Overview

• Broadcasting councils at WDR and NDR approved two‑year extensions that keep Maischberger and Caren Miosga running at their current frequency in 2026–2027.
• Hart aber fair will deliver fewer linear episodes while host Louis Klamroth launches a Mediathek‑first format and moderates recurring townhall events.
• On Oct. 1 at Maischberger, Kanzleramtsminister Thorsten Frei dismissed Green leader Felix Banaszak’s accusation of serving fossil interests as “absoluter Quatsch.”
• On Markus Lanz the same night, Greens parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge called Chancellor Merz’s Bürgergeld rhetoric disrespectful, faced on‑air pushback, and faltered on basic budget figures.
• Late‑September shows also probed social‑policy reforms and foreign crises, including debate over Trump’s Gaza plan, Ukraine policy, and Russia’s hybrid warfare, prompting vigorous follow‑on commentary.