Stammtisch - the latest political chatter from Berlin artwork

Stammtisch - the latest political chatter from Berlin

50 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 5 years ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratings

Who hasn’t spent a night discussing politics down the pub? At Deutsche Welle’s weekly “Stammtisch” podcast, Berlin’s political aficionados make sense of what’s happening in Germany and beyond.

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Episodes

Stammtisch - Political island in the sun

June 14, 2019 08:35 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

We're getting ready for a summer break at Stammtisch in the last episode of the season. But before we roll out those beach towels to reserve a sunny spot in Germany's seventeeth Bundesland, New York Time's Melissa Eddy and Die Zeit's Ferdinand Otto join Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner for a look ahead to the rest of the summer. Plus, we have all the usual political gossip from Berlin.

Stammtisch: GroKo SOS: Merkel's government on the brink — again!

June 07, 2019 13:56 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MB

Yet another government crisis has been avoided in Berlin — for now! This week Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by ECFR's Almut Möller and Yahoo News' Jill Petzinger, and they see what the surprise resignation of the Social Democrats' party leader means for Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand coalition." Not that there's much grand about it these days!

Stammtisch: Would I lie to you, baby? - Life in the post-truth era

May 31, 2019 14:10 - 35 minutes - 33 MB

Sweet little lies, or big massive whoppers? Either way, truth is a flexible concept in politics these days. So this week we're talking dodgy facts and fake news. Can Dundar, Nanjira Sambuli and Andreas Kappes join Damien McGuinness and Kate Brady for a special edition of Stammtich, live from the Global Media Forum in Bonn.

Stammtisch - Populism: dirty politics or taboo-breaking bravery?  

May 24, 2019 15:03 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB

As the EU votes for a new parliament we tackle populists. Who are they? How well are they doing? And have we reached peak populism? DW Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner cater to the masses with the ever-popular Emily Schultheis, from the Institute of Current World Affairs, and Berlin Policy Journal’s Bettina Vestring.

Stammtisch - Glitz, glam and glitter: Eurovision meet EU elections

May 17, 2019 15:35 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MB

Is the Eurovision Song Contest the European Union on a three-drink-minimum? Find out, as this week not only popstars are on the ballot, but so are EU parliamentarians. Stammtisch host Damien McGuinness fires up the confetti canon and goes glam as DW's Michaela Küfner, Jessica Saltz from Euronews and the Economist’s Tom Nuttall talk European voting habits – both musical and political.

Stammtisch - Weapon of choice: German arms sales

May 10, 2019 11:42 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MB

It seems German arms are, indeed, the weapon of choice for many countries. So where are they going? What are they being used for? And is Germany really as peace-loving as it makes itself out to be? Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by Jana Puglierin from the German Council on Foreign Relations and DW's Ben Knight for the latest political chatter from Berlin.

Stammtisch - Tanze Samba mit mir: Germany and Latin America

May 03, 2019 13:22 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

Damien McGuinness gets his samba on this week with Thomas Sparrow, William Noah Glucroft, and Carnegie Europe's Judy Dempsey, as we ask: what's behind Germany's sudden interest in Latin America? Is this the start of new foreign policy or is Foreign Minister Heiko Maas just in it for the mezcal? Plus, we have all the usual political chatter from Berlin.

Stammtisch - European elections: Who do EU think you are?

April 26, 2019 15:01 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MB

There's just a month to go till the EU heads to the polls. So what's on the German agenda? And do Germans even care? DW Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner hit the campaign trail with The Economist's Tom Nuttall and journalist Emmanuelle Chaze. Plus, we unearth Germany's mysterious love for "Spargelzeit."

Stammtisch: There's no place like home - Germany's housing crisis

April 19, 2019 13:30 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB

With rents sky-rocketing and construction scarce, Germany has found itself in a housing crisis. Is the bubble about to burst? And what does pricey property mean for Angela Merkel's government? Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner go on a heroic house hunt with journalist and Institute of Current World Affairs fellow Emily Schultheis and Zeit Online correspondent Ferdinand Otto.

Stammtisch: Brexit Berlin - Not yet auf Wiedersehen!

