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Sen. John Fetterman says it's "entirely possible" Democrats take back Senate, says "let's revisit after the midterm" on his plans
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said that it's "entirely possible" his party wins control of the Senate in the midterm elections, while leaving the door open on his own political future.
Rogers Tries to Make El-Sayed’s Health Care Plan Scary
_Taylor, Michigan_HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TELL Mike Rogers is anxious to make up ground in the Michigan Senate race: He held a press conference on health care last weekend. Health care is usually a rough issue for Republicans, because voters associate the GOP with attacking cherished programs like Medicare and Medicaid that Democrats have historically supported. It’s a particularly difficult issue in this campaign, because a few months ago Donald Trump and the Republicans refused to extend temporary financial assistance in the Affordable Care Act. As a result of that decision, more than 20 million Americans faced higher insurance prices this year. That’s not a policy choice you want to be defending at a time when voters frequently cite the cost of health care as a top concern. Throw in the fact that Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed can draw on his credibility as a doctor and former public health director in Detroit, and it might seem like Rogers’s best bet would be to avoid health care altogether. But Rogers had his reasons to spotlight health care last Saturday. And they became apparent a few minutes before he spoke, when members of his campaign staff There’s a lot happening. Too much, some days. We can’t promise to have all the answers. But we can promise to keep asking the questions, following the facts, and figuring things out alongside people who care about where this country is headed. Read with us. Learn with us. And when it matters, stand with us. Join the side you’re already on. Join Bulwark+
Korea’s Democratic Party gets behind Lee as economic challenges test his politics of compromise
The leadership race of South Korea’s Democratic Party has strengthened President Lee’s position within the party, along with greater responsibility for his government’s policy record
Democratic attorneys general work to Trump-proof election
Stepping in for a complacent Congress, Democratic attorneys general are ready to fight efforts to undermine or overturn the Nov. 3 election. "We need to stay vigilant," says Colorado's Phil Weiser.
Trump supercharged ICE. Now battleground candidates look for a message
Republican and Democratic congressional candidates are wrestling with how to talk about immigration. They consistently call for a strong U.S.-Mexico border but then diverge, with some calling for ICE to be abolished while others support President Trump's immigration crackdown.
Trump supercharged ICE. Now battleground candidates are scrambling for a message
Republican and Democratic congressional candidates are wrestling with how to talk about immigration. They consistently call for a strong U.S.-Mexico border but then diverge, with some calling for ICE ...
‘She’s One of Us’: Mary Peltola’s Bumpy Rise to Political Power
Ms. Peltola, the Democratic Senate candidate in Alaska, has complicated politics: She is pro-gun, pro-oil and pro-gas — but also pro-environment and especially pro-fish.
House Democrats plan vast oversight of Trump administration. Impeachment is an option
“There is a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption,” said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is in line to become House speaker if Democrats win control at the Capitol.
Opinion | Genova: Three political platforms, three visions
American politics includes competing approaches to the economy, energy, immigration, abortion, taxation, transgender rights and the structure of our government. Comparing the published programs of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Democratic Party and...
EAST TEXAS POLITICS: Democratic congressional candidate discusses bid for seat held by GOP since 2005
Yolanda Prince discusses her campaign for Texas’ 1st Congressional District.
The GOP wants to talk about crime, immigration and trans issues. Voters don’t
Republican former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz summed up a large portion of the GOP’s midterm message this week when he responded to a man who said he was voting Democratic for the first time ever.
VoteVets Spends Millions to Elect Democrats, Shaping Midterms
The organization, founded in 2006 to back Democratic veterans opposing the Iraq war, is pouring huge sums into this year’s elections amid intense voter antipathy for another conflict in the Middle East.
The Senate map is looking even better for Democrats. Here are races to watch.
The goal of keeping Democratic Senate seats and flipping four GOP seats once felt like a long shot. Now it's feasible.
GOP governor candidate Stacy Garrity touts experience in business, military, state government
Editor’s note: This is the first of three profiles on this year’s candidates for Pennsylvania governor. A profile of Democratic incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and one on Libertarian Ken Krawchuk is scheduled for publication on Thursday, Oct. 1. HARRISBURG — It’s
Dems 'written off' campaign for GOP's only NYC House seat
Mike DeCillis, the Democratic candidate, said he's found little support from the Democratic Party nationally and locally.
