Bertelsmann Foundation

10/08/2026

Germany's Political Landscape Has Been Shaken

State elections in Germany have delivered major gains to parties on the political fringes, and intensified questions about the future of the country's political center.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won nearly 44 percent of the vote, coming within three seats of an absolute majority. The result puts new pressure on the political “firewall” that has kept the AfD out of state and federal governing coalitions.

In Episode 19 of The Transponder, host Samuel George, PhD speaks with Courtney Flynn Martino, Bertelsmann Foundation's Assistant Director of Transatlantic Relations, who was on the ground in Saxony-Anhalt for the election.

From the AfD's evolution and the sources of voter discontent to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's declining support and the implications for Europe, Martino explains why developments in eastern Germany could reverberate far beyond the region.

🎧 Listen here: https://bit.ly/3VBWLnU

10/07/2026

HTFD Season 7, Episode 11: How to Live Like a Citizen: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up | Featuring Eric Liu

What does it mean to be a citizen, not simply in a legal sense, but as an active member of the community? Andrew Keen speaks with Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University and author of Live Like a Citizen, about what citizenship requires in an era of polarization and declining trust in democratic institutions.

Liu argues that resilient democracy depends not only on politics and institutions, but on the everyday habits, relationships, and choices of citizens themselves. He outlines eight essential practices: seeing, listening, feeling, joining, fighting, changing, imagining, and committing. They discuss the corrosive effects of social media, the importance of local communities and civic participation, the relationship between economic inequality and democracy, and why rebuilding democratic culture starts from the ground up.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: democracy is not something we inherit and take for granted. We practice it and have to keep practicing it together.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/4ATNibM

10/07/2026

Both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping entered their September 24-25 summit in Washington, D.C. with lofty goals. As the dust has settled and details have emerged, the results of the meeting have raised more questions than answers. For a deep dive into the proceedings, check out our new B|Brief from Marshall Reid: https://bit.ly/4doThvd

10/05/2026

Join us at NYU Washington, DC on October 21 from 6:00–8:00 PM for the Washington premiere of On High Water: Holding Ground on a Vanishing Coast, presented by Bertelsmann Foundation Documentaries in partnership with the DC Environmental Film Festival and the John Brademas Center.

Along Louisiana’s disappearing coast, families are fighting to preserve a way of life shaped by water.

Commercial fishermen, tribal leaders, educators, and young families confront a future marked by economic uncertainty, land loss, and ever-stronger storms. Yet even as the land disappears around them, they continue to rebuild homes, revive traditions, and pass hard-earned knowledge from one generation to the next.

Set in the bayous of southern Louisiana, On High Water is a portrait of resilience, belonging, and the enduring ties between people and place.

Following the screening, stay for a conversation featuring:

• Monica Schorn, Moderator — Executive Director, DC Environmental Film Festival
• Samuel George, PhD — Director, Bertelsmann Foundation Documentaries
• Mike Tidwell — Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and author of Bayou Farewell

Additional guests will be announced soon.

📅 October 21
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 NYU Washington, DC — John Brademas Center
1307 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of film and conversation about what it means to hold onto home, culture, and community as the landscape itself changes.

Register now: https://bit.ly/4iXfDYc

10/01/2026

While much of the world focuses on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, many Indo-Pacific countries are reckoning with a wide range of security challenges of their own. For a great discussion of these challenges and their implications for European security, check out the latest episode of our Indo-Pacific In Focus podcast: https://bit.ly/4z5Uobn

10/01/2026

What happens when a small country controls one of the most vital chokepoints in global trade?
Our latest short documentary "Zone of Influence" explores the century-long struggle over the Panama Canal, from U.S. dominance and Panamanian sovereignty to modern U.S.-China competition.
Directed by Tony Silberfeld, the film examines how the history of the waterway continues to shape Panama's relationship with the United States, the world, and its own national identity.
Watch the film here: https://bit.ly/4iZFAGI

09/29/2026

The U.S. midterm elections are fast approaching, and control of Congress is up for grabs. What will the 2026 midterms mean for the balance of power in Washington? Add your voice to the conversation by making your forecast on our latest RANGE questions:

🔷 Will the Democratic Party control a majority of seats in the U.S. Senate following the 2026 U.S. midterm elections?
🔷 Will the Democratic Party control a majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2026 U.S. midterm elections?

Make your forecast and see how your expectations compare with those of other forecasters. Submit your forecast here: https://bit.ly/4jaEaJc

09/29/2026

Cara Räker, Monitoring Officer at the European Center for Press and Media Freedom, spoke with us about trends in media freedom across the EU, common threats to media freedom, the importance of media pluralism, and strategies to strengthen media landscapes.

Find this interview on the Transatlantic Barometer or on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4rqtNTK

Cara Räker, Monitoring Officer at the European Centre for Press and...

09/24/2026

As the World Press Freedom Index hits a 25-year low and trust in media has declined on both sides of the Atlantic, the Transatlantic Barometer shines a spotlight on media freedom in our newest thematic indicator. This month, the Barometer examines key statistics, legislation, reports and reforms for each of our 30 featured countries and the European Union. The indicator builds on data from the World Press Freedom Index, Media Pluralism Monitor and European Commission, along with national data from the U.S., UK, EU, and Canada: https://bit.ly/4rv1nrX

Cara Räker, Monitoring Officer at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, spoke with us about general trends in media freedom across the EU, common types of threats to media freedom, the importance of media pluralism and strategies to strengthen media landscapes. Find this interview on the Transatlantic Barometer or on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4rqtNTK

Media Freedom Infographic: https://bit.ly/4ruRieA

09/16/2026

Weaponized interdependence is reshaping regulatory competition. The key question is not who's writing the rules, but who can influence the regulatory choices of others.

In his latest article, 2026 Bertelsmann Foundation Fellow Dr. Koen Berden explores regulatory competition in the Indo-Pacific and argues that the United States and the EU need to rethink their approach if they want to regain strategic advantage.

Read: "From Rule-Writing to Rule-Power in the Indo-Pacific: Regulatory Competition in the Indo-Pacific’s Weaponized Economy" here: https://bit.ly/3UTS74w