdown in the United Kingdom. PM Johnson versus parliament; deal versus no deal. The Brexit endgame has begun. Our guests: Friedrich Thelen (political adviser), Jon Worth (blogger), Alex Forrest Whiting (DW)

Elections in Eastern Germany: Far right on the march?

Aug 29th, 2019 25m 58s

Eastern Germans are going to the polls, and the country is asking itself: will the far-right populist AfD win? Will that make the states of Saxony and Brandenburg ungovernable? Guests: Valerie Höhne (Spiegel Online), Michaela Küfner (DW), Alan

China’s Power Play: Hong Kong Betrayed?

Aug 22nd, 2019 25m 57s

Hundreds of thousands have protested in Hong Kong since June. Will Beijing do more than exert pressure and make threats to the demonstrators? What will the West do?Guests: Bernhard Bartsch (Bertelsmann Stiftung), Cherie Chan (DW), Hao Gui (DW

Kashmir crisis – New Era or Power Grab?

Aug 15th, 2019 25m 57s

India's government has abolished Kashmir's special autonomous status, prompting a furious response from the region's Muslim majority. Tensions are running high and there has been talk of war.Guests: Isha Bathia (DW), Christian Wagner (German

Iran Crisis: Europe on the Sidelines?

Aug 9th, 2019 25m 58s

The tense standoff between Iran and the US in the Persian Gulf continues. Will Europe be the big loser in the power struggle in the Strait of Hormuz? Our guests: Ali Fatholla-Nejad (Brookings Institution), Alan Posener (Die Welt), Ulrike Herrma

EU top jobs: Haggling instead of inspiration?

Jul 11th, 2019 26m

The EU's citizens voted. But it was the heads of member states that nominated the leadership positions. Are they the best choice for the challenges facing Europe? Guests: Tom Nuttall (Economist), Milan Nic (DGAP), Emmanuelle Chaze (DW)

Trapped Refugees: Rescue Forbidden?

Jul 4th, 2019 25m 58s

Is she a hero or a criminal? The German Sea-Watch 3 skipper Carola Rackete saved dozens of migrants from the Mediterranean. Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini wants her in jail. Our guests: Ana Maria Alvarez (Migration Hub), Sul

Turkey: Is Erdogan Losing His Grip?

Jun 27th, 2019 25m 57s

Turkish president Erdogan and his AK party are the big losers of Istanbul’s mayoral election. Will the opposition candidate’s victory be a turning point for the whole of Turkey? Our guests: Cagri Özdemir (DW), Laura Lale Kabis (DGAP), Alan Pose

Hong Kong versus Beijing: Power-grab Postponed?

Jun 20th, 2019 25m 58s

A million people joined demonstrations in Hong Kong against the growing influence of Beijing. They are concerned the territory's special status and limited freedoms will be eroded. Who will win this power-struggle? Our guests: Ray Wong (Activis

The Greens: Germany's New Number One?

Jun 13th, 2019 25m 57s

Polls say Germany’s Greens have ousted Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian democrats as the country’s most popular party. Could Germany’s next chancellor even be a Green? Our guests: Wolfgang Merkel (Political scientist), Ursula Weidenfeld (

Coalition Crisis: Merkel Teetering?

Jun 6th, 2019 25m 58s

Angela Merkel's government is in crisis, set off by the governing parties' poor showing at the European elections and the resignation of SPD Leader Andrea Nahles. How long can the grand coalition in Germany stay together? Guests: Vanessa Vu (ZE

Europe Votes: Wake-up Call for Brussels?

May 27th, 2019 25m 57s

The EU has voted. Established parties suffered massive losses across most of Europe, while populist parties have made huge gains. What does this mean for Europe? Our guests: Jean-Michel Hauteville (Handelsblatt Today), Derek Scally (Irish Times

Video Scandal: Election Blow for Europe’s Far-Right?

May 23rd, 2019 25m 58s

Ahead of European elections a video scandal in Austria brings down the coalition government of conservatives and the far-right. What impact will it have on the showing of right-wing populists? Our guests: Karen Taylor (political consultant), Ma

Iran Crisis: Deal or War?

May 16th, 2019 25m 54s

Sabre-rattling and sanctions are the methods of choice for the US in its stand-off with Iran. But can this strategy force a climb-down in Tehran? Guests: Torrey Taussig (Robert Bosch fellow), Shayan Arkian (IranAnders), Rick Noack (Washington P

Mideast Conflict: No Song of Peace?

May 9th, 2019 25m 58s

Violence between Israel and the Palestinians keeps flaring up. Negotiations for a permanent peace have so far failed to yield a result. Can there ever be an end to the Mideast conflict? Guests: Shani Rozanes (DW), Alan Posener (Die Welt), Hassa

IS terror: How dangerous are the returnees?

Apr 11th, 2019 25m 57s

IS has been defeated on the battlefield. But the struggle is far from over. Some of the fighters and their families are German citizens and want to come back. Is a new jihad imminent? Guests: Amir Mussawy (Freelance Journalist), Alan Posener (D

NATO at 70: Who Is the Enemy?

Apr 5th, 2019 25m 58s

NATO is marking its 70th anniversary. But even supporters of the military alliance admit it’s facing huge challenges in the era of Trump and Putin. And what about Germany? Is it a fully-committed NATO member or a “free-rider”? Our guests: Claud

Mar 28th, 2019 25m 53s

Are politicians censoring the internet? That’s what many members of the net community fear, after the EU parliament voted in favour of a reform of the copyright law. But how serious are those concerns? Our guests: John Weitzmann (Wikimedia), Gr

After Christchurch: Who’s to Blame for the Hate?

Mar 21st, 2019 25m 58s

A white supremacist attacks two mosques in Christchurch, killing at least 50. New Zealand is in shock. Where does the hate come from? And what role do social media play? Our guests: Malte Lehming (Tagesspiegel), Matthew Karnitschnig (Politico),

Macron or the Populists: Who Can Convince Europe?

Mar 14th, 2019 26m

French president Emmanuel Macron has called on people to resist populism and defend the EU. German chancellor Angela Merkel has stayed silent, letting the CDU leader do the talking. What are we to make of this? Our guests: Milan Nic (DGAP), Ulr

Women in power: The better politicians?

Mar 7th, 2019 25m 58s

To mark International Women's Day, we take a close look at women in power and ask: are they the better politicians? Guests: Susanne Koelbl (Spiegel), Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson (NPR) Karen Taylor (Political activist)

No Deal in Hanoi: What Next for Kim & Trump?

Feb 28th, 2019 25m 53s

The Hanoi summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un has broken down. The two leaders failed to strike a deal over trading concessions on economic sanctions for concrete denuclearization measures. So, what next? Our guests: Jin-Heon Jung (Free

Trump's national emergency: Defying democracy?

Feb 21st, 2019 25m 58s

US President Trump declared a national emergency over his border wall with Mexico. And he now sees German cars as a security threat. Is this lawful or is he flouting democratic rules? Guests: Torrey Taussig (Brookings Institution), Ana Maria Al

Abuse of Power: A Church in Denial?

Feb 14th, 2019 25m 54s

Following revelations of the sexual abuse of children and youths in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has now publicly acknowledged the sexual abuse of nuns. Can the church reform itself? Our guests: Philipp Gessler (Zeitzeichen), Amrita Cheema

Nuclear arms race: Is Europe Caught in the Middle?

Feb 7th, 2019 25m 58s

The US and Russia are withdrawing from the Nuclear Forces Treaty, which eliminates intermediate and short-range nuclear missiles in Europe. What goals are Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin pursuing? Guests: Sabine Siebold (rtv), Alan Posener (Die