April 12, 2019 14:25 - 30 minutes - 28.5 MB

We've lifted our Brexit ban as we catch up with the latest escapades at the Stammtisch seaside. What role did Germany and Angela Merkel play in the second Brexit extension? Did Germany miss its chance to avoid Brexit? Die Welt correspondent Robin Alexander and Berlin Policy Journal's Bettina Vestring answer all that and more as they join Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner.

Stammtisch: Going the distance — Transatlantic relations today

April 05, 2019 12:44 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MB

Anchors ahoy and welcome aboard! We've packed our trunks and are going transatlantic on this week. Germany has headed to New York to take its seat on the UN Security Council — while Barack Obama has come to Germany. Damien McGuinness and DW's Fabian von der Mark chat US-German relations with former US government advisor Julie Smith and NATO expert Sophia Besch.

Stammtisch: There is no planet B - Climate change and the Fridays for Future protests

March 29, 2019 14:10 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MB

Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner get hot and bothered about climate change with Maurice Frank and Zeit Online's Sophia Schirmer on this week's Stammtisch. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of German school kids have been striking from school to call for more action from politicians. But it seems Berlin has side-stepped climate to create a different debate over the demonstrations.

Stammtisch: In the AI of the beholder

March 22, 2019 17:24 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

Siri vs. Alexa, US vs. China - the battle for all kinds of technology is on. But where on Earth is Germany? Damien McGuiness lets the robots do the hosting on the latest Stammtisch, while Michaela Kuefner debates why Artificial Intelligence matters and how it’s changing Germany with guests Rasmus Rothe and Aspen Istitute‘s Tyson Barker.

Stammtisch: One year GroKo - Road to nowhere?

March 15, 2019 17:51 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

As Angela Merkel's government reaches its first birthday, Stammtisch asks whether it really has the staying power to make it to the 2021 elections. Center of European Reform's Christian Odendahl, New York Time's correspondent Melissa Eddy and Berlin Policy Journal's Bettina Vestring also join host Damien McGuinness with the latest on Brexit and get in the mood for St. Patrick's Day in Germany.

Stammtisch: Frauenpower - International Women's Day in Germany

March 08, 2019 16:39 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

It's International Women's Day! We've kicked off Damien McGuinness and it's all about the Frauenpower on the latest DW Stammtisch. Taking over the reins is Kate Brady as DW chief potilitcal editor Michaela Küfner, Reuters corresponent Andrea Shalal and DW's Linda Vierecke talk all things women and gender equality in Germany.

Stammtisch: Postcards from Europe

March 01, 2019 12:24 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

Book that interrail ticket, get your train timetable, and dig out that retro rucksack, because this week #DWStammtisch is touring Europe (at least from the studio!) Counting down to the EU elections, host Damien McGuinness, DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Kuefner and guests Ulrike Franke and Tobias Buck debate whether Germany is really leading Europe. Or is it lagging behind?

Stammtisch: Exit Brexit — becoming German

February 22, 2019 11:50 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

With Brexit looming, record numbers of British migrants are actually becoming German citizens. So, this week, Stammtisch finds out what it's like swapping your scones for Sauerkraut. Host Damien McGuinness, is joined by DW political correspondent Kate Brady, Berlin correspondent for The Guardian Kate Connolly, and political analyst Jon Worth.

Stammtisch — Make love, not war

February 15, 2019 16:05 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

The Stammtisch podcast is sending some love to the Munich Security Conference this week — an event not usually known for its romance. Join host Damien McGuinness, DW correspondent Fabian von der Mark, Sarah Brockmeier from the Global Public Policy Institute and Kristina Lunz of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy to look at peacekeeping and defense in the most romantic way possible.

Stammtisch - The Berlinale Edition: Welcome to Politics-wood

February 08, 2019 11:03 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

With the Berlinale Film Festival in town, it's time to put on your gladrags as Stammtisch hands out its own awards. Who will win the coveted "Golden beer" for Best Political Comedy or EU rising star? Fresh from the red carpet, Damien McGuinness is joined by The Economist's Tom Nuttall, DW's Alex Forrest Whiting and ECFR's Almut Moeller.

