frozen snapshot — 2026-08-28 · see today →

What's on Friedrich Merz's mind?

read fresh this morning at 6

30%22%16%11%21%

the EU budget fight 30% · newthe growth story 22% · newthe firewall around the AfD 16% the mood he cannot order 11% · neweverything else 21%

Merz Assembles the Frugals Against a 2-Trillion-Euro Ask

Six net contributors met in Berlin with one demand: cut several hundred billion from Brussels' long-term plan.

Merz unites EU budget-cutters as Costa gropes for deal

politico.eu · 2026-08-26

our translation

he can't hand voters a miracle at home, so he'll hand them a smaller bill from brussels — being the man who says no is far cheaper than being the man who delivers.

new — Six-country bloc convened in Berlinvery sure · 4 sources

'Germany Is Growing Again,' the Chancellor Announces

new — 1% 2027 target and rating pledgevery sure · 3 sources

No Deals With the AfD, He Says Again

DW interview carried by three wirespretty sure · 3 sources

'I Cannot Order People to Be in a Good Mood'

new — Reuters commentary on German political funkpretty sure · 2 sources

friday, august 28

Phone one more frugal capital before Brussels starts counting votes(reported)

Say 'the economy is growing again' at least twice before lunch(safe bet)

Decline, once more, to say anything warm about the AfD(reported)

Read the poll numbers, then order nobody to cheer up(safe bet)

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

The source

Merz unites EU budget-cutters as Costa gropes for deal

news.google.com · 2026-08-28

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