New?

There’s nothing new about socialists taking other people’s property.

Its number one on their time-honored tradition list.

Populism’s New Rallying Cry Is ‘Expropriation’ – Germany’s leftist party swept to victory in Berlin by vowing to confiscate and socialize housing.

After the German far right’s victory in regional elections earlier this month, the Sept. 20 vote in Berlin offered a startling rebuttal—but also a new set of political questions for Germany’s political system. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party scored a record high in the city, but the clear winner was the Left party and specifically Elif Eralp, its candidate for mayor. Having won an unprecedented 26 percent of votes, Eralp is now in position to lead coalition talks with Social Democrats and Greens to cobble together a left-of-center “red-red-green” government.

German of the day: Ernstes Signal

That means a serious signal.

46,000 Jobs Lost: German Corporations Lead the EU in Job Cuts — “a serious signal.”

In 2025, leading German corporations cut significantly more jobs worldwide than companies in France, Spain, or Italy. Workforces are shrinking dramatically, especially at large corporations.

The German economy is in crisis. One bankruptcy follows another. But things aren’t looking particularly rosy internationally either. Nevertheless, companies in Germany are cutting significantly more jobs than firms in Spain, France, or Italy.

Volkswagen has steering problems

And their cars do too.

Volkswagen, Audi to recall almost 1 million cars in Germany – Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to a potential steering fault.

Germany auto firm Volkswagen (VW) and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to steering problems, according to German media reports.

The KBA road traffic authority was cited by the t-online news portal as saying that the recall was required due to potential bolt failures that could damage the steering gearbox or, in some cases, cause a complete loss of steering.

It’s just a phaseout Germany’s going through

Sooner or later they’ll figure out that this is bat shit crazy.

Germany sets out plan to phase out fossil fuels by 2045 – Germany has said it plans to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas by 2045, reaffirming a climate strategy focused on electrification.

“Our road map is intended to set an international example. I am sure that many other countries will follow.”

Luxury has its price

And it’s too high, in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz production in Germany is not competitive by international standards, in particular ​due to high labour costs, the premium automaker said on ‌Tuesday, after a top executive warned workers that two plants could close.

The company wants to maintain plants and employment in Germany, it said in an emailed ​statement to Reuters. “But to do that, we need framework conditions ​that boost productivity in Germany,” it added.

German of the day: Insolvenz

That means insolvency.

German corporate insolvencies hit 13-year high in first half – The number of corporate insolvencies in Germany rose to a 13-year ​high in the first half of ‌2026 despite signs of a nascent recovery in Europe’s largest economy, figures from the ​federal statistics office showed on Friday.

Local ​courts reported 12,812 corporate insolvency filings from ⁠January to June, an increase of ​6.7% year-on-year, with transportation and warehousing ​the most affected sectors.

A warning for Germany?

I think this warning is coming a little too late.

Warning Systems in Germany Are Being Tested – Can authorities reach and warn the public in an emergency? That will be tested today starting at 11 a.m. as part of the nationwide Warning Day. In the past, gaps in the system have repeatedly come to light.

Across Germany, disaster warning systems will be tested on Thursday morning starting at 11 a.m. On the nationwide Warning Day, the federal government, states, and local authorities will trigger a test alert via various channels—including official warning apps such as Nina and Katwarn, as well as the cell broadcast system for cell phones. The media and electronic display boards will also broadcast warning messages. An all-clear is expected to be issued around 11:45 a.m.

Bake this! – German bureaucracy in action

And no, this isn’t satire.

Row over weight of half a loaf leaves German baker with €15,000 bill – A customer complaint over just 10 grams of missing bread forced the Bavarian baker to install new weighing equipment across his shops.

The punch line: German politicians can’t seem to figure out why companies aren’t willing to invest in Germany anymore.

That’s Waymo than I was expecting

That Germany would allow driverless rides before the year 2060.

Waymo to launch driverless rides in Germany in 2027, entering third market outside U.S. – Alphabet’s Waymo on Tuesday said it plans to roll out robotaxi rides in Germany in 2027, marking its third international market and first in the EU.

Waymo will start “phased” testing in Munich over the next few weeks, with plans to launch to the public at the end of next year, the company said in a blog post. The testing aims to build high-definition street maps, train autonomous specialists and adapt software to the city’s “distinct driving conditions.”

“No path forward”

To the past.

Wind farms were yesterday.

Trump administration to pay German firm $1.2bn to halt US wind projects – German energy company RWE has said it will abandon its offshore wind projects in the US after reaching a $1.2bn (£892m) payout deal with President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior (DoI).

RWE said that it will now reinvest the sum into conventional gas projects, including $900m (£669m) in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal project in Louisiana.

“After careful consideration, it was determined there is no path forward to permit these projects in the US for the foreseeable future,” the company said in a statement.