Overview

• ZDF aired the 2 September 2025 Markus Lanz episode (Folge 2118) with Markus Söder, journalist Anna Lehmann and 17-year-old Otto Ellerbrock, with the full show available in the ZDF-Mediathek.
• Markus Söder argued for halving or regionalizing the inheritance tax, labeling it unfair because it targets money he said has already been taxed.
• A heated exchange ensued as Lanz questioned the benefit to the wealthy, leading to his on-air retort “Das ist Quatsch!” after Söder suggested he disparaged high earners.
• Söder railed against the Länderfinanzausgleich, citing €3.8 billion received versus €130 billion paid by Bavaria, while Lanz countered by noting federal defense orders that favor Bavarian companies.
• Otto Ellerbrock voiced respect for voluntary Bundeswehr service but opposed compulsory conscription, as coverage emphasized debate and reaction rather than any immediate policy shift.