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One key reason for the AfD's rise: the willingness of politicians from Merz's CDU to aid the AfD and talk about the end of the "firewall" against working with the far-right. One CDU ally of Merz said the "firewall" is a thing of the past, and a CDU mayor in Sachsen-Anhalt donated €10k to the AfD.

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This problem extends far beyond Sachsen-Anhalt: here is some of the latest nationwide polling in Germany. This means if an election were held tomorrow, the AfD would be first in line to form a government.

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An outright majority means the AfD are expected to enact a raft of policies that includes expelling immigrants, restrictions on the LGBT flag, and heightened punishment for anyone accused of defaming German history or culture.

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Tomorrow is a watershed moment for Germany: a far-right party is expected to win power in a state for the first time since WW2. The AfD is expected to win an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on those fighting back: observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Eastern Germany’s ‘Grannies’ prepare to do battle with fa...

An extreme rightwing party may win control of a German state for the first time in the postwar era, but a group of older women are determined to stand in its way

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

Matt Pearce @mattdpearce.com · 04/09/2026

On a very basic level, every society gets to choose how it wants to structure its information environment. On one hand, we could choose to spend years dismantling practically every economic incentive to pay journalists to produce original, accurate, high-quality work. On the other hand, we could choose to stop doing that; we could choose to do something more constructive instead.

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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

NPR’s @quillawrence.bsky.social reporting Driscoll resigned after telling President Trump that the U.S. was losing the Iran war one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5955...

one.npr.org

🔊 Listen Now: Pentagon Exodus Under Hegseth, Venezuela Oil and Democracy, Clancy Trial Deadlocked

Up First From NPR on NPR One | 13:40

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I recently rented a bike from Ajax bikes somewhere in the centre (can find the address) and words cannot describe how much of a delightfully bonkers experience it was dealing with the guitar-playing manic Greek owner and his businesslike Dutch wife trying to keep him in line.

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The AfD is expected to win an outright majority in Sachsen-Anhalt, and is polling as the largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They are seen as a party on the rise– one increasingly normalised as part of mainstream German politics. This is a terrifying moment for Germany, and for Europe.

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The rise of the AfD has been strengthened by the failures of the CDU, as what remains of the "firewall" prohibiting working with the far-right crumbles. One of Merz's allies said the firewall is a thing of the past, and a CDU mayor gave €10,000 to the AfD + said he would vote for them.

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Basically, the far-right has normalised pinning the blame on immigrants for any sense of discontent or unease that voters may be feeling about the cost of living or life in general. And the real problem is that Merz's CDU has cooperated, including the chancellor calling for mass deportations.

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But standing amongst a mix of families with their kids& neo-Nazis in a field watching Siegmund, there is more to it. Some AfD voters are supporting a far party because they feel mainstream politicians have ignored them for years, and they want to burn down the system as a result.

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Der Spiegel recently described the man likely to become Sachsen-Anhalt's state president, Ulrich Siegmund, as "the most dangerous man in Germany." Having seen him speak at an AfD rally, it is hard to argue: watching him captivate and manipulate thousands felt like something from Germany's past.

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A far-right party is expected to win control of a German state for the first time since WW2 in an election on Sunday. The AfD is also polling in first place nationally, shattering the idea that their rise is a purely east German phenomenon. From Sachsen-Anhalt for @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Eastern Germany’s ‘Grannies’ prepare to do battle with fa...

An extreme rightwing party may win control of a German state for the first time in the postwar era, but a group of older women are determined to stand in its way

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

"Currently, The Onion has around 85,000 subscribers, making it one of the five largest newspapers in the country by circulation."

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Ruth Michaelson @ruthmichaelson.com · 27/08/2026

Vital context about climate chaos that should be in every piece about the flooding on the border between Nepal and Tibet.

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Hard yes. I was at the Madonna Amsterdam show recently: thousands of people (in a relatively small venue considering it was Madonna) filming her – instead of dancing– for an album that is supposed to be about the wonder of the dance floor.

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I agree that the AfD have a deeper history in eastern Germany, drawing support from people feeling cut off from society after reunification. But I think there has obviously been a shift, mainstreaming this party that is garnering broader support in a way that wasn't happening a few years ago.

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Their being shut out of the ruling coalition assumes the Brandmauer holds, which I think is now seriously in doubt. And what about if they play similar games as in Thuringen in 2020?

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I definitely did not say or imply they will have control in Berlin! But in Meckelberg-Vorpommen they are polling in front (35 percent), so not an absolute majority like in SA, but they are set to win a majority if polls are correct. Agreed it is not automatic like SA, but it is a leading position.

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Mike Masnick @masnick.com · 25/08/2026

My family comes from a small town south of Cologne: I checked recent polls that show a 14.6 percent swing to the AfD. Of course AfD supporters have different motivations in the former DDR, but the party is polling in first place nationwide.

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

If you missed it the first time around, I highly recommend listening Jad Abumrad's podcast series "Dolly Parton's America." www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dol...

wnycstudios.org

Dolly Parton's America : Episodes | WNYC Studios | Podcasts

The story of a legend at the crossroads of America’s culture wars.

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Ruth Michaelson @ruthmichaelson.com · 25/08/2026

Seconding this. What a gift to the world Dolly Parton was.

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Ruth Michaelson @ruthmichaelson.com · 25/08/2026

Also just to be very clear: the AfD have normalised and mainstreamed support for the far-right, but as @okwonga.bsky.social points out, they are the face of a broader movement. At the AfD rally last Sunday, there were many families who brought their kids, standing alongside people with Nazi tattoos.

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Ruth Michaelson @ruthmichaelson.com · 25/08/2026

Sharing this after returning from Magdeburg in east Germany, and going to report at an AfD rally in the nearby countryside. People outside of Germany do not understand how urgent this situation is right now. The AfD have a nationwide polling lead + are tipped to win control of two states next month.

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 24/08/2026

Breaking News: An arbitrator ordered The Washington Post to rehire Karen Attiah, a columnist who was fired over her social media posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

nyti.ms

Washington Post Ordered to Rehire Fired Columnist Karen Attiah

An arbitrator ordered the newspaper to reinstate Karen Attiah, who was fired after posting about “white men who espouse hatred and violence” following Charlie Kirk’s killing.

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

404 Media @404media.co · 17/08/2026

EXCLUSIVE: 404 Media placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books. @evystadium.bsky.social has more. Investigation by @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

Mai El-Sadany @maitelsadany.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

It's believed Assad left £40 million of his money in an HSBC London branch before he left to become President in 1994 and that millions accrued in interest in the years since. Can it be recovered and used to compensate his victims? From @ruthmichaelson.com: observer.co.uk/news/interna...

‘The money must be there’: The hunt for Bashar-al Assad’s...

The Syrian dictator is said to have left £40m in a London bank when he went home in 1994. Campaigners want to see it returned to victims of the regime, but face a battle with HSBC

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

Timothy E. Kaldas @tekaldas.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

DW asked me about the Octagon, Egypt's new defense HQ, & the New Aministrative Capital. We discussed what they say about Egypt & President Sisi's approach to governing. They symbolize his power but also his fear of a people that sunk deeper into poverty under his rule www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSn4...

youtube.com

Egypt's massive 'Octagon' complex: Architecture of a totalitarian state | DW News

YouTube video by DW News

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The prospect of Nigel Farage fighting a people vs the establishment by-election in which the only other candidate is Count Binface - is too hilarious for words.

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Reposted by Ruth Michaelson

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Khamenei funeral draws out Iran’s top brass, but son’s fate remains a mystery. The nation’s political heads and military chiefs emerge to attend the week-long tribute to the supreme leader, but his son and successor is still absent. ✍️ @ruthmichaelson.com bit.ly/4vIBRk7

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Khamenei funeral draws out Iran's top brass, but son's fa...

The nation's political heads and military chiefs emerge to attend the week-long tribute to the supreme leader, but his son and successor is still absent

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Ruth Michaelson @ruthmichaelson.com · 24/06/2026

The Trump administration claims they will oversee Iran "destroying" or removing its entire supply of enriched uranium –after letting IAEA inspectors in– but finding it all means searching in facilities the US bombed last June. My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social