Roundtable

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his party the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are facing an existential crisis following bruising regional election defeats.The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election saw the centre-right CDU fail to reach the five percent threshold, for the first time in a state election since 1949. The far-right AfD won with 38 percent of the vote.Merz, who has been chancellor for just 16 months, has record-low approval ratings, but is vowing to stay on and push through unpopular reforms aimed at reviving Germany's sluggish economy.As the political centre erodes and the far-right AfD makes major gains, can the CDU recover, and how long can Merz possibly last as German Chancellor?Tabea SchaumannPolicy Analyst at the European Policy CentreWolfgang MunoChair of Comparative Government at University of RostockHajo FunkePolitical ScientistEdward KnudsenEconomic Security Analyst at RAND EuropeFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Leading voices in big tech, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI's Sam Altman, are warning AI development needs to slow down to address serious safety risks.It's an issue that AI insider Connor Leahy has been sounding the alarm about for years, believing it could wipe out humanity and we are very close to a "tipping point".TRT World’s Roundtable's Enda Brady speaks to Leahy, US Executive Director of Control AI, about the threat. Leahy says he has been 'horrified' after witnessing swarms of artificial superintelligence disobey orders, escape secure facilities and be willing to commit crimes.He says the rise of superintelligence is humanity’s ultimate threat because it could outcompete human intelligence.But will governments investing big in AI such as China and the US heed Leahy’s warning - and what will happen if they don't?Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Canada and the EU look to be drawing closer together after Ursula von der Leyen made an unprecedented offer of associate membership of the European Union to Canada. The two have pledged to work together in the face of what they see as aggression from President Trump’s America. Trump says the membership offer is ‘laughable’. Relations between Ottawa and Washington have deteriorated sharply since Trump took office. He's repeatedly said Canada should become America's 51st state and they are locked in a tit-for-tat trade war. The bloc has 27 member countries, with several others in lengthy talks to join. Plus, EU rules mean Canada can never be one of them. So what does an associate membership actually mean? Could Canada become the first country to create a whole new type of relationship with the EU? Joining Enda Brady for this discussion: Tony Chapman, Podcast HostStephen Azzi, Professor of Political Management, History, and Political ScienceTinatin Akhvlediani, Head of EU Enlargement at the Centre for European Policy Studies

The nationalist parties of the UK's devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have warned 'Westminster’s time is coming to an end'.The Scottish National Party, Wales’ Plaid Cymru and all-Ireland Sinn Féin joined forces to sign a declaration on their ‘right to self determination’.Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill called for independence referendums while Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth hasn’t given a specific timetable for one in his country.US President Donald Trump has given his blessing for the unification of Ireland, saying he would 'love' to see it and that it 'may as well happen now’.So, is the breakup of the United Kingdom becoming a real possibility? What would Scottish or Welsh independence or Irish reunification actually look like?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at The i PaperNeil Findlay Former Labour Member of the Scottish ParliamentKevin Meagher, Author of ' A United Ireland'Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The 81st UN General Assembly is underway in New York, with nearly 130 world leaders gathering to discuss wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, humanitarian crises and the rapid development of AI.This year’s theme is ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.’But behind the speeches is another pressing question: who can the UN rely on for financial support?The EU and its member states provided more than one third of the UN system’s voluntary funding in 2025.While US support for international assistance has been sharply reduced under President Trump. The US owes over $4 billion to the UN in unpaid mandatory contributions.So, as the United States steps back, is Europe becoming an increasingly important partner for the United Nations?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Mark SeddonFormer Speech Writer for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonJane KinninmontChief Executive Officer at the United Nations Association - UKOliver DrewesFormer EU Commission SpokespersonFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Mass anti-migrant protests have been erupting in Britain with hundreds of masked men blocking England's busiest port Dover and in Portsmouth where a mega dinghy carrying 140 migrants landed.Riot police clashed with the demonstrators as they tried to stop a bus carrying asylum seekers from leaving.During the most recent protests in Portsmouth two men and a teenage boy were arrested.The government has condemned the violent behaviour calling it "thuggish and intimidating".Anti-immigration group Patriot Platform led by influencer Danny Thomas organised the protests and donations have been rolling in for the platform.So why is Britain experiencing an increase in anti-immigrant sentiment when the number of small boats arriving has actually dropped since last year's record highs.Plus, how will the arrival of new mega dinghies along a different migration impact numbers? Can the boats be stopped? And if they are, will it calm anti-migrant tensions?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Claire PearsallFormer Special Adviser at the UK's Home OfficeSebastian SalekFormer Labour Councillor and Political JournalistMihnea CuibusSenior Researcher at The Migration Observatory at the University of OxfordFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The Alternative for Deutschland party has won an historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.The right-wing anti-migrant party took 43.8% of the vote to win its first state premiership and is in seeking support from other parties in order to govern.For months the AfD has also been riding high in national opinion polls as the country’s most popular party.Where does this leave the unpopular German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his centre-right CDU? Could this be the start of the AfD's path to ruling Germany?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Frank-Christian Hansel, Member of the Berlin parliament for the AFDAuthor, John KampfnerJavier Carbonell, Analyst at the European Policy CentreEd Turner, Co-director for the Centre for Europe at Aston UniversityFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld#AfD #GermanPolitics #SaxonyAnhalt #Europe #europeanpolitics

The UK Metropolitan Police is carrying out a criminal investigation into allegations the Reform party broke electoral law by accepting foreign funding, following a Channel 4 news undercover report.Two of the party's top aides James Orr and Dan Jukes who were filmed in the report resigned over the scandal.Reform UK spokesperson said the party ‘denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation’.Support for the party has already started to slip, polling has dropped from over 30% in late 2025 to around 20% last month.Farage is still popular with his base and with fellow right-wing leaders in Europe, such as Jordan Bardella from France’s National Rally.As the police begin their investigation into this donation scandal, can Farage revive his party’s popularity?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Mark LittlewoodDirector of Popular ConservatismScarlett MccGwireFormer Labour AdvisorAdam BoultonBroadcaster and Political EditorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld