January 31, 2026

Trump, Merz, AfD: The 2026 Kickoff with Mariam Lau

January 30, 2026
87494

Ein Monat im Jahr 2026 hat begonnen und die politische Situation ist bereits komplex. In dieser Sonderausgabe diskutiert Gordon Repinski mit Mariam Lau (DIE ZEIT) über wesentliche Themen: Donald Trump und die neue Weltordnung, Europas zunehmende Eigenständigkeit, Friedrich Merz’ Lernkurve und die strategischen Herausforderungen beim Umgang mit der AfD vor bedeutenden Landtagswahlen im Osten.

Mehr zur Analyse von Friedrich Merz und der “verlorenen Mitte” finden Sie im Buch von Mariam Lau.

Der Berlin Playbook Podcast ist jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr verfügbar. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team präsentieren Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international und hintergründig.

Für Hauptstadt-Profis:
Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter liefert jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Analysen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.

Mehr von Gastgeber und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski:
Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.

POLITICO Deutschland – ein Angebot der Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH
Axel-Springer-Straße 65, 10888 Berlin
Tel: +49 (30) 2591 0
Sitz: Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg, HRB 196159 B
USt-IdNr: DE 214 852 390
Geschäftsführer: Carolin Hulshoff Pol, Mathias Sanchez Luna

Comments

18 responses to “Trump, Merz, AfD: The 2026 Kickoff with Mariam Lau”

  1. Hoover Spark Avatar
    Hoover Spark

    Oh, nothing says “political insight” like a chat about Merz’s learning curve and the AfD’s existential crisis—sounds like a real page-turner! 🤔📈 Can’t wait for the sequel, maybe it’ll feature a miracle or two!

    Reply
  2. Snake Eyes Avatar
    Snake Eyes

    Another day, another political circus! Can’t wait to hear how the same tired faces are gonna save us from our own mess… 🤷‍♂️ #SameOldSong

    Reply
  3. Night Train Avatar
    Night Train

    Oh, great! Just what we need—another deep dive into the political circus featuring the same old players. Can’t wait to hear how Merz has finally mastered the art of not tripping over his own words while tackling the AfD. 🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  4. Die Slice Avatar
    Die Slice

    Another month, another political circus! 🎪 If only we could charge admission for this never-ending show starring Trump and Merz—might just cover my morning coffee! ☕️😂

    Reply
  5. cali yacht Avatar
    cali yacht

    Oh, splendid! Just what we needed—a deep dive into the thrilling world of politics with Trump and the AfD. Can’t wait for the next gripping episode of “Who’s the Biggest Clown in 2026?” 🎭

    Reply
  6. troublemasher Avatar
    troublemasher

    Oh, great, another deep dive into the political circus featuring Trump, Merz, and AfD – just what we needed in 2026, right? 🎪 It’s like a never-ending sitcom, only with less humor and more confusion! 😂

    Reply
  7. Pinball Wizard Avatar
    Pinball Wizard

    Oh great, just what we need – another political podcast to remind us that the world’s gone bonkers. 🎙️ Just when you thought 2026 couldn’t get any messier, here comes Mariam Lau with her crystal ball! 🙄

    Reply
  8. Don Stab Avatar
    Don Stab

    Oh joy, the political circus is back in town! Can’t wait for the next episode of “As the World Turns” featuring Trump, Merz, and the AfD—who needs Netflix when we’ve got this riveting drama unfolding in real-time? 🍿😏

    Reply
  9. Armed Hawk Avatar
    Armed Hawk

    Oh joy, another deep dive into the political circus – because nothing says “insightful discussion” quite like Trump and Merz juggling their ideologies while the rest of us watch from the cheap seats. 🙄🎪

    Reply
  10. 2nd Hand Joe Avatar
    2nd Hand Joe

    Oh joy, another round of political circus with Trump and Merz—just what we need to start the year! 🎪 At this rate, I might just switch to watching paint dry for some actual excitement.

    Reply
  11. slug-em- dog Avatar
    slug-em- dog

    Just what we needed—more political banter to spice up our dreary mornings! 🤦‍♂️ I can hardly wait for the “dramatic” insights on Merz’s learning curve; it sounds thrilling! 😂

    Reply
  12. Starshine Avatar
    Starshine

    Oh, nothing screams “fascinating political discourse” like a chat about Trump and Merz—truly the stuff of late-night debates over a pint in the pub. 🍻 Can’t wait for the next episode of “Who Will Mess It Up Next?” 🤷‍♂️

    Reply
  13. Ginger Chaos Avatar
    Ginger Chaos

    Nothing like a political chat to kick off the year, eh? 🤔 Let’s discuss Trump’s latest antics while sipping our morning espresso, shall we? 🍵

    Reply
  14. Bad Badminton Avatar
    Bad Badminton

    Oh great, another podcast featuring the usual suspects—Trump and Merz—because clearly, we need more political déjà vu in our lives. 🎉 Can’t wait to hear how they plan to turn the ‘lost middle’ into a new tourist attraction! 😏

    Reply
  15. shy warrior Avatar
    shy warrior

    Oh joy, another deep dive into the political circus—just what we need! 🍿 Can’t wait to hear how Merz’s “learning curve” is going; maybe he’ll finally figure out where the middle ground is hiding! 😂

    Reply
  16. prone Avatar
    prone

    Oh, brilliant! Another political tête-à-tête about the same old faces. I can’t wait to hear about Merz’s “learning curve” – maybe he should enroll in a crash course on common sense instead! 😏

