Putins gefährlicher Draht in die AfD
Aug 27, 2026 · 38m
Summary
Hosts Christoph Hickmann and Britte Sandberg analyze the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt election, where the AfD’s potential victory could mark a historic shift toward right-wing governance. The episode details the party’s deep ties to Moscow, highlighting figures like Hans-Thomas Tillschneider and the Kremlin’s strategic support via disinformation campaigns. It warns of severe security risks, including potential access to sensitive intelligence data and a domino effect on national politics.
Topics discussed
Intro: The historic significance of the Saxony-Anhalt election
Podcast launch: Matt Kings Machtprobe for Deutschland
Til Schneider: AfD deputy chair and his pro-Putin stance
Schneider's Moscow trip and Kremlin propaganda narratives
Protests in Kaliningrad and the AfD's anti-Western rhetoric
The entire Saxony-Anhalt AfD branch deemed right-extremist
Ulrich Sigmund: The charming face of right-wing populism
Analysis of the AfD's pro-Russian government program
Coalition dynamics and the AfD's influence on policy
The Kremlin Manifest: Plans to boost AfD support
Björn Höcke and the alignment with Kremlin narratives
AFD politicians' trips to Russia and meetings with Putin
Operation Matroschka: Disinformation campaigns against parties
Shadow war: Drone attacks and sowing confusion in Germany
Russian officials openly celebrating AfD's rise
Worst-case scenario: An AfD interior minister in Magdeburg
Security risks: Access to the shared intelligence data pool
The domino effect: Saxony-Anhalt as a test case for federal power
Conclusion and outlook on future geopolitical shifts
Credits and acknowledgments
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