Talk is heating up of an impending split in the German Left Party, Die Linke. Sahra Wagenknecht, who has long been a controversial figure in the party, is now openly considering forming a breakaway party. On this episode, we have Loren Balhorn of Jacobin Germany and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung on to discuss what this would mean for the Die Linke and the potential new party. Ted and Loren also go beyond the recent developments in the party to give more context for the party rift and discuss how the divide could play out, both for Die Linke and the German political landscape more broadly. They also look at the new CDU-SPD government in Berlin and the changes it's bringing. Subscribe to hear all of our premium episodes here Or give a one-time donation via PayPal (knudsenedward@gmail.com) here Loren's Jacobin piece on the party divisions Loren's NLR piece on the Berlin election Quinn Slobodian and William Callison's Dissent article on the "Aufstehen" movement German Jacobin piece on the prospects of a Wagenknecht party -- Co-hosted by Ted (⁠@ted_knudsen⁠) and Michelle (⁠@shhellgames⁠). Edited by Nick of @cornerspaeti Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

With the finals of this year's Eurovision Song Contest taking place this evening, we thought it would be a perfect time to reflect on the weird and sometimes surprising political and cultural history of the world's most-watched non-sporting event. Ted is joined by Kat Friege, a modern European historian at the University of Oxford. For some more info about Eurovision, check out this article that Isaac wrote last year: https://xtramagazine.com/culture/music/eurovision-geopolitics-queer-trans-representation-222579 -- Co-hosted by Ted (⁠@ted_knudsen⁠) and Michelle (⁠@shhellgames⁠). Produced by Isaac (⁠@wuermann⁠). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

Ted interviews Arne Semsrott of Freiheitsfonds, a bail fund for people who have been imprisoned for riding public transit without a ticket. Check out the Freiheitsfonds website for more info: https://www.freiheitsfonds.de/ We encourage you to donate if you can! -- Co-hosted by Ted (⁠@ted_knudsen⁠) and Michelle (⁠@shhellgames⁠). Produced by Isaac Würmann (⁠@wuermann⁠). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

Ted talks to transport researcher Giulio Mattioli about recent transit-related German news, including Germany’s recent efforts to block a measure ending the sale of internal combustion engine cars at the EU-level. You can read more about that here.  For more from Giulio, you can follow him on Twitter: ⁠@giulio_mattioli⁠. Following the interview, we consider a recent article in Der Spiegel that says, come on, give the FDP a break! (Spoiler: we will not be giving the FDP a break.) You can check out that article for yourself here.  -- Co-hosted by Ted (⁠@ted_knudsen⁠) and Michelle (⁠@shhellgames⁠). Produced by Isaac Würmann (⁠@wuermann⁠). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

We're talking about something a bit different on this episode, and about a time period much earlier than we usually discuss: the witch trials of early-modern Germany. Why? Because it's Witchy Zeit in Germany!  Carnival/Fasching/Fastnacht just happened last month and at the end of April is Walpurgisnacht, also known as Hexenbrennen (witch burning). Michelle and Isaac give a bit of background about these witchy festivals at the start of the episode, before getting into an interview with Dr. Laura Kounine, lecturer in early modern history at the University of Sussex. Dr. Kounine published her book Imagining the Witch: Emotions, Gender and Selfhood in Early Modern Germany in 2018, and has some fascinating insights into the experiences of being put on trial for witchcraft during this period.  You can find more from Dr. Kounine on Twitter: @LauraKounine To learn more about Fasching and Walpurgisnacht, check out these articles we cited:  Fasching: Tracing the Roots of South Germany's 'Dark Carnival' in The Local  Are You Reading for Walpurgisnacht, Germany's Night of Witches? in The Local -- Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

Here's a preview of our latest premium episode, where Ted talks about tanks! Specifically, he laments the anglophone media's gratuitous hand-wringing over Germany's alleged reluctance to adequately support Ukraine. To listen to the full episode, support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/spassbremse -- Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

