John Kampfner
@johnkampfner.bsky.social
Author, journalist
website: www.jkampfner.net
newsletter: https://johnkampfner.substack.com/
Berlin, London
website: www.jkampfner.net
newsletter: https://johnkampfner.substack.com/
Berlