On this episode of Spaßbremse, Michelle (@shhellgames) and Ted (@ted_knudsen) dive into the myth of Angela Merkel, the so-called "leader of the free world." As we enter into the final month before the Sept. 26 election that will choose her successor, let's talk about how Merkel became such a beloved figure around the world, while at the same time forcing through an austerity agenda, dropping the ball on climate policy, and creating a more unequal Germany. Produced by Isaac Würmann (@wuermann).

To read up on some of the finer details discussed in this episode, check out these links:

- Has Angela Merkel Lived Up to Her 'Climate Chancellor' Aspirations? published by Deutsche Welle 

- Kanzlerin Merkel, Klimaschutz und Katastrophen published by Deutsche Welle 

- Sechs Mythen über Merkel published by taz

- Die frühen Jahre der Angela Merkel by Richard Herzinger for Welt 

- A Problem with Democracy, an extract from Wolfgang Streeck's book How Will Capitalism End? published by Verso 

- Overrated—Now Fading by Wolfgang Münchau in EuroIntelligence 

- The Merkel Effect, an interview with Oliver Nachtwey in Jacobin

Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.