MAD KINGS: Machtprobe für Deutschland MAD KINGS: Machtprobe für Deutschland

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
Listen ad-free on Castria