The Intelligence from The Economist On the off chancellor: Friedrich Merz, one year in
24 snips
May 6, 2026 
Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondent, gives a brisk read on Friedrich Merz's troubled first year in office and coalition infighting. Tom Wainwright, media editor, breaks down how advertising is creeping into AI chatbots and why that matters. They also touch on shifting war rhetoric and its cultural implications.
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Coalition Squabbles Threaten Governing Stability
- The governing CDU–SPD coalition fractures over seemingly small fights that escalate into existential rows.
- Contentious issues ahead include pension reform and unfunded tax relief for lower earners due next year.
Merz's Comment To Schoolchildren Sparked A White House Row
- Merz publicly told schoolchildren the Americans had no strategy and were being humiliated by Iran.
- That offhand comment triggered days of social-media attacks from Donald Trump and a diplomatic spat.
Troop Withdrawals Are Back On The Table
- Trump's response includes threatening to cut US troop levels in Germany, reviving a 2020 idea.
- While Congress and military leaders may constrain big withdrawals, some troop cuts now look likely.