frozen snapshot — 2026-07-22 · see today →

What's on Friedrich Merz's mind?

read fresh this morning at 6

32%22%16%12%18%

the Azerbaijan partnership 32% the secret Baku meeting 22% · newa cabinet reshuffle 16% the missing Russian gas 12% everything else 18%

Aliyev in Berlin, and the Caspian gas taps open

Rolled out the red carpet for Aliyev and signed a strategic partnership declaration — gas, oil, and a lot of South Caucasus 'connectivity' talk.

Germany's Merz and Azerbaijan's Aliyev sign gas and oil deal

Yahoo · 2026-07-21

our translation

he needs molecules that aren't russian, and azerbaijan is thrilled to sell them — the 'connectivity hub' language is just polite for 'please replace the pipeline we walked away from'

Aliyev in Berlin, strategic pact signedvery sure · 3 sources

Aliyev drops a bombshell: Germans and Russians met secretly in Baku

new — Aliyev alleges secret German-Russian Baku talkspretty sure · 3 sources

Chief of staff moves up as a surrogacy row topples a group leader

chief of staff named group leaderpretty sure · 3 sources

Merz finally says it: no Russian gas, no campaign promises

admits gas shortfall, courts Baku supplypretty sure · 3 sources

wednesday, july 22

Frame the Baku gas pact as diversification, not desperation(safe bet)

Repeat the denial: Berlin knew nothing about Russian talks in Baku(reported)

Bless the chief of staff's promotion to CDU/CSU group leader(reported)

Quietly enjoy the ZEW sentiment bump and Sewing's rare praise(safe bet)

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

The source

Frame the Baku gas pact as diversification, not desperation

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