Sep 9, 2026 · 1h 38m
Europe’s far right tests democratic resilience
Can Germany’s Far Right Be Stopped?
The episode connects electoral gains, nationalist revisionism and weakened institutions to a broader crisis of accountability at home and abroad.
- 1Germany’s AfD gains expose how immigration grievances and online politics are challenging mainstream parties.
- 2The hosts link European nationalism, foreign-policy failures and politicized institutions to declining democratic accountability.
- 3Lawrence Wright revisits intelligence failures, intervention costs and unresolved questions surrounding 9/11.
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Lawrence Wright compares the intelligence failures before 9/11 with today’s politicization of agencies and diversion of attention toward domestic populations.
The brief
Tommy and Ben open with the AfD’s historic regional gains, arguing that extremist politics, immigration grievances and younger online candidates are exposing mainstream parties’ strategic weakness.
The episode widens from Germany to Serbia, Britain and the Middle East, tracing how nationalist revisionism, settlement policy and unresolved security failures erode accountability across borders.
The hosts criticize Trump administration diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine, escalating tensions involving Iran, and alleged foreign fundraising tied to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
Lawrence Wright brings the episode’s central warning into focus: pre-9/11 intelligence failures, politicized institutions and weakened alliances can recreate vulnerabilities governments refuse to confront.
Wright also examines Iraq, Afghanistan and unanswered questions about Saudi involvement, arguing that military power, secrecy and incomplete accountability have left lasting costs.
Featuring
Mentioned
The Looming Tower
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Donald John TrumpBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.