We are normal, perfectly normal, finally. The Federal Republic is one country among many, big in Europe, small in the world and not the least bit conspicuous.

For a long time, Germans thought they were special, boasted about being the best, the strongest, only used superlatives. This was called German exceptionalism.

This arrogance survived the epochal break of the Nazi era. For a long time, the Federal Germans also thought they were particularly good (including the citizens of the GDR in their world). However, there is no longer any reason for this.

The best car manufacturers in the world: It's done, Volkswagen and Co. are sneaking behind when it comes to electromobility. This applies to many future technologies. The German economy has long since lost its economic miracle spirit.

The country where almost everything works smoothly: It's done. Discipline, reliability, order and punctuality were replaced by moderate sloppiness. An example is the Let-five-be-straight Deutsche Bahn. Another is football, in which the so-called German virtues ensured a flood of titles for a long time. Once Upon a time.

The world champions of morality in politics: You're done for. The “turning point” is replacing pacifism, but others are the climate champions.

Kings of the culture of remembrance, therefore best equipped against right-wing extremism: This has been done since the AfD celebrated election and survey successes.

Now we are the most normal people in the world. Our final superlative.

You can find the current edition here

Our cover photo shows three people, intimately united. Are they all women or is there a man there? Did they have sex? And how? And who loves whom? And what agreements are there between these people? Everything seems possible, and that is the topic of our cover story “New Love Life”.

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Have a relaxing Sunday, warmly

Your Dirk Kurbjuweit


editor-in-chief

What else is important today?

  • Trump would not protect defaulting NATO members from Russia:

    Anyone who does not fulfill their obligations will not be defended: Donald Trump said this in a campaign speech - and then advised Moscow to do "what the hell they want to do." Comment from the White House: “Unhinged” – totally crazy.

  • Hofreiter calls sticking to the debt brake a "security risk":

    No money in the budget should not be an argument: Green politician Hofreiter advocates easing the debt brake in order to be able to help Ukraine in the war against Russia - and to be ready to defend itself.

  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu promises civilians a "safe corridor":

    More than a million refugees are stranded in Rafah. Nevertheless, Israel wants to attack the city. Israeli Prime Minister Natanyahu says the civilian population can move to prepared "safe zones."

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Bus tour of horror:

When Hamas invaded Israel on October 7th, people around the world followed the mass murder on social media. The crime scenes are now attracting more and more tourists. What are they shown?

Does the traffic light still create a large pension premium?

The traffic light coalition finally wants to fulfill its pension election promises – by entering the stock market to form “generational capital”. But in the last few meters there is a lot of conflict and new doubts.

Arrived temporarily – or just got away?

The first Ukrainian war refugees reached Germany almost two years ago, and around 1.1 million now live here. How they are doing, what the country is doing to them and how they are changing the republic.

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Debates of the week – what we discussed and argued about

  • Will Michelle Obama save us from Donald Trump?

    The more active Joe Biden appears, the more fantasies for an alternative to the 81-year-old president bloom. In the betting shops, the former First Lady is already a favorite for the Oval Office.

  • Genetic engineering? Yes, please!

    Certain genetically modified plants should in future be treated in the EU in the same way as conventional breeding. It is a decision long overdue.

  • The security apparatus is taking China hostage:

    The death sentence against Yang Hengjun shows that in Xi Jinping's system, national security comes above all else. This places strict limits on the West's ability to improve relations with the People's Republic.

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Today's starting question: Which countries does the Ganges flow through?

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