Paul Krantz
@paulkrantz.bsky.social
Editor of The Local Germany.
Explaining Germany for English speaking immigrants, and occasionally reporting environment & biodiversity stories for other outlets.
Tips: Paul.krantz [at] thelocal.com
Explaining Germany for English speaking immigrants, and occasionally reporting environment & biodiversity stories for other outlets.
Tips: Paul.krantz [at] thelocal.com
Again, the beat continues to be whatever dumb thing the Chancellor said lately until morale improves
www.thelocal.de/20251120/stu...
www.thelocal.de/20251120/stu...
Students walk out on German Chancellor's speech on integration
About 30 people walked out during an awards ceremony on Wednesday when Chancellor Friedrich Merz stood up to deliver a speech. The silent protest was a striking moment at an event meant to celebrate s...
www.thelocal.de
November 21, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Again, the beat continues to be whatever dumb thing the Chancellor said lately until morale improves
www.thelocal.de/20251120/stu...
www.thelocal.de/20251120/stu...
My beat will continue to be 'whatever racist / xenophobic thing German Chancellor Merz has said lately' until morale improves
www.thelocal.de/20251119/how...
www.thelocal.de/20251119/how...
How the German chancellor pissed off the entire nation of Brazil
Germany's chancellor recently visited a climate conference in Brazil where he advocated for international cooperation. But comments he made after returning to Berlin have invoked the ire of the world'...
www.thelocal.de
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
My beat will continue to be 'whatever racist / xenophobic thing German Chancellor Merz has said lately' until morale improves
www.thelocal.de/20251119/how...
www.thelocal.de/20251119/how...
I'll admit I tried this once with Robitussin in high school. Vision went white for like 5 minutes and later I threw up a bunch of purple goo in my friend's backyard. 0/10 absolutely do not recommend.
"According to the people I spoke to, every trip is bad, every trip is brutal, and that’s the point."
Young People Are Tripping on Benadryl—and It’s Always a Bad Time
Deliriants like Benadryl can bring on terrifying hallucinations in high doses. Some Gen Z-ers are taking at least a dozen pills at a time—and challenging others to do the same.
www.wired.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I'll admit I tried this once with Robitussin in high school. Vision went white for like 5 minutes and later I threw up a bunch of purple goo in my friend's backyard. 0/10 absolutely do not recommend.
Ewe really need to see these photos of sheep marching through Nuremberg
www.thelocal.de/20251117/in-...
www.thelocal.de/20251117/in-...
IN PICTURES: Six hundred sheep are led through Nuremberg's city centre
For shepherds, moving sheep between summer and winter pastures is a seasonal event, but in Nuremberg this march runs right through the city's central market square. Photographer Taeseok Oh shares his ...
www.thelocal.de
November 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Ewe really need to see these photos of sheep marching through Nuremberg
www.thelocal.de/20251117/in-...
www.thelocal.de/20251117/in-...
Also in Europe I'd reckon
If I had to predict a high-impact story that is flying under the radar now but will play a big role in next year's major federal and state elections in the U.S., it'll be electricity prices and data centers. Easy-to-understand affordability and corruption story.
The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived
A new report finds that local opposition to data centers skyrocketed in the second quarter of this year.
www.wired.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Also in Europe I'd reckon
From a news report on a protest camp against a Gravel mine in Hesse: "The forest was also damaged by the camp. Nails and wood screws were driven into trees..."
The plan is to cut down the forest where the camp is. But yeah, let's focus on those nails and screws.
www.tagesschau.de/inland/regio...
The plan is to cut down the forest where the camp is. But yeah, let's focus on those nails and screws.
www.tagesschau.de/inland/regio...
Polizei räumt Protestcamp gegen Waldrodung in Hessen
Die Polizei in Hessen geht seit dem frühen Morgen gegen ein Protestcamp von Umweltaktivisten vor. Sie hatten ein Waldstück besetzt, um die Bäume vor Rodung zu schützen. Dort sollen Kies und Sand abgeb...
www.tagesschau.de
November 12, 2025 at 11:01 AM
From a news report on a protest camp against a Gravel mine in Hesse: "The forest was also damaged by the camp. Nails and wood screws were driven into trees..."
The plan is to cut down the forest where the camp is. But yeah, let's focus on those nails and screws.
www.tagesschau.de/inland/regio...
The plan is to cut down the forest where the camp is. But yeah, let's focus on those nails and screws.
www.tagesschau.de/inland/regio...
Reposted by Paul Krantz
Since 1990, the emissions share of the richest 1% has increased by 13%, and the richest 0.1% has grown by 32%, while the poorest 50% has decreased by 3%.
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Since 1990, the emissions share of the richest 1% has increased by 13%, and the richest 0.1% has grown by 32%, while the poorest 50% has decreased by 3%.
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/cl...
Rosalía on learning different languages: "through understanding the other better maybe you can understand yourself better, and you can learn how to love better"
www.thelocal.de/20251030/why...
www.thelocal.de/20251030/why...
Why does Spanish pop-star Rosalía sing in German in her latest single?
Her latest song 'Berghain' has gone viral online, with fans speculating about the artist's unusual language choice. So why does Rosalía sing in German in her new single, and what does she say?
www.thelocal.de
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Rosalía on learning different languages: "through understanding the other better maybe you can understand yourself better, and you can learn how to love better"
www.thelocal.de/20251030/why...
www.thelocal.de/20251030/why...
I just found out that @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social and I share the same birthday. Same day and same year.
So that's pretty cool.
(In honour of the German custom I'll refrain from wishing him a happy birthday ahead of time)
So that's pretty cool.
(In honour of the German custom I'll refrain from wishing him a happy birthday ahead of time)
October 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I just found out that @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social and I share the same birthday. Same day and same year.
So that's pretty cool.
(In honour of the German custom I'll refrain from wishing him a happy birthday ahead of time)
So that's pretty cool.
(In honour of the German custom I'll refrain from wishing him a happy birthday ahead of time)
In the midst of writing this I asked a German to guess how many Bürgergeld recipients were Germans versus foreigners and they assumed WAY more of them were foreigners than the actual number.
Anyone else want to take a guess?
Anyone else want to take a guess?
The German government is pressing forward with plans to rename and reform the country's widely used long-term unemployment benefit. So how many people will be affected?
Who will be affected by Germany’s Bürgergeld reform?
The German government is pressing forward with plans to rename and reform the country's widely used long-term unemployment benefit. So how many people will be affected?
www.thelocal.de
October 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In the midst of writing this I asked a German to guess how many Bürgergeld recipients were Germans versus foreigners and they assumed WAY more of them were foreigners than the actual number.
Anyone else want to take a guess?
Anyone else want to take a guess?
Who wants to tell the CDU/CSU?
The Spanish centre-right is taking a tumble and the far-right is on the rise.
I was lucky enough to present some new causal work on Friday at LSE showing that the PP does better when it signals distinctiveness from VOX.
~1.5K tests, same result. Rejecting far-right benefits centre-right
I was lucky enough to present some new causal work on Friday at LSE showing that the PP does better when it signals distinctiveness from VOX.
~1.5K tests, same result. Rejecting far-right benefits centre-right
October 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Who wants to tell the CDU/CSU?
Reposted by Paul Krantz
Demonstrations are taking place in major German cities on Saturday October 18th, as part of the wider 'No Kings' Rally against rising authoritarianism in the United States.
'No Kings Rally': Where Anti-Trump protests are planned in Germany
Demonstrations are taking place in major German cities on Saturday October 18th, as part of the wider 'No Kings' Rally against rising authoritarianism in the United States.
www.thelocal.de
October 13, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Demonstrations are taking place in major German cities on Saturday October 18th, as part of the wider 'No Kings' Rally against rising authoritarianism in the United States.
Reposted by Paul Krantz
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
signal.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
The kids are out here eating pudding with forks!
Honestly, very pleased to have brought what I'm pretty sure is the first English language report on this trend.
www.thelocal.de/20251001/why...
Honestly, very pleased to have brought what I'm pretty sure is the first English language report on this trend.
www.thelocal.de/20251001/why...
Why are young Germans eating pudding with forks?
Hundreds of young people have been gathering in German cities to sit together and eat pudding with forks. What's the deal behind the bizarre trend?
www.thelocal.de
October 2, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The kids are out here eating pudding with forks!
Honestly, very pleased to have brought what I'm pretty sure is the first English language report on this trend.
www.thelocal.de/20251001/why...
Honestly, very pleased to have brought what I'm pretty sure is the first English language report on this trend.
www.thelocal.de/20251001/why...
Taking this story as a nice reminder that the bad news tends to make the headlines (Trump blocks mega wind project) but sometimes there's good news to be found too (wind project gets go ahead becuz Trump had no good reason)
Scoop: Trump lost the legal battle over halting the offshore Revolution Wind project after Orsted, its developer, brought reams of evidence to court alleging the government was lying about military security concerns.
It’s a sign truth can empower companies Trump targets.
Via @heatmap.news
It’s a sign truth can empower companies Trump targets.
Via @heatmap.news
How Trump’s Case Against Revolution Wind Fell Apart
The administration argued in the name of national defense — but Orsted had receipts.
heatmap.news
September 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Taking this story as a nice reminder that the bad news tends to make the headlines (Trump blocks mega wind project) but sometimes there's good news to be found too (wind project gets go ahead becuz Trump had no good reason)
Reposted by Paul Krantz
This is excellent, peeps. Well worth your time (and you can sip it in parts, no need to read all at once)
Hii! Last week Quanta published a project I've been working on all year — a special issue about climate science, or what research into climate change is revealing about how our planet works www.quantamagazine.org/how-we-came-...
How We Came To Know Earth | Quanta Magazine
Climate science is the most significant scientific collaboration in history. This series from Quanta Magazine guides you through basic climate science — from quantum effects to ancient hothouses, from...
www.quantamagazine.org
September 26, 2025 at 3:55 AM
This is excellent, peeps. Well worth your time (and you can sip it in parts, no need to read all at once)
Honestly, would've been a lot cooler if they'd just made it the 69-euro ticket
www.thelocal.de/20250918/e63...
www.thelocal.de/20250918/e63...
Germany confirms 'regrettable' Deutschlandticket price increase in 2026
The Deutschlandticket will once again become more expensive after a conference of Germany's state transport ministers confirmed the monthly price for the nationwide travel pass in 2026.
www.thelocal.de
September 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Honestly, would've been a lot cooler if they'd just made it the 69-euro ticket
www.thelocal.de/20250918/e63...
www.thelocal.de/20250918/e63...
Kind of an amazing story: Pakistan installing solar like crazy becuz conventional electricity prices shot up.
If that pattern applies in Germany, the conservative govt move to NOT lower elec taxes for homes could actually end up promoting household solar.
If that pattern applies in Germany, the conservative govt move to NOT lower elec taxes for homes could actually end up promoting household solar.
"Pakistanis installed the equivalent of half the national grid in solar capacity in 2024, often figuring out how to do it themselves from videos on TikTok and YouTube." www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-S...
Pakistan is sold on solar. It’s not about going green.
Conventionally generated electricity in Pakistan has become very expensive, but consumers don’t have to buy it. They are adopting solar panels.
www.csmonitor.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Kind of an amazing story: Pakistan installing solar like crazy becuz conventional electricity prices shot up.
If that pattern applies in Germany, the conservative govt move to NOT lower elec taxes for homes could actually end up promoting household solar.
If that pattern applies in Germany, the conservative govt move to NOT lower elec taxes for homes could actually end up promoting household solar.
A short list of things you wouldn't expect are banned at Oktoberfest:
-Scooters
-Backpacks
-Chugging a whole beer
More here:
www.thelocal.de/20250918/the...
-Scooters
-Backpacks
-Chugging a whole beer
More here:
www.thelocal.de/20250918/the...
The essential dos and don'ts for your first Oktoberfest
The world's largest folk festival kicks off on Saturday, and is expected to lure around six million thirsty visitors to Munich over the course of two weeks. Here are the most important things to do (a...
www.thelocal.de
September 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A short list of things you wouldn't expect are banned at Oktoberfest:
-Scooters
-Backpacks
-Chugging a whole beer
More here:
www.thelocal.de/20250918/the...
-Scooters
-Backpacks
-Chugging a whole beer
More here:
www.thelocal.de/20250918/the...
At a time when my social media feed is just nonstop bad news and really ugly politics, every message I see from Zohran is a breath of fresh air... Like of course the ppl of NYC would vote for this guy! The question is why other leaders aren't taking notes.
Before he was a Senator, a candidate for President, and our greatest champion in the fight against oligarchy, Bernie Sanders was the four-term Mayor of Burlington, VT.
I sat down with Bernie in Astoria to talk about the lessons he learned—and the work ahead.
I sat down with Bernie in Astoria to talk about the lessons he learned—and the work ahead.
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
At a time when my social media feed is just nonstop bad news and really ugly politics, every message I see from Zohran is a breath of fresh air... Like of course the ppl of NYC would vote for this guy! The question is why other leaders aren't taking notes.
Didn't have Germany setting up a national ravioli reserve on my 2025 bingo card but here we are...
From drafting a military service law to stocking up on emergency canned food reserves, here are the latest ways Germany is getting ready for the possibility of war in the coming years.
Military service and ravioli reserves: How Germany is stepping up preparations for war
From drafting a military service law to stocking up on emergency canned food reserves, here are the latest ways Germany is getting ready for the possibility of war in the coming years.
www.thelocal.de
September 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Didn't have Germany setting up a national ravioli reserve on my 2025 bingo card but here we are...
Props to @rachloxton.bsky.social who found the answer to a Q I've heard many times: What happens to citizenship applications if the law changes while they are waiting to be reviewed?
Put simply: they are decided based on the laws THAT DAY. More here⬇️
www.thelocal.de/20250904/wil...
Put simply: they are decided based on the laws THAT DAY. More here⬇️
www.thelocal.de/20250904/wil...
Will there be a transition period after Germany's three-year citizenship path is axed?
Germany is set to get rid of the fast-track option for citizenship. When can we expect this to happen, and how will it affect those who've already applied? We put these questions to a German MP.
www.thelocal.de
September 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Props to @rachloxton.bsky.social who found the answer to a Q I've heard many times: What happens to citizenship applications if the law changes while they are waiting to be reviewed?
Put simply: they are decided based on the laws THAT DAY. More here⬇️
www.thelocal.de/20250904/wil...
Put simply: they are decided based on the laws THAT DAY. More here⬇️
www.thelocal.de/20250904/wil...
Reposted by Paul Krantz
This graph is amazing, a better future is completely within pur grasp if we simply care a little.
August 29, 2025 at 6:05 AM
This graph is amazing, a better future is completely within pur grasp if we simply care a little.
Reposted by Paul Krantz
Chemical firms are lobbying MPs not to follow proposed EU ban on “forever chemicals”
- their arguments are disputed by scientists and described as “big tobacco playbook” tactics
By @tesscolley.bsky.social and
@pippaneill.bsky.social @endsreport.com
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- their arguments are disputed by scientists and described as “big tobacco playbook” tactics
By @tesscolley.bsky.social and
@pippaneill.bsky.social @endsreport.com
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Chemical companies lobbying MPs not to ban Pfas
Exclusive: Analysis of responses shows firms are urging parliamentarians to limit regulation of ‘forever chemicals’
www.theguardian.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Chemical firms are lobbying MPs not to follow proposed EU ban on “forever chemicals”
- their arguments are disputed by scientists and described as “big tobacco playbook” tactics
By @tesscolley.bsky.social and
@pippaneill.bsky.social @endsreport.com
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- their arguments are disputed by scientists and described as “big tobacco playbook” tactics
By @tesscolley.bsky.social and
@pippaneill.bsky.social @endsreport.com
www.theguardian.com/environment/...