Stammtisch - Shhh! Germany's political taboos

February 01, 2019 15:15 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

We're breaking free this week, as Stammtisch looks at Germany's political taboos. The topics that are off-limits, uncomfortable, or just not talked about enough. Free-thinkers Emily Schultheis and Chris Köver join Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner.

Stammtisch: Birthday edition

January 25, 2019 12:07 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MB

Don your political party hats as Stammtisch celebrates its first birthday! The Economist's Tom Nuttall and Berlin Policy Journal's Bettina Vestring join hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner to blow out the candles and bring you Germany's biggest political stories of the week.

Stammtisch - Red Rosa and the German Left

January 18, 2019 12:51 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

This month marks 100 years since the murder of socialist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg. So, on this week's Stammtisch we're asking: why is Luxemburg so important today for left-wing politics? And how is the radical Left in Germany doing anyway? Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by journalist Siobhán Dowling and The Guardian's Kate Connolly.

Stammtisch - Let's talk about tech, baby!

January 11, 2019 15:35 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

A data breach targeting German politicans, a party leader leaving Twitter and still no Brexit bug fixes in sight. Time to reboot 2019 already? Don't worry! Stammtisch host Damien McGuiness and his IT team Fabian von der Mark, Andrea Shalal and Jill Petzinger are ready to install the latest update of political chatter in Berlin for you.

Stammtisch - New Year, New Politics?

January 04, 2019 11:37 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

Merkel's long goodbye, eastern Germany goes to the polls, European elections: Germany's got a lot on its plate for 2019. What else is on the menu? Stammtisch host Damien McGuiness and his guests Judy Dempsey, Anna Noryskiewicz and Richard Jones dish up some tasty political goodies for the New Year.

Stammtisch - The Christmas Edition

December 21, 2018 15:14 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

Government on the brink of collapse, coalition chaos, foreign policy revamps and party shake-ups (and we’re not talking the Christmas party kind). It‘s been a busy old year in German politics. Join Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner as the whole Stammtisch team - Nina Haase, Maximiliane Koschyk and Kate Brady - look back on the year in German politics. We might need a mulled wine...or two.

Stammtisch — Power to the Frauen

December 14, 2018 14:05 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

Since beating her male rivals to become leader of Germany's conservative CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbaur is certainly showing some frauen-power. So who is AKK? And does it, or even should it, matter that Angela Merkel’s successor is another woman? With or without the Chaka Kahn attitude. Die Zeit's Ferdinand Otto and DW political correspondent Kate Brady join Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner.

Stammtisch — China in your hand

December 07, 2018 13:04 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

Germany’s president is in Beijing this week, so Stammtisch heads east. How is Germany dealing with China's rise? What are the pros and cons of Chinese tech giants? And where do hire bikes fit into all this? Journalist Didi Kirsten Tatlow and analyst Thorsten Benner join Damien McGuinness and Nina Haase-Trobridge from Berlin.

Stammtisch — Deck the halls with foreign policy, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

November 30, 2018 13:27 - 33 minutes - 31.2 MB

Yes, things are getting festive in Germany, but don't get carried away with the Glühwein just yet. With the CDU leadership contest just around the corner and international stories for days, there's plenty to keep us busy in political Berlin. FAZ's Johannes Leithaeuser and the Körber Foundation's Liana Fix join Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner for the latest political gossip from Germany.

Stammtisch — Hey, big saver!: The German economy

November 23, 2018 15:59 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

It's budget week in Germany, so we're all about the money. Who's got it. Who's spending it. And who wants more of it. Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined this week by Bloomberg's finance aficionados Sarah Syed and Richard Jones to see what it all means for Europe and the rest of the world.

Stammtisch: Poles apart - Warsaw's wobbly relationship with Berlin and Brussels

November 16, 2018 15:59 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MB

This week we party with Poland as the country celebrate 100 years since regaining independence. But we also check out its tricky relationship with Berlin and Brussels. Damien McGuinness, Tom Nuttall, Anna Noryskiewicz and Nina Haase get in touch with their slavic souls, and dance the Brexit pain away with some Polish pop.

