Merkel's Last Dance | Deutsche Welle

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How is the world's most powerful woman shaping her political legacy?

  • 36 minutes 38 seconds
    E5 - Migration: The Power of Optimism
    Despite the problems we discussed in Delayland, people from many countries want to live and work in Germany. From nurses to IT specialists, skilled workers are needed, but bureaucracy is slowing things down. Write to: [email protected]
    18 December 2025, 11:47 am
  • 38 minutes 5 seconds
    E4 – What the Fax?!?
    Waiting in line forever at city hall to register a new address – that’s how we roll in Germany. Accessing public services online is the exception, not the rule. In fact, sending a fax might speed things up (if you can believe that). But it's not as if people don't want to change. And we've found two countries that could teach us how to go digital. Write to: [email protected]
    11 December 2025, 11:16 am
  • 37 minutes 28 seconds
    E3 – Bricks and Bureaucracy
    Big construction projects take surprisingly long to complete in Germany. It can take a decade or longer to build an airport, a train station, or a concert hall — skyrocketing costs included. What happened to the country’s love of planning and efficiency? Now, a neighboring country that's not famous for timely execution is showing Germany how it’s done. Write to: [email protected]
    4 December 2025, 11:39 am
  • 41 minutes 11 seconds
    E2 – German Cars: Stuck in a Jam
    For years, German car manufacturers were convinced they built the world’s best automobiles — and the world was happy to buy from them. Then, nothing. Until a country that once was Germany’s pupil in car design sped ahead. How can Germany get back in the race? New episodes every Thursday
    27 November 2025, 11:45 am
  • 34 minutes 13 seconds
    E1 - The Train Dilemma: To be or not to be on time
    If you think Germans are punctual and efficient, think again. Germany's national train system is so run down that most passengers are happy if they arrive at all. How did one of the world's most reliable train operators become an international joke? Can anyone help Germany to get back on track? New episodes every Thursday
    27 November 2025, 11:12 am
  • 2 minutes 22 seconds
    Introducing: Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic
    Once dubbed an "economic miracle”, things don't run like they used to in Germany. This new DW original podcast endeavors to find out how Germany lost its magic and who’s got it now? Traveling beyond Germany — to India, France, Switzerland, and Denmark — the show explores how others are getting things right, and what Europe's former Wunderkind might learn from them. Wherever you get podcasts.
    20 November 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 36 seconds
    DW Berlin Briefing: A new podcast by the crew behind 'Merkel's Last Dance'
    Berlin Briefing is a new podcast by the crew behind ‘Merkel’s last Dance’. It is a video podcast where we dive deep into how Germany is navigating major geopolitical challenges - from Trump's second presidency to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Europe’s shift to the right. Once a week we give you an essential Berlin briefing on what’s coming next and why it matters. here's our latest episode.
    17 January 2025, 4:40 pm
  • 1 minute 30 seconds
    Introducing: Don't Drink the Milk
    We wanted to share a new DW podcast we thought you might like. Don't Drink the Milk traces the unexpected backstories of things we all think we know well. From passports to beer, zip codes to witches, discover how these things made their way around the world – by force, by chance or by choice. No need to pack your bags. Just subscribe to Don't Drink the Milk, wherever you listen to podcasts.
    18 October 2023, 3:55 pm
  • 32 minutes 31 seconds
    Merkel's Last Dance: The legacy interview (final episode)
    Outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel really is going to step off that dance floor soon. What better way to end a podcast dedicated to her last dance, i.e.her last year in office, than with a rare exclusive interview? DW's Max Hofmann waltzed the German chancellor through the interview and has the backstory for us in this final episode of "Merkel's last dance."
    11 November 2021, 1:02 pm
  • 50 minutes 41 seconds
    Merkel's Last Dance: Germany under Olaf Scholz – What the world can expect from Merkel's likely successor? (E14)
    China, the transatlantic relationship, the future of the EU - foreign policy didn't play a large role in Germany's election campaign. But there are huge issues for the next government to address. As Olaf Scholz works to establish a new coalition, we ask his party's foreign policy spokesman what the world can expect from a Germany under Scholz's leadership.
    19 October 2021, 12:32 pm
  • 30 minutes 5 seconds
    Merkel's Last Dance: How green will the next German government be? (E13)
    The Greens will likely play a central role in a future government coalition. September’s elections have elevated them to new levels of political power. The current rounds of exploratory and coalition talks will determine just how green Germany will go from here. DW’s Nina Haase and Guilia Saudelli team up with chief political editor Michaela Küfner to unpack the Greens’ governing potential.
    5 October 2021, 11:15 am
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