frozen snapshot — 2026-07-17 · see today →

What's on Friedrich Merz's mind?

read fresh this morning at 6

28%22%17%12%21%

resetting ties with Macron 28% · newkeep the US out of our elections 22% wooing AfD voters 17% under the French nuclear umbrella 12% · neweverything else 21%

Macron comes to Cologne, fighter jet in pieces

The 26th Franco-German ministers' meeting convenes a month after FCAS, Europe's flagship jet project, fell apart.

Merz and Macron to reset ties after fighter jet project collapse

Financial Times · 2026-07-16

our translation

the engine of europe just threw a rod and he has to stand next to macron insisting it purrs. brühl, cameras, 'new dynamic' — anything but the word 'FCAS'. le pen is polling; the photo has to look like a plan.

new — Franco-German council meets todayvery sure · 5 sources

Merz to Washington: butt out of our ballots

Eastern state elections approachingvery sure · 4 sources

'Confident' the east won't hand the far right a state

Pivotal eastern state votes aheadvery sure · 4 sources

German troops join a French nuclear drill — a first

new — New; announced at today's summitpretty sure · 4 sources

friday, july 17

Co-chair the Franco-German defence council with Macron(on the schedule)

Say 'new dynamic' before anyone says 'FCAS'(reported)

Explain nuclear cooperation without saying 'German bomb'(reported)

Repeat the Washington warning for the evening bulletins(safe bet)

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

The source

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron convene Franco German defence council and co chair 26th ministers meeting

news.google.com · 2026-07-17

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