The whole team's back together again to discuss the upcoming repeat election happening in Berlin on Sunday, February 12.  Here's a link to the candidates' debate that we reference throughout the episode: https://www.rbb24.de/politik/hintergrund/livestream-ihre-wahl-kandidatencheck-berlin-abgeordnetenhaus.html  You can check out the latest polls and coalition possibilities here: https://interaktiv.tagesspiegel.de/lab/wahl-wiederholung-abgeordnetenhaus-2023-umfragen-prognosen-analysen-ergebnisse-wahlkarten/ And for some more background to the repeat election, check out this article from Deutsche Welle: https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-gears-up-to-repeat-botched-elections/a-64621620 -- Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

We're joined by journalist Ruairi Casey to talk about the evacuation of the climate protest in Lützerath earlier this month, and what it can tell us about climate politics in Germany. Read the piece Ruairi wrote on this subject here: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2023/january/in-luetzerath For more from Ruairi, follow him on Twitter: @Ruairi_Casey -- Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

Happy (belated) New Year! Here's a short preview of our latest premium episode featuring part two of Ted's interview with Fritz Bartel, Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Texas A&M at the George H. W. Bush School of Government and Public Service, about his new book The Triumph of Broken Promises: The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Neoliberalism. After the interview, Ted and Michelle share some of their reflections.  To listen to the full episode, support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/spassbremse And make sure to listen to part one of the interview with Professor Bartel if you haven't already! You can find it here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/OPdcBUDmKwb  We'll be back soon with some more episodes on the main feed, including a Wahlupdate about Berlin's repeat state election that's coming up next month. -- Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann). Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.

Back by popular demand, we’re joined by Nathan to talk about this year’s Christmas market scandals! Check out last year’s two-part episode “The Twelve Days of Christmas Market Scandals” for more holiday drama. This year, we’re discussing six different scandals: 1. Not heeding the energy-saving restrictions https://www.insuedthueringen.de/inhalt.eisenach-trotz-energiekrise-weihnachtsmarkt-ohne-einschraenkungen.c3f15953-26ef-4833-9abf-758482dd6cf4.html 2. Tax evasion and not following the receipt obligations https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2019-12/steuerbetrug-bonpflicht-registrierkassen-haendler-handel-finanzamt?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F 3. Pickpockets in Niedersachsen! https://www.lka.polizei-nds.de/a/presse/pressemeldungen/taschendiebe-unterwegs-auf-weihnachtsmaerkten--polizei-gibt-tipps-114196.html 4. Corrupt allocation of market stalls https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/hamburg/article11049506/Razzia-in-Rathaus-Korruption-auf-dem-Weihnachtsmarkt.html https://www.sn.at/panorama/oesterreich/marktfahrer-protestieren-gegen-vergabe-der-staende-beim-christkindlmarkt-130281856 5. Nazis https://wo-magazin.de/rechte-nutzen-weihnachtsmarkt-fuer-nazi-propaganda/ https://www.rnd.de/panorama/hakenkreuz-skandal-auf-dem-weihnachtsmarkt-DBVYGVANC6T4MIGQOSVB5E5XGI.html https://www.eimsbuetteler-nachrichten.de/osterstrasse-eimsbuettel-streit-um-nazi-codes-auf-weihnachtsmarkt/ https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/nazi-propaganda-weihnachten-unter-dem-hakenkreuz-100.html 6. Fur being sold at the Weihnachtsmarkt https://www.t-online.de/region/hamburg/id_100093252/hundepelz-skandal-auf-roncalli-weihnachtsmarkt-in-hamburg-stand-musste-schliessen.html Many thanks to Nathan for joining us again this year! You can find him on Twitter if you don’t follow him already: @nthnashma Join us again next year for days 19 - 24 of your Christmas market scandal advent calendar. We’ll also be back in the New Year with some exciting new episodes. Happy holidays! --  Co-hosted by Ted (@ted_knudsen) and Michelle (@shhellgames). Produced by Isaac (@wuermann).  Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (@spassbremse_pod). Music by Lee Rosevere. Art by Franziska Schneider.