frozen snapshot — 2026-07-04 · see today →
more minds
Friedrich Merz

What's on Friedrich Merz's mind?

read fresh this morning at 6
30%24%18%12%16%
day-one doctor's note 30% the reform package 24% war laws, rutte watching 18% 'what a game!' after the loss 12% everything else 16%
#1
Sniffles now require paperwork

One sick day, one doctor's visit — Merz says it's about record absenteeism, not trust.

As part of Merz's reform push, Germany now requires workers to obtain a medical certificate for even a single day of sick leave

NDTV · 2026-07-02
our translation

he's betting germans would rather queue at the doctor than admit the government thinks they're faking it

new sick-note rule takes effectvery sure · 4 sources
#2
Coalition drops the everything-bill
coalition finalizes reform packagevery sure · 4 sources
#3
Berlin signs, NATO nods along
war laws adopted with Rutte presentvery sure · 1 source
#4
Chancellor cheers a shootout defeat
post draws political backlashpretty sure · 2 sources
saturday, july 4
Defend the sick-note rule again as the backlash headlines keep landing(safe bet)
Sell the reform package as pro-growth, not just pro-austerity(safe bet)
Avoid posting about football again today(reported)
Field more questions on the new war laws now that Rutte's seal of approval is public(reported)

rebuilt from the public schedule, pool reports & old habits — the rest is educated guessing

The source

Defend the sick-note rule again as the backlash headlines keep landing

every line on the pad traces to something public — tap to see it