In this episode, we analyze the recent German elections where the conservative CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, emerged as the leading party with 29% of the vote. The SPD, under Olaf Scholz, saw a significant drop to 16%, while the far-right AfD, led by Alice Weidel, gained traction at 20%. Merz's decision to rule out forming a coalition with the AfD raises questions about future political dynamics in Germany and its impact on European relations and partnerships with the U.S.