EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 59 MIN
Alternative für Amerika: MAGA, AfD, and the Politics of Division
from The Future of Our Former Democracy · host MED and Larj Media
In Germany, as in the United States and much of Europe, there has been a rising surge of support for far-right populism and anti-democratic forces. This is exemplified in the growth of the far-right political party "Alternative for Germany" (AFD). In this episode, Heather and Colin compare still-simmering political tensions between former East and West Germany with those between red and blue states in the US — and examine why German democracy has, so far, proven more resilient to authoritarianism than US democracy. Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode: Martin Lange, Tour with a Berliner Dr. Berit Ebert, Bard College Berlin Alec MacGillis, ProPublica Nicola Hieke, Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism) Professor Thomas Gschwend, University of Mannheim German Democratic Republic borders, 1949-1990 Map of German federal election results, 2025 The New Yorker: The Complicated Rise of the Right in Germany’s Left-Behind Places by Alec MacGillis Music and archival references For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/ For more information on Larj Media, please visit: https://www.larjmedia.com/
What this episode covers
In Germany, as in the United States and much of Europe, there has been a rising surge of support for far-right populism and anti-democratic forces. This is exemplified in the growth of the far-right political party "Alternative for Germany" (AFD). In this episode, Heather and Colin compare still-simmering political tensions between former East and West Germany with those between red and blue states in the US — and examine why German democracy has, so far, proven more resilient to authoritarianism than US democracy. Special thanks to the experts featured in this episode: Martin Lange, Tour with a Berliner Dr. Berit Ebert, Bard College Berlin Alec MacGillis, ProPublica Nicola Hieke, Landeskoordinierungstelle Bayern gegen Rechtsextremismus (Bavaria State Coordination Office Against Right-Wing Extremism) Professor Thomas Gschwend, University of Mannheim German Democratic Republic borders, 1949-1990 Map of German federal election results, 2025 The New Yorker: The Complicated Rise of the Right in Germany’s Left-Behind Places by Alec MacGillis Music and archival references For more information on More Equitable Democracy’s work, please visit: https://www.equitabledemocracy.org/ For more information on Larj Media, please visit: https://www.larjmedia.com/
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Alternative für Amerika: MAGA, AfD, and the Politics of Division
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