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This Week in Politics: Rollbacks and Restrictions
The Trump administration made several consequential announcements this past week, from rescinding environmental protections to supposedly banning several news agencies from the White House. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sets national regulations to protect the environment and public health, announced on Monday, Sept. 14, that it will remove regulations on greenhouse gas...
Q&A: Kai Ryssdal on his time at Marketplace, the politics of the economy, public media & more
Ryssdal joined Morning Edition host Bob Pavlovich for a conversation ahead of two stops in Louisiana this week.
San Francisco’s public-safety technology isn’t the problem — the politics around it is
Amid a local Democratic Party debate, supervisor makes the case for retaining automated tools while strengthening oversight and protecting against misuse.
The Supreme Court has a good chance to start fixing a bad law
The Indian Child Welfare Act’s main concern is identity politics, not children’s welfare.
Reform and the UAE – a threat to British politics
By Alex Carlen The United Arab Emirates likes to present itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis. The oil-rich Gulf state has committed to Net Zero by 2050, hosted COP 28, and even declared “championing climate action” as one of three strategic objectives for this week’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. But behind the scenes the UAE has quietly built one of its closest political relationships in Europe with the party most hostile to climate action in Britain: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. There is no evidence that the UAE is funding Reform. But a new FairSquare report, Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat, published today, documents a growing political relationship that should concern anyone interested in the integrity of British democracy. Reform’s leaders have embraced the UAE’s political model and promoted positions that align closely with the Emirati government’s priorities, while the UAE has given Farage and his party unusually warm access and public backing. What is emerging is not simply a relationship between British politicians and a wealthy Gulf state, but a channel through which an authoritarian government can cultivate political influence here, and abroad. Democracy for Sale relies on its readers. If you already support us, thanks so much. If you don’t, sign up to support fearless independent investigative journalism. Subscribe Back in January, Nigel Farage appeared at a GB News event in Dubai. On the 50th floor of a tower overlooking the luxury resorts and upscale residences of Palm Jumeirah, the Reform leader declared: “I want Clacton to look like this.” At the event – which Farage never declared on his official register of interests – senior Emirati officials mixed with British expats. Farage was keen to flatter. “We recognise you are our friends”, he said, assuring them that “a Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.” Controversy surrounding Reform’s finances and its susceptibility to foreign influence have centred around high-profile donations from billionaire crypto donors, and the jailing of Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, for accepting bribes to give pro-Russia speeches. Far less attention has been paid to Reform’s blossoming new alliance with the UAE, an oil-rich authoritarian state with a track record of ruinous anti-democratic interventions. Farage wasn’t always so fond of the UAE. Back in 2023 he called it an “absolute monarchy with an abysmal human rights record.” Now Reform’s hierarchy calls the UAE home. Deputy leader Richard Tice splits his time between his constituency and Dubai and has called on the UK to learn from the UAE. The party’s treasurer Nick Candy runs a firm which has been in partnership with a UAE-state linked firm since 2024. Nadhim Zahawi sits on the board of an Abu Dhabi think tank alongside an array of the most senior UAE officials and is reportedly close to three brothers of the country’s despotic ruler Mohammed Bin Zayed. Reform’s leading lights have effusively praised the UAE’s governance model, defended it from criticism, and advanced its political agenda in the UK. GB News, whose two major shareholders – the Legatum Foundation and Paul Marshall – have strong links to the UAE, has been more than happy to broadcast UAE propaganda and was forced to pay damages in 2025 after airing a false claim about a UK charity by the UAE “disinfluencer” Amjad Taha. The UAE has responded in kind. When the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs conducted an official visit to the UK in May, Farage was the only non-government figure granted an audience. UAE state media publicised the meeting, and said that they discussed “the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves mutual interests.” For the UAE these ‘mutual interests’ largely concern its paranoia over political Islam, and in this regard the UAE-Reform alliance is part of a broad and troubling pattern. Following a crackdown on dissent at home in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the UAE has offered material and political support to a range of violent and authoritarian actors willing to oppose the Muslim Brotherhood with no regard for the consequences. Its meddling in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and most notably Sudan, have been devastating. The UAE’s strategy of seeking out partners on the political fringes who it believes will advance its interests is not unique to Britain – it extends beyond the Middle East to Europe and the US. In France, it has offered clandestine support to Marine Le Pen through secret meetings, as well allegedly funding trips to the region after which Le Pen returned with a renewed focus on the UAE’s perceived enemies – Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Left-wing opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has accused the UAE of smearing him and of “encouraging discrimination, hatred or violence”. In the US, the UAE actively supported the rise of Donald Trump, establishing itself as a key ally during both his first and second terms. Around these relationships sits a wider ecosystem of figures willing to amplify UAE narratives, that even extends to Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson. Subscribe In Britain, the UAE has used a combination of aggressive diplomacy and illicit, disruptive tactics to achieve its policy goal of eliminating any perceived threat from political Islam. In 2012, for instance, it threatened to block billion-pound arms deals with the UK and stop inward investment if David Cameron did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood and rein in the BBC’s coverage of the group – going so far as to suggest, with no supporting evidence, that the group had infiltrated the BBC. It has financed smear campaigns against a high-profile UK charity and funded a mercenary to secretly surveil, and possibly assassinate, a British national on British soil. In Reform UK, the UAE has finally found an ally willing to not only ban the Muslim Brotherhood, but to publicly vilify the group and repeat the UAE’s claims that dangerous Muslims are a fifth column in British society, a narrative that aligns with the Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments that underpin Reform’s populist politics. The Rycroft review into foreign interference concluded that “hostile states and non-state actors have a clear incentive to attempt to undermine UK democracy.” The UAE’s network and alliance with Reform must be understood within that framework. It is a powerful, disruptive and deeply authoritarian actor with the resources and networks to intervene in our politics, and a track-record of doing so in a multitude of other countries. The evidence of the threat the UAE poses is overwhelming. The question is whether parliamentarians are willing to call the UAE out and demand action using the tools that the government has to respond. Placing the UAE on the “Enhanced Tier” of the Foreign Registration scheme alongside Russia and Iran would send a powerful signal to the UAE that its meddling will no longer be tolerated, and would place Farage’s next trips to the UAE under the scrutiny they deserve. Alex Carlen is research and advocacy manager at London based human rights organisation FairSquare and author of its new report Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat. Subscribe
POLITICS OF AI: Why Emerging Tech Is Shaping the Midterms
Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a core campaign issue ahead of the midterms. As members of Congress pitch voters at home, state leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis are pressing for tougher state-level regulations. Political analyst Dr. Larry Walker joins us to discuss why AI is top of mind for voters.
Chess-Presidential candidate Buettner pitches outsider shake-up, promises to leave politics out of FIDE
FIDE presidential candidate Jan Henric Buettner says his lack of traditional chess credentials is not a weakness but an asset, with the German entrepreneur betting that his business experience can modernise the world governing body.
Isle of Man election: Housing and apathy on the minds of Middle voters
Housing is an election concern for some people in Middle but others are not interested in politics.
Trump wants to make America 1988 again
Four decades after Willie Horton, the president still invokes the politics of the past.
The cruel politics that pit struggling Americans against each other (Opinion)
Even though there is usually plenty of wealth to go around, the masses are being left behind by the investors. What has long kept the power out of the hands of the people has not been a lack of resources so much as a lack of compassion,…
Voters are turning to AI on politics. Is it up to the task?
Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in how voters get information about politics and elections, raising fresh questions about how the technology could influence the way voters stay in…
Envy takes over German politics
Germany’s political decline is rooted not only in economic weakness, but in a broader shift from responsibility toward redistribution and resentment.
Analysis | How have data center politics changed? Look at Texas’s Republican governor.
Times have changed for Gov. Greg Abbott when it comes to AI issues.
AI Boom, Politics, Inflation Stoke Anxiety Across Big Law
AI’s ascendance, polarized politics, and stubborn inflation are weighing down legal professionals, survey shows.
Former Gov. Mark Dayton makes book stop in Northfield
Former Gov. Mark Dayton recently began a book tour following the release of “Perseverance,” a memoir reflecting on his nearly five decades in Minnesota politics.
A look at the legacy and influence Nancy Pelosi will leave behind when she retires
Rep. Nancy Pelosi will retire following the 2026 midterm elections, ending her almost 40-year career in Congress, but leaving a lasting influence on U.S. politics.
Personnel note: Abigail MacIver, Genevieve Collins join Ace Political
The additions bring together three Americans for Prosperity veterans as the firm expands its work in Florida and Texas.
30 years of Republican dominance of Ohio politics: The results
The Republican party of Ohio has dominated state government for the past thirty years. Let's look at the job they have done in managing the state. The results may shock you.
Hospitals are conveners, not dividers
In this climate, it has become too easy to point fingers without offering meaningful solutions to the country’s healthcare affordability crisis. To make matters worse, there is a tendency to turn our back on complex problems that don’t have easy answers in favor of oversimplified rhetoric that ignores reality. As chief executive of a rural […]
Superintendent candidates spar over funding, private schools and politics
Debbie Critchfield and Becky Sundin Mitchell laid out different approaches to Idaho’s education system during Tuesday’s debate.
Minnesota state politics showing signs of bipartisan collaboration
In a majority-led political landscape, passing policies can require high levels of collaboration from the minority party. The same can be true for legislative bodies with even representation, like Minnesota's House of Representatives and Senate.
The Immigration Politics of a Felon’s Pardon
How far will New York Gov. Kathy Hochul go to keep immigrant criminals in this country? So far, she’ll even pardon a man convicted of an aggravated felony, if that’s what it takes to prevent the United States Supreme Court from setting a restrictionist precedent. Keisy Guerrero Mariano is a Dominican who spent two years
Pete Buttigieg Slams ‘Corruption’ in US Politics: ‘Corporate Money Is Flooding the Election’ and Big Pharma Will ‘Get Their Way’
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized what he described as corruption in U.S. politics, arguing that corporate money and political incentives have left Americans without a system t...
Column: Dolly Parton transcended politics by putting humanity first
Americans don’t agree on much these days. Dolly Parton was the rare exception. Country bumpkins and city drag queens. God-fearing Christians and queer people. Conservatives and progressives. Younger fans who discovered her decades after her rise to fame and generations who grew up alongside her. Parton’s reach was seemingly boundless, her audience a study in...
Newsom and Nashville: Rob Bonta Undone by Politics in Paramount Fight
Rob Bonta brought suit against Paramount in an effort to counter political interference in antitrust enforcement, then fell victim to it.
Money in San Francisco Politics: Who’s Spending Big on the Election? (Live Event Oct. 8)
Wealthy special interests are ascendant in San Francisco’s political debates, and critics say they are trying to grab more power over elections. How the money-in-politics landscape looks going forward is up to voters. Join the San Francisco Public Press and the League of Women Voters San Francisco for a panel discussion.
Opinion: Alaska’s health care decisions must be guided by science, not politics
The Senate’s consideration of the next FDA commissioner carries big stakes in a state where access to care is already limited.
Opinion: Alaska’s health care decisions must be guided by science, not politics
The Senate’s consideration of the next FDA commissioner carries big stakes in a state where access to care is already limited.
Opinion: Alaska’s health care decisions must be guided by science, not politics
The Senate’s consideration of the next FDA commissioner carries big stakes in a state where access to care is already limited.
‘A Whole Lotta Politics’ — Rapper Quavo Reads Between the Lines While Backing Shedeur Sanders Over Deshaun Watson for Browns’ QB1
The Cleveland Browns spent an entire offseason putting Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders through a quarterback competition before ultimately handing Watson the job. Quavo does not sound convinced that the decision was based entirely on football.
GOP defections from Trump start to pile up: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Republicans search for a messaging balance in Texas.
Fox News ratings move 7 of Florida's U.S. House contests in Democrats' direction
Sabato's Crystal Ball also reassessed the situation in Florida's 27th Congressional District.
Green policies just good politics, says UK minister
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy isn't just vital for the planet's future -- it's also good politics, according to Britain's climate minister, who argues the country's record-hot summer has galvanized public opinion like never before. Katie White, a member of the ruling Labour government, said the UK's right-wing parties had…
People play second fiddle to politics
Steve Andrist, Bismarck, is a former publisher of The Journal and the co-chair of the North Dakota News Cooperative board of directors. It’s been a really bad week for government transparency, accountability and responsibility. In Bismarck and in Washington, D.C., government entities and officials have been more visible for what they’ve done wrong than what
Victories by far left and far right show Germans sick of politics as usual
In a striking show of antiestablishment voter sentiment, the Left won in Berlin on the same night that the far-right Alternative for Germany won in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.
Rural Arkansas shouldn’t have to sit on the sidelines
I grew up in Columbus, a small community outside of Hope, Arkansas. I have spent my professional life in Little Rock, but I have never lost sight of where I...
Best for business: Byron Donalds earns NFIB nod
Business groups continue to back the Naples Congressman.
Major name in US politics coming to Utah
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan was announced as the keynote speaker for the 2027 Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit
Opinion: Cruel politics pit struggling Americans against each other
The midterm elections will be about whether workers will begin to see one another’s pain as their own.
Russians have a pragmatic approach to politics
Letter: There has never been a real rebellion for the Kremlin to squelch, writes Mergen Mongush
Major AI companies say their products will commit crimes. Where are the police?
Leaders and researchers at frontier artificial intelligence labs say the products they’re making may hack into other companies and have a possibility of harming or even killing humans. Lone Star Politics asks Brendan Steinhauser from the Alliance for Secure Ai where is law enforcement?
Democrat in Central Dallas County aims to unseat powerful Republican House Member
Allison Mitchell is the Democratic candidate running against the powerful Chairman of the Texas House Ways and Means Committee, Morgan Meyer. Lone Star Politics speaks to her about he uphill battle in the Park Cities and central Dallas. Meyer has not yet responded to a request for an interview.
Justice Department Sides With Churches in Political Speech Case
The Justice Department told an appeals court it largely agrees with the religious groups suing it over how far churches can wade into politics and still keep their tax-exempt status.
Grand Theft Auto: players are voting, debating, protesting and making political decisions
It can become a way for gamers who haven’t previously shunned politics to engage.
'Our mission right now is to keep Florida free': Jay Collins endorses Byron Donalds in Governor's race
'It’s time for Republicans to come together.'
Michigan Ballot Proposal 2: Money out of politics
Proposal 2 on the Michigan ballot this November would prohibit utility companies and some government contractors from making political contributions
Why young Berliners vote overwhelmingly for the socialist Left Party
Berlin's young voters overwhelmingly supported the victorious socialist Left Party. Are the young more radical? Or is that just a reflection of current German politics?
BBC Audio | The Inquiry | How did Italian politics become stable?
Italy was once known for political instability, so how did that change?
Sen. Dylan Roberts named Upper Basin co-chair of Colorado River Forum
Colorado State Sen. Dylan Roberts was elected co-chair of the Colorado River Forum’s Upper Basin during last week’s meeting in San Diego, where lawmakers and water officials discussed the looming expiration of the Interim Operating Guidelines and the growing need for basin-wide collaboration on conservation, infrastructure and long-term planning.
Florida Chamber’s free-enterprise roadshow rolls into Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker finishes behind Zohran Mamdani for a tongue-in-cheek economic development honor.
“Politics Are Desperately Important at the Moment”: Bill McKibben on Midterms, Trump & Climate Crisis
Ahead of the midterm elections, activist and writer Bill McKibben says he has been traveling across the United States with Third Act, the environmental group he founded to harness the power of seniors who care about the climate and democracy. “These elections are also starting to set the groundwork for 2028,” says McKibben, who calls the next U.S. presidential vote “maybe the last election that happens in a timeframe when we still really have an opportunity to affect some of the outcomes of these things.”
Toy Association Op-Ed Published in Real Clear Politics Makes the Case for Tariff-Free Toys
The Toy Association™ is continuing to amplify the toy industry’s call for preferential tariff treatment of toys, with a new op-ed by Kathrin Belliveau, chief legal & policy officer at The Toy Association, published online today i
Portsmouth housing solutions, AI threats, political views: Letters
Letters package: Writers weigh in on Portsmouth housing policy, AI risks, NH politics, Maine fisheries and international affairs.
I want to rescue the word Zionism. We cannot reduce a vast Jewish idea to the politics of the moment.
Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi of Central Synagogue in Manhattan, delivered a sermon on Zionist ideas and ideals
From punk to politics - the making of new Reform Wales leader Helen Jenner
Who is Reform's new Welsh leader, former English teacher Helen Jenner?
Can the States Stop the Corporate Domination of Our Politics?
States giveth corporations the right to exist, so the states can taketh away their political spending power—or at least, Hawaii and Montana are trying.
Watch: Greg Ballard on why he's returning to politics and ditching the GOP
The former Republican Indianapolis mayor has been retired from politics for a decade. He's back as an independent for secretary of state, with a mission.
‘I Was Sold a Bill of Goods’: Americans and the Distrust Election
Americans have a pervasive sense they are being lied to. That has created an unpredictability in politics unseen since Donald Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without losing voters.
Nimesh Patel on stand-up, Palestine and politics: ‘The way that religion’s been weaponized is ugly’
The comedian went from being discovered by Chris Rock to making Saturday Night Live history. Now his new Netflix special, Buy the Dip, tackles timely topics with optimism
Personnel note: The Southern Group adds another dose of health care expertise with AHCA alum Erica Floyd Thomas
'Erica has spent her career at the center of some of the most consequential health care policy and programmatic decisions in Florida.'
Lauren Book promises to 'fight like a mother' in new SD 30 ad
The former Senate Democratic Leader touts her record on gun safety, healthcare and family issues
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)
Remind me again why we are voting on such things?
I should warn you, dear readers, that today’s column deals with two subjects that are often viewed as both boring and tedious: tax policy and voter initiatives. If you find such things interesting, please read on. If not, consider watching funny cat videos. Where was I? Oh, right … Anyone who has read my various […]
Germany’s economic recovery is under way if politics doesn’t spoil it
Frugal Germany would appear to have the fiscal headroom to try and spend its way out of the impasse
‘Diary of a Black Girl’: the politics of code-switching
As a Black girl growing up in a predominantly white space, it is common to hear phrases such as “Why
‘Seen and Unseen’: Ed Sheeran poured on the emotion and gave in to politics
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo discusses a fight that broke out on a flight to London and the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran after Macklemore was dropped from his tour on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’
China’s Leader Xi Seeks to Extend Truce with Trump During U.S. Summit
Facing an American president constrained by war and politics, China’s leader may seek to lock in a tactical truce while he shores up a fragile economy at home.
Green policies just good politics, says UK minister
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy isn't just vital for the planet's future -- it's also good politics, according to Britain's climate minister, who argues the country's record-hot summer has galva...
Local Opinion: Religion and politics are inextricably connected
"Politics," as the Founders understood it, is the art of governance for the common good, a purpose that requires a moral framework.
How Local Politics Influence Housing Affordability
California needs at least 2.5 million new homes by 2030, but most cities are still falling short. A new study examines whether this shortfall is associated with the politics of who lives in these cities, and how those politics determine…
Britain's Burnham to meet Trump and make UN debut after offering UK military support for Saudis
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time.
Katie Porter lands new California government gig after swearing off politics — as her new salary is revealed
Friedrich Merz fights for political survival after CDU debacle: 'Federal politics played a major role, and so did I'
Refusing to take sole responsibility for his party's defeats in the regional elections of September 6 and 20, the German chancellor has insisted he will not step down and has promised to reopen talks on reforms with his coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Trump and the GOP lose a key edge with voters: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Elon Musk’s under-the-radar midterm role.
Soup with Substance: Beyond the Politics of Borders, Sept. 23
Soup with Substance will feature an interdisciplinary panel discussion with Marquette faculty whose research engages with topics and questions related to immigration.
Sen. Dylan Roberts named Upper Basin co-chair of Colorado River Forum
Colorado State Sen. Dylan Roberts was elected co-chair of the Colorado River Forum’s Upper Basin during last week’s meeting in San Diego, where lawmakers and water officials discussed the looming expiration of the Interim Operating Guidelines and the growing need for basin-wide collaboration on conservation, infrastructure and long-term planning.
Opinion: 'Pothole Politics' Should Mean Fixing Our Schools
"Green Schools ... connect so many of the mayor’s priorities: child care, safe work, good jobs, and fixing what’s broken in our day-to-day."
Inside Florida Politics podcasters talk Melania Trump's AI event
First lady Melania Trump traveled to North Carolina recently to discuss Hurricane Helene and artificial intelligence. Hear about it on Inside Florida Politics.
Letters to the Editor: Deer season brings ticks, and November brings politics
The following are Letters to the Editor published in the print edition of the Star-Observer this past week.
L’Humanité festival renews commitment to popular front politics in France
PARIS—“I’m always on the side of the people, of those who fight to defend their livelihoods, of those fighting for the dignity to feed their children and pay their bills,” declared Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF) to a crowd of thousands last weekend. “I know which side I am on when there are barricades.
How Potential 2028 Presidential Candidates Are Talking About A.I.
Democrats are jockeying to embrace new safeguards, while Republicans have aligned with President Trump’s warnings against slowing down the technology.
Trump shattered Canada’s old US relationship. Carney is building a new one in Europe
TORONTO (AP) — For nearly four decades, Canada built its economy around closer integration with the United States. President Donald Trump has turned that dependence into leverage, imposing tariffs, threatening Canada’s sovereignty and openly seeking to pull Canadian industrial production south. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has moved on. Rather than return to trade talks […]
The Netherlands is bracing for potentially devastating US sanctions against the ICC
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch officials are preparing for the United States to impose a tough new round of sanctions on the International Criminal Court as it seeks to dismantle the global tribunal over what the Trump administration sees as overstepping its authority. Officials in the court’s host country, the Netherlands, have been notified […]
Kamala Harris launches into the 2026 midterms as her 2028 decision looms
As Kamala Harris mulls whether to run for president again, she’s throwing herself into the midterms by campaigning with fellow Democrats, starting with a Tuesday trip to Michigan on behalf of Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. It’s an especially notable destination for the former vice president. Michigan was one of seven battlegrounds she lost to Donald […]
Kate McKenzie interview - Illinois Times, the capital city's source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture
Tony Stang sits down with Kate McKenzie, CEO of Local Journalism Matters, to talk about the behind-the-scenes world of journalism, the stories reporters carry with them, and what the future of local news might look like at Illinois Times. It is a conversation about journalism, community and why telling the stories of a place still matters.
Trump decries Democrats as ‘communists,’ even as he looks to impress China’s communist leader
WASHINGTON (AP) — Communism, President Donald Trump says, is the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced. This summer, citing similarly grave concerns, he took the rare step of delivering a primetime address to the nation, accusing China of “sinister election meddling” in 2020 and reviving his yearslong push to dispute his loss in that […]
Rubio rings opening bell at New York Stock Exchange to begin UN General Assembly
Secretary of State Marco Rubio began the United Nations General Assembly, a major week in diplomacy, by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. The ceremony serves as a time marker, signaling the start and closing of an official session. The bells were first used at the exchange in the […]
Zelensky said Trump agrees to speak in New York for diplomatic meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans for a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump in New York. As the Ukraine-Russia war continues for more than four years, the U.S. has provided support valued at billions. Zelensky and Trump have had a strained relationship as the U.S. president balances relations with Ukraine and Russian leader Vladimir […]
The Strange Politics of Giving Paraprofessionals More Money
NYC’s most under-paid educators got organized – and are now caught in a complicated political crossfire.
Sen. Gary Peters to lead USC politics center
Retiring Michigan Sen. Gary Peters is set to lead USC's Dornsife's Center for the Political Future, the university announced on Monday.
Shell Falls as Europe Revives Windfall-Tax Politics
Oil above $100 strengthens cash generation and the political case for taxing extraordinary profits.
This Week: Phone Bank for Transit, SF Politics, Transit Tales
Here is a list of events this week. Monday/today! Phone bank with SFBike to Save Transit. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is phone banking and connecting with voters, explaining how vital it is to pass the Regional Transit Measure this November. Join them to help make sure our regional transit survives and thrives. Monday/today, September 21, 5-7 p.m. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Office, 1720 Market Street, S.F. Tuesday Historic Photo Exhibit Tour. Moving San Francisco is a collaboration between the SFMTA and San Francisco Arts Commission and is on view at City Hall through November 25. During this informal tour, they will take an in-depth look at selected photos from San Francisco transit history and learn more about the stories and people behind them. Tuesday, September 22, 5-7:45 p.m. North Light Court inside City Hall, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. Tuesday San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Board Meeting. SF Bicycle Coalition members are invited to attend all board meetings. Tuesday, September 22, 6-8 p.m. Register for Zoom link. Tuesday SF Politics 101 with Joel Engardio. SF Politics 101 is a look at how local politics work and the history that shaped San Francisco—brought to life with visuals and narrative storytelling. Tuesday, September 22, 6-7:15 p.m. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, S.F. Register to attend. Wednesday Transit Tales: A Storytelling Night. Join SPUR and Muni Diaries at Local Economy for an evening of true stories inspired by riding transit. From unexpected encounters and meet-cutes to funny mishaps and heartfelt moments, Transit Tales celebrates the experiences that make public transportation unforgettable. Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m. Local Economy, 6028 College Ave, Oakland. Saturday Group Ride: Richmond BART to Point Pinole. Join Bike East Bay for a family-friendly, no-drop group ride to Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Starts at Richmond BART Plaza, 1600 Nevin Plaza, Richmond. Saturday Shipwreck Cove Opening. Come see Sunset Dunes’s newest playground. Saturday, September 26, 3 p.m., Sunset Dunes and Kirkham, S.F. Saturday 55 Wine Line Progressive. Ride between Horsies Market & Saloon, Bar Part Time and Ruby Wine on the 55 Dogpatch bus. Saturday, September 26. Three locations in Dogpatch. See SFMTA site for more details on locations and times. Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.
Retiring Michigan senator to lead USC politics center
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this term, will join the University of Southern California (USC) as a professor and co-director of their politics program, …
America’s politics of fear could finally be over
Following three decades of scaring each other to death, Americans are tired and longing for change.
Donna Deegan says political pressure led to JEA CEO Vickie Cavey's exit
'I know that she was very intent on not wanting to drag JEA through another bit of turmoil.'
Politics and Film: 'Gung Ho,' Sept. 23
The Department of Political Science will screen the 1986 film "Gung Ho," a comedy about a Japanese firm taking over an American auto plant.