This news podcast discusses the rising popularity of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a hard-right party, in the lead-up to the upcoming federal election. The podcast features an interview with Tom Nuttall, The Economist's Berlin bureau chief, who analyzes the AfD's increased confidence, attributing it to internal party discipline, a shift in messaging focusing on immigration and economic concerns, and even an unexpected endorsement from Elon Musk. Despite its growing popularity, the AfD is unlikely to gain power due to a "firewall" of other parties refusing to cooperate with them. Nuttall highlights the AfD's increasingly radical positions, contrasting them with other European far-right parties, and expresses concern about the party's potential future influence.
