Rob Schmitz

It was edited by Adam Rainey, James Heider, and Courtney Dorney. Our executive producer is Sammy Yennegan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Rob Schmitz.

It was edited by Adam Rainey, James Heider, and Courtney Dorney. Our executive producer is Sammy Yennegan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Rob Schmitz.

It was edited by Adam Rainey, James Heider, and Courtney Dorney. Our executive producer is Sammy Yennegan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Rob Schmitz.

Well, for the most part, it was the struggling German economy. Scholz's government collapsed over a dispute about how to revive it. But it was also Scholz himself who's been the problem for voters. His slow, methodical approach to governing did not suit the chaotic times that Europe is in with a war on European soil and an economic downturn.

Well, for the most part, it was the struggling German economy. Scholz's government collapsed over a dispute about how to revive it. But it was also Scholz himself who's been the problem for voters. His slow, methodical approach to governing did not suit the chaotic times that Europe is in with a war on European soil and an economic downturn.

Well, for the most part, it was the struggling German economy. Scholz's government collapsed over a dispute about how to revive it. But it was also Scholz himself who's been the problem for voters. His slow, methodical approach to governing did not suit the chaotic times that Europe is in with a war on European soil and an economic downturn.

You know, these challenges require decisive action, and his three-party coalition government had a difficult time rising to the occasion.

You know, these challenges require decisive action, and his three-party coalition government had a difficult time rising to the occasion.

You know, these challenges require decisive action, and his three-party coalition government had a difficult time rising to the occasion.

Well, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats will likely remain in the government, but it's the center-right Christian Democrats under Friedrich Merz that will be in the driver's seat now, and Merz seems ready to move fast. He wants a government formed by mid-April, which is very quick for Germany, and he says he has big plans.

Well, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats will likely remain in the government, but it's the center-right Christian Democrats under Friedrich Merz that will be in the driver's seat now, and Merz seems ready to move fast. He wants a government formed by mid-April, which is very quick for Germany, and he says he has big plans.

Well, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats will likely remain in the government, but it's the center-right Christian Democrats under Friedrich Merz that will be in the driver's seat now, and Merz seems ready to move fast. He wants a government formed by mid-April, which is very quick for Germany, and he says he has big plans.

He said last night that his number one priority is to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that it can achieve independence from the United States. He went on to say, I never thought I'd be saying this, but after Donald Trump's statements last week, it's clear the Americans, or at least this administration, is indifferent to the fate of Europe.

He said last night that his number one priority is to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that it can achieve independence from the United States. He went on to say, I never thought I'd be saying this, but after Donald Trump's statements last week, it's clear the Americans, or at least this administration, is indifferent to the fate of Europe.

He said last night that his number one priority is to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that it can achieve independence from the United States. He went on to say, I never thought I'd be saying this, but after Donald Trump's statements last week, it's clear the Americans, or at least this administration, is indifferent to the fate of Europe.

I want to point out here that Germany has long considered the U.S. as its most important ally, so this is truly an astonishing statement from an incoming German chancellor.

I want to point out here that Germany has long considered the U.S. as its most important ally, so this is truly an astonishing statement from an incoming German chancellor.

I want to point out here that Germany has long considered the U.S. as its most important ally, so this is truly an astonishing statement from an incoming German chancellor.

No, you know, Germany's parties in the political center have vowed never to govern with AFD, the party's acronym in German. The AFD is under domestic surveillance for the threat it poses to Germany's democracy, and its members routinely trivialize German atrocities in World War II.

No, you know, Germany's parties in the political center have vowed never to govern with AFD, the party's acronym in German. The AFD is under domestic surveillance for the threat it poses to Germany's democracy, and its members routinely trivialize German atrocities in World War II.