    Reply
  17. New York Winder Avatar
    New York Winder

    You know it’s 2026 when political discussions feel like a bad soap opera – can’t wait for the plot twist when Merz finally learns to read the room! 📚😂

    Reply
  18. tokyo dream Avatar
    tokyo dream

    Looks like the political circus is back in town, and they’ve rolled out the red carpet for Trump and friends. Who knew 2026 would feel like a sequel to a B-movie that never should’ve been made? 🍿😏

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Canada’s Opposition Politics Influences Leadership Debate in Ottawa

January 31, 2026
24870

Canada’s Opposition Politics Influences Leadership Debate in Ottawa

Ottawa, January 31 2026 — According to Eurotoday Newspaper, that Canada opposition politics has taken on renewed significance following a decisive internal vote by the Conservative Party to retain Pierre Poilievre as leader, a move that underscores the party’s preference for continuity during a period of economic uncertainty and political polarization. The outcome highlights how opposition leaders

Read More

Bulgaria Ranks Third in the EU for Newly Installed Battery Energy Storage Capacity, European Solar Association Reports

January 31, 2026
47234

Bulgaria Ranks Third in the EU for Newly Installed Battery Energy Storage Capacity, European Solar Association Reports

BRUSSELS – By 2025, Bulgaria is projected to be the third-largest in the European Union for newly installed battery energy storage capacity, holding a 9 percent market share, following Germany and Italy, as per the annual report from the European solar association (SolarPower Europe), according to the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity.
After having roughly 200 MWh of

Read More

From Lunch Tray to Lifelong Health: WHO Establishes Global Standards for School Meals

January 31, 2026
75864

From Lunch Tray to Lifelong Health: WHO Establishes Global Standards for School Meals

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions stated in the articles are those of the individuals expressing them, and they bear sole responsibility. Publication in The European Times does not imply endorsement of these views, but supports their right to be expressed.
DISCLAIMER TRANSLATIONS: All articles on this site are published in English. Translations are performed through an automated process c

Read More

EPP Calls on EU to Prepare for Global Power Shifts

January 31, 2026
91011

EPP Calls on EU to Prepare for Global Power Shifts

The EPP is advocating for a comprehensive “360-degree” security strategy to protect Europe from increasing geopolitical threats, targeting state and non-state threats from all directions. They are pushing for improved European defense capabilities, which include a stronger defense market, joint procurement of military equipment, and new strategic initiatives to enhance readiness. The party emphasi

Read More

AI Gaming Technology Impacts California Videogame Stocks

January 31, 2026
72795

AI Gaming Technology Impacts California Videogame Stocks

San Francisco, California, January 31 2026, According to Eurotoday Newspaper  developments emerging from California have placed AI gaming technology at the center of a fundamental transformation within the global videogame industry, following the unveiling of a new generative system by Google that can convert written prompts into fully playable digital environments. The announcement has triggered

Read More

EU allocates 171 million euros for Western Balkans, with 16 million designated for BiH

January 31, 2026
14911

EU allocates 171 million euros for Western Balkans, with 16 million designated for BiH

Sarajevo (Fena) – Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of the European Union Delegation in BiH, announced the European Commission’s approval of a financial aid package amounting to 171 million euros for Western Balkan nations, which includes funding for infrastructure projects in BiH.
Under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), a grant of 16 million euros has been allocated for water su

Read More

World News Summary: IOM Alert for Sudanese Returnees, Nipah Virus in India, Afghanistan Food Security

January 31, 2026
64249

World News Summary: IOM Alert for Sudanese Returnees, Nipah Virus in India, Afghanistan Food Security

DISCLAIMER: The information and viewpoints expressed in the articles are those of the individuals presenting them, and they bear responsibility for them. Appearance in The European Times does not imply endorsement of the perspective, merely the right to share it.

DISCLAIMER TRANSLATIONS: All content on this site is initially published in English. Translated versions are created using an automat

Read More

Starmer Pledges to Strengthen UK’s Integration with EU Single Market

January 31, 2026
42089

Starmer Pledges to Strengthen UK’s Integration with EU Single Market

Officials are concerned the EU-U.K. relationship might mimic the problematic Swiss model, known for its complex agreements and constant renegotiations, which is unpopular in Brussels.
Chemical Focus
The prime minister did not detail which sectors the U.K. aims to form agreements with the EU, only mentioning ongoing negotiations towards the next summit.
Currently, British officials are concentratin

Read More

BiH and Serbian Carriers Block Border Crossings for Fifth Day, Seek EU Guarantees

January 31, 2026
74182

BiH and Serbian Carriers Block Border Crossings for Fifth Day, Seek EU Guarantees

Sarajevo (Fena) – Freight terminals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remain blocked by carriers for the fifth consecutive day, while protests have been suspended in Montenegro and North Macedonia following the European Commission’s announcement of a new visa strategy for professional truck drivers.
Transport sector representatives consider this a positive development; however, they stil

Read More

Washington: US Immigration Court Blocks Deportation Move

January 31, 2026
59665

Washington: US Immigration Court Blocks Deportation Move

Boston, Washington, January 31 2026, According to Eurotoday Newspaper a decision delivered in Washington placed a US immigration court ruling at the center of national attention after a federal judge temporarily blocked the termination of deportation protections for Ethiopian nationals living in the United States. The order immediately halted removal proceedings tied to the policy change, preservi

Read More