Stammtisch - 100 years after WWI: Where are we now?

November 09, 2018 13:51 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

On the 100th anniversary of the end WWI, Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by Elisabeth von Hammerstein from the Körber Foundation and DW's Christian Trippe to find out where the liberal Western order stands a century on. What are the biggest dangers? And how long can it last?

Stammtisch - Angie, ain't it time we said goodbye?

November 02, 2018 13:32 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

Yes, the end of Angela Merkel's leadership in Germany really has begun. So what will the country do without her? Who will take over? And what does this mean for politics in Germany, and the rest of Europe? Damien McGuinness has the answers with Handelsblatt's Andreas Kluth, DW Chief Political Correspondent Melinda Crane and DW reporter William Noah Glucroft.

Stammtisch: The Political Horror Picture Show

October 26, 2018 15:56 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

Double, double toil and trouble: It’s Halloween and Stammtisch is ready to give you twice the fright this week. Forget Alien vs. Predator, we’re talking Brexit vs. Hessen. Damien McGuiness has gathered Nina Haase, Judy Dempsey and Jon Worth around his bubbling cauldron to determine: Which one is going to be the ultimate political horror movie?

Stammtisch: Woe is me! - Germany's coalition government on shaky ground

October 19, 2018 15:03 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

What at first bore the signs of a Shakespearean tragedy is fast becoming a comedic farce. After taking a beating in Bavaria, one question stands before Chancellor Angela Merkel's government: 'To be, or not to be.' Stammtisch bards Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by Die Zeit political reporter Ferdinand Otto and The New York Time's Melissa Eddy.

Stammtisch: Bavaria state election - The times they are a-changing

October 12, 2018 13:02 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MB

The beer's flowing and the lederhosen are on, which can only mean one thing in German politics: Bavaria's state election is here. But as the Greens and far-right AfD climb the polls, the conservatives are slipping. Where did it all go wrong? And what does it mean for Berlin? Find out with Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner, and guests Spiegel International's Charles Hawley and DW's Max Koschyk.

Stammtisch: Come together - German Reunification 28 years later

October 05, 2018 14:09 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB

Almost three decades since German reunification, a rise of far-right violence, and growing economic disparity signals anything but a united Germany. Hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by DW's Linda Vierecke and The Economist's Conny Günther to ask: just how united is Germany?

Stammtisch: Erdogan in Berlin - Sorry seems to be the hardest word

September 28, 2018 16:20 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

Turkey's President Erdogan is in town and Germany is quite literally rolling out the red carpet. So will Merkel and Erdogan kiss and make up? Or will things turn nasty over nibbles at the state banquet? Join Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner for all this and more political shenanigans in Berlin with guests "Die Welt" Foreign Editor Daniel-Dylan Böhmer and ECFR's Almut Möller.

Stammtisch: Coalition crisis and Brexit bumblings

September 22, 2018 10:58 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MB

No, this isn’t a repeat episode, but the new normal in European politics. On the podcast this week: the hills are alive with the sound of Brexit and hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner reveal what the latest political row in Berlin is really about, together with guests Judy Dempsey and Richard Jones.

Stammtisch: Is Germany getting flash about the cash and becoming a big spender?

September 14, 2018 18:08 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MB

It's budget week! But no boring number-crunching in Berlin. Things are getting rowdy in parliament and the coalition is in crisis - again! Spy chief Hans-Georg Maaßen is under fire for links to the far-right AfD. But Damien McGuinness knows how to keep DW’s Nina Haase, Fabian von der Mark and Reuter's Andrea Shalal under control: Just buy them off with candy.

Stammtisch: After Chemnitz - Caught between the lines?

September 07, 2018 19:18 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MB

How should Germany move forward after the political unrests in Chemnitz and how do Journalists have to be a part of that debate? In this week's episode of our Stammtisch podcast host Damien McGuinness is joined by Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner, Jaafar Abdul Karim of Shabab Talk and Elisabeth Niejahr from Wirtschaftswoche to discuss their role and experiences in last week's events.