Democratic lawmakers oppose state dollars for nuclear
They argue that taxpayers and ratepayers should not be asked to subsidize new nuclear projects.
Democratic lawmakers oppose state dollars for nuclear
They argue that taxpayers and ratepayers should not be asked to subsidize new nuclear projects.
Supreme Court for the third time rejects Republican redistricting push in Missouri
A Republican effort to use a new congressional map that would eliminate one of the two Democratic-held districts in the state has again failed in court.
Supreme Court rejects GOP’s third effort to capture Democratic House seat in Missouri
The third time was not the charm.
Talking health and welfare in Arkansas District 2
Second District Democratic candidate Chris Jones dissects the One Big Beautiful Bill and its impact on the poor.
Susan Collins hanging onto Senate seat despite heavy political gravity
The Maine Republican remains locked in a tight race with her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson.
Pretty Much Every Poll Is Good for Democrats Now
With just weeks to go before the midterms, polls are showing a wide range of Democratic candidates ahead. Here’s a quick scan.
Joe Neguse launches initiative to boost Democrats running statewide
Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse is sending volunteers into competitive Colorado districts, backing candidates challenging Republicans Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans.
New Jersey’s lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment and ethics complaints
New Jersey’s Democratic lieutenant governor has resigned after the governor demanded he step down over allegations of inappropriate behavior with women. Gov. Mikie Sherrill had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell
WHO says Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to two new health zones
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to two additional health zones, bringing the total number affected to 63 across seven provinces.
Trump administration runs taxpayer-funded ‘love me’ ad
Democratic lawmakers have demanded more details about the ad
‘Data senator’ ad prompts Frank Farry to send a cease-and-desist letter to his Democratic challenger in Bucks County
An attorney representing state Sen. Frank Farry (R., Bucks) called on Democrat Eileen Hartnett Albillar's campaign to retract the "data senator" advertisement.
Capitol agenda: Dems weigh doing Husted a solid - Live Updates
A data center measure easily passed the House last week with more than 200 Democratic votes, but campaign-season politics are making action trickier for the party in the Senate.
SC will elect ‘outsider’ to U.S. Senate. Whose bid for Congress does it help more?
Neither Democratic nominee Annie Andrews nor Republican candidate U.S. Sen. Darline Graham has been elected to political office.
Alaskans Dismayed, But Not Moved, by Peltola’s Treatment of Her Staff
Voters interviewed in Anchorage and Fairbanks on Thursday said news that Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee for Senate, had used offensive slurs would not change their vote.
The Real Threat From Political AI Isn't Lies
New evidence suggests that AI can gain a persuasive advantage by producing far more information far faster than people can respond. Democratic safeguards should make that advantage visible and give citizens control over the tempo.
In Texas, Talarico pitches a Fox News debate as Paxton stays silent
The state’s Democratic and Republican Senate candidates have not squared off yet.
Democratic House candidate arrested during Netanyahu protest in NYC
Darializa Avila Chevalier was among several progressive elected officials and nominees who protested Netanyahu's speech at the U.N.
A key Republican defends Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola after reports of abusive behavior
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan criticized his Democratic opponent Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, over allegations of abusive behavior toward members of her staff, which he described as “very disturbing.”
Emory launches Center for Civic Reasoning to foster constructive dialogue
Emory University’s new Center for Civic Reasoning will prepare students for democratic citizenship through courses that study how to engage in constructive disagreements around issues related to politics and daily life.
New Midterm Polling Has Good and Bad News for Both Sides
New polling and analysis released this week has encouraging signs for Democrats and Republicans, leaving the overall impression that control of both houses of Congress remains up in the air. Data published Thursday morning by The New York Times and Siena polling puts Democratic candidates Abdul ...
Political psychology: Why extremist parties are thriving and what democratic politicians can do
Far-right and far-left parties are celebrating success after success, leaving moderate politicians in the dust. Many Germans worry about this. Political psychology helps us understand what's behind growing polarization.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear hints at future political run during book talk
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday that he is no longer certain his 2023 reelection campaign will be his last, while discussing his faith, political divisions and the future of the Democratic Party at GW.
Capitol agenda: Democrats fracture over college sports - Live Updates
Despite bipartisan backing of a college athletics bill, Black Democratic lawmakers are warning their own party that supporting the measure risks exploiting Black athletes.
Warren demands Trump officials explain removing a ban on interference in census data
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked Trump officials to explain why the Census Bureau's parent agency cut a ban on political interference from its scientific integrity policy, as NPR first reported.
Fintech After the Midterms: 3 Thoughts on How Politics Might Impact Policy
If the polls—and the prediction markets—are any indication, then the Democratic Party stands a better than even chance of taking control of the US House of Representatives after the mid-term elections in November.
McConnell got the health care he needed. Booker wants that for everyone
Opinion: For Senate candidate Charles Booker, health care isn't abstract.
Sentencing date still to be determined amid health issues for Gov. Newsom's ex-chief of staff
Dana Williamson, a former top political aide to key Democratic leaders in California, including Gov. Newsom, is still struggling with an unexpected health issue and a hearing to discuss her prison sentencing has been postponed.
Collins’ team rebuts ProPublica story
On Wednesday, the Maine Democratic Party called on Collins to directly answer questions raised by the story.
At Rutgers, Talking Across Difference Aims for Civil Dialogue in a Divisive Political Climate
An initiative at Rutgers University-New Brunswick is helping students develop the skills and confidence to engage in meaningful conversations during an era marked by political polarization, social division and declining trust in democratic institutions. Through Talking Across Difference, a program developed within the Rutgers Democracy Lab at the Eagleton Institute of Politics during the 2024-2025 academic year, students, faculty and staff are learning how to engage in productive conversations
Talarico works to reach Black voters in his bid to win a US Senate seat as a Democrat in Texas
Democratic Texas U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico is working to reach Black voters, a key demographic in his race against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton
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.
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
Democrats lead in new poll as Trump looms over midterms
President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the midterm elections a referendum on his presidency appear to be backfiring as Democratic congressional candidates hold a significant lead over Republicans in the latest poll from PBS News, NPR and Marist.
California deal on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger spurs frustration
Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s agreement clearing the $111-billion merger followed intense pressure from state leaders including Gov. Gavin Newsom and dissent among fellow Democratic state attorneys general.
California deal on Paramount-Warner Bros. merger spurs frustration, questions about political pressure
Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's agreement clearing the $111-billion merger followed intense pressure from state leaders including Gov. Gavin Newsom and dissent among fellow Democratic state attorneys general.
Abdul El-Sayed says Kamala Harris' visit for his Michigan U.S. Senate race is about Democratic unity
El-Sayed said Harris, who will attend a roundtable on Black maternal health with him and separately join an event hosted by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, is a critical advocate in helping him close ranks as he tries to defeat Republican Mike Rogers.
Abdul El-Sayed says Kamala Harris' visit for his Michigan U.S. Senate race is about Democratic unity
El-Sayed said Harris, who will attend a roundtable on Black maternal health with him and separately join an event hosted by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, is a critical advocate in helping him close ranks as he tries to defeat Republican Mike Rogers.
Jacobs, Ogden offer competing visions for New York Democratic Party
Both longtime state party Chair Jay Jacobs and Otsego County Democratic Party Chair Caitlin Ogden spoke with Capital Tonight Monday.
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.
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/ec-democratic-leaders-demand-answers-energy-secretary-wright-after-he-lied
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders are demanding answers from Secretary of Energy Chris Wright after the Department of Energy (DOE) admitted it has been targeting grant cancellations toward states that did not vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
Stand Up for Science’s Climate Week Discussion Panel to Tackle Science, Democracy and Climate Tomorrow
Cross-disciplinary panel discussion will explore the interplay among scientific consensus, democratic governance, and the climate crisis.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questions whether a Latina can be elected president
The 36-year-old ascendant leader of the Democratic Party’s progressive movement will decide whether to run for president in 2028 after the upcoming midterm elections.
Newsom eyes 2028 as Democrats weigh their political future
Join The Hill’s Ian Swanson, Amie Parnes and special guest Democratic strategist Garry South, who has advised California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), for a special “Fight for 2028” centered o…
Providence is poised to have a pro-Palestine mayor. Its Jewish community is conflicted.
The win by a democratic socialist aligned with the pro-Palestine movement has prompted fears, as antisemitism is on the rise and a divestment question aimed at Israel is on the ballot.
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)
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).
Florida governor candidates pitch different approaches to homeowners insurance costs
Homeowners insurance is becoming a major issue in Florida’s race for governor, with Democratic nominee David Jolly and Republican nominee Byron Donalds proposing different approaches to lowering costs.
What can this Chicago professor tell us about violent populism?
A new book warns of the danger of accepting political violence as a regular part of democratic society.
Suozzi To Be Recognized as First Democratic Member of Congress To Be Awarded U.S. Chamber’s “Advocate for American Business” Award
GLEN COVE, NY — Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) was recognized today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with its “Advocate for American Business” Award during a stop of the Chamber’s national Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour at Standard Bots in Glen Cove. U.S.
Rob Sand wants to ban social media for Iowa kids under 16. What about parental permission?
Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand details his proposed social media ban for kids under 16.
Democrats differ over campaign funding flap - Illinois Times, the capital city's source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture
My associate Isabel Miller and I told subscribers earlier this month that Democrats for the Illinois House had been suddenly cut off from the Democratic Party of Illinois’ lucrative postage discount program, which can save as much as a third to a half of campaign postage costs. Afterward, an extraordinary interaction occurred between the executive […]
Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo
An Ebola vaccine trial is underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), involving frontline health workers and others involved in the response.
Whether you like it or not, celebrities have an impact on politics
The global groundswell of support for Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian advocacy serves to remind us that maybe celebrity activism really is that deep after all, writes Cheek’s Varsha Yajman. Subscribe In the last week, publications, podcasts, and influencers that have either rarely or never spoken about Israel’s genocide in Palestine have flooded my social feed. And it was all because singer Ed Sheeran and his team dropped Macklemore as his opener for saying “Free Palestine” on stage. Millions raised, millions speaking up in support of Palestine - all of this confirming my view that, whether I like it or not, celebrities do have an impact on political outcomes. And this is interesting when much of the time celebrity activism can induce an eye roll - I love to see Charli XCX pointing out a Palestinian flag in the crowd, but it’s hardly the bold symbol of allyship that some fans would make it out to be. But there’s a line between healthy scepticism and outright dismissal - and I’d argue that the latter lets the rich and powerful off far too easily. For instance, actress Jennifer Lawrence, once outspoken about her political views, last year told The Times she no longer believes celebrities have a role to play: “Celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. So then what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion on something that’s going to add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart.” While it’s a narrative she might find comfort in, it simply is not true. Grassroots movements often garner worldwide attention when celebrities and other high-profile spokespeople bring a mainstream platform to their causes. And this frustrates me. We have had three years of a live-streamed genocide. Macklemore himself has been calling for a Free Palestine long before he booked the Sheeran concert. Yet it’s the high-profile fallout of the last week that finally seems to have made saying “Free Palestine” socially acceptable in the mainstream. It feels like the collective mood has shifted, where calling out censorship is now the obvious response - not just the business of ‘radical’ activists. To recap, Sheeran’s decision followed an ultimatum from billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, one of the venues Sheeran was scheduled to perform at: either drop Macklemore as your opener after only two of the eight scheduled shows, or you do not play at any stadiums. Sheeran’s disappointing decision to stand on the side of billionaire-led censorship has ultimately seen a surge in support for Free Palestine. It began when all his openers and his backing band pulled out of Sheeran’s tour, in solidarity with Macklemore and with the Palestinian cause. It was met with an uproar of support from those who had never or barely touched politics before: influencers lip-syncing to Macklemore’s music, singers like Jack Antonoff singing “Free Palestine,” and publications and podcasts standing with Macklemore. And finally, we saw material support: Macklemore donated $1 million in profits from his two nights opening for Sheeran’s tour to several Palestinian aid groups and called for Sheeran and Kraft to match it, which they have since promised to do. We’ve also seen children’s entertainer Ms Rachel follow suit with a $1 million donation to Palestinian aid, and publication PopBase has donated $10,000. Anera, a humanitarian aid group working in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, said donations since Macklemore’s announcement were more than triple this month’s daily average. The group’s Instagram page has also gained 8,000 followers. Macklemore far from the first celebrity to speak and participate in politics in the Western World. In 1924, singer Al Jolson supported Republican candidate Warren G. Harding for president, and decades later, celebrities such as Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, and Aretha Franklin voiced their public support for the Civil Rights movement. More recently, in the lead-up to the 2024 US election, ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah partnered with the organisation Power the Polls to recruit poll workers to address shortages- a problem disproportionately affecting voters of colour. The campaign saw 170,000 new sign-ups - 35,000 of which came directly through the TV show’s link - resulting in the recruitment of 713,000 total poll workers that year, an almost three-fold increase on the organisation’s goal. Alongside recruiting workers, celebrities in the US (where voting in elections is not compulsory) have made a huge difference by calling for people to register to vote. Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2024 saw over 400,000 visitors on the voter registration site within 24 hours of her Instagram post. In 2023, Swift had urged her fans to register, resulting in 35,000 new voter registrations. Similarly, Ariana Grande promoted voter registration in 2019 by setting up booths at concerts on the American leg of her tour, resulting in over 33,000 voters registering. And the same thing is happening closer to home. This year, musician Jack River successfully called for government action to ensure creatives in Australia do not have their work scraped by generative AI companies. Celebrity as the mediator between the punter and the politician Celebrity activism isn’t just a feel-good news story - research tells us it actually makes a difference. By directing attention to issues affecting the average person, like voting inaccessibility or a lack of action on a genocide, researchers Alfred Archer and Amanda Cawston state that “celebrities can play a useful bridging role between political elites and the people they represent”. Alternatively, in a world where talking about politics is “not cool,” or where people lack exposure or knowledge to engage with politics, celebrities can act as an educational resource or an entry point into the political world - when they speak up about an issue, their audience gets exposed to it. Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival is a perfect example. Rodrigo partnered with twelve organisations focused on women’s issues, such as reproductive rights. These organisations had stalls at the festival for people to meet them and were also featured heavily on social media, giving their issues global attention and raising $20 million for the organisations. We have also seen celebrities at award shows such as the Emmys wearing F*CK ICE pins, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s treatment and detainment of people - generally people of colour. When celebrities speak up about political issues in public forums, they put the issue at the forefront of mainstream media, rally their supporters, and make it clear that, however much they disagree, the government cannot simply ignore it. Our over-reliance on celebrities versus our politicians As much as I love seeing my favourite celebrity use their platform for a good cause, there is an important question to ask: not whether celebrity activism is good or bad, but whether we should have to rely on celebrities. And the answer would, in an ideal world, be no. In an ideal world, or merely a just world, action on Palestine would’ve happened decades ago, climate change would be taken seriously, and most importantly, people would understand their democratic rights. However, that is not our reality. Only around 28 per cent of Australian Year 10 students reach proficiency in civics and citizenship. In the US, almost two-thirds of people under 30 say high school civics education didn’t prepare them to understand voting deadlines, how to research candidates, or how to vote by mail. When civics education is weak, our trust in these institutions and our understanding of change-making processes also decline. This is where celebrity steps in and becomes our main source of reliance. As Mary R. Connelly notes in _The Tartan, “_Celebrities will always be involved in campaigns in one form or another, but their presence is not what causes people to vote blindly. The lack of political engagement and literacy is what allows celebrities to wield their influence on the political sphere so impactfully.” About the author Varsha Yajman is the Digital Content Producer at Cheek Media. She is a youth advocate and lawyer with a background in climate litigation and is passionate about looking at the intersection between race, climate justice, and mental health. Thanks for reading Cheek Media Co. ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share
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