Stammtisch: Back to school - German education

August 31, 2018 18:29 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MB

Summer's almost over and it's back to school for the Stammtisch team. This week, DW's Elizabeth Schumacher and Spiegel Online's Kristin Haug join hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner to see if German education is up to A* standard - or will it be staying behind after class?

Stammtisch: Hello, Goodbye! - Berlin to Brussels

August 24, 2018 14:11 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MB

Get out your hankie: this week, Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner bid a fond "Auf Wiedersehen!" to Stammtisch stalwart Jeremy Cliffe as he leaves The Economist's Berlin bureau for Brussels. Also joining us on the Berlin-Brussels extravaganza is ECFR's Almut Moeller to explain what will be keeping the EU busy this autumn.

Stammtisch: German climate policy - Feeling hot, hot, hot!

August 17, 2018 11:50 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

Germany is indeed feeling hot this summer: With record high temperatures and record low rainfall — Berlin has gone tropical. This week, Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by Climate Analytics' Claire Fyson and the UFU's Tinène Belakhdar to see what Germany's doing - or not doing - in the face of climate change.

Stammtisch: Berlin — Are you still wunderbar?

August 10, 2018 16:36 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MB

Almost three decades since German reunifcation, Berlin is still slowly stitching itself back together. Hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner head to Berlin's famous Prater Garten with Peter Craven and Jeremy Cliffe to mull over the challenges facing Berlin today and why, despite the gripes, they'll "always have a suitcase in Berlin."

Stammtisch: Is this the end of the West as we know it?

August 03, 2018 12:47 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MB

The heat wave is showing no sign of letting up in Berlin, so Damien McGuinness heads outdoors on this week's episode with guests Jeremy Cliffe, Emmanuelle Chaze and Julia Berghofer. Are we witnessing the end of the West? Join us for an ice cream as we discuss whether Germany can be the leader of liberal order.

Stammtisch - Pride and Prejudice and LGTBQI in Germany

July 27, 2018 15:28 - 35 minutes - 33 MB

Get out those hot pants. Spruce up that wig. And splash on some glitter. As Pride weekend hits the streets of Berlin, Damien McGuinness talks with Jeremy Cliffe (The Economist), Manuela Kay (L-Mag) and Kaey (Siegessäule) about what Pride parades can and can't do for politics. And just how progressive is Germany when it comes to LGBTQI rights?

Stammtisch - German healthcare: The doctor will see you now

July 20, 2018 19:11 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MB

Is there a doctor in the house? Germany's healthcare system gets a check-up on this week's podcast as host Damien McGuinness puts on his scrubs with AFP's Deborah Cole, and DW's Kate Brady and Rupert Wiederwald.

Stammtisch - The Brexit: So long, farewell...auf Wiedersehen?

July 13, 2018 17:31 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MB

Slap on the sunblock, Stammtisch is bringing the British seaside to Berlin as we talk all things Brexit. So, what does Germany have to do with the whole thing anyway? Quite a lot, as it turns out… This week, podcast hosts Damien McGuinness and The Economist's Jeremy Cliffe are joined by guests Jill Petzinger (Quartz) and Almut Möller (ECFR) with your weekly fill of political gossip from Berlin.

Stammtisch - Angela Merkel and Horst Seehofer: A relationship of convenience?

July 06, 2018 15:53 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

After a rocky few weeks over migration policy, have German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer finally reconciled? On this week's podcast, Stammtisch hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner are joined by agony aunts The Guardian's Philip Oltermann and The Economist's Jeremy Cliffe to offer some political relationship advice.

Stammtisch - From Gastarbeiter to trendsetter? German-Turks today

June 29, 2018 07:56 - 31 minutes - 29 MB

What does Turkish President Erdogan's election win mean for Germany? How do German-Turks live today? And why is Michaela's hamster Billy finding stardom in South Korea? This week we shake off our Alman dorkiness and go cool Kreuzberg, as hosts Damien McGuinness and Michaela Küfner chat all things Turkish with their guests Isil Nergiz and Ali Celikkan.

Books

No Place Like Home
1 Episode
Would I Lie to You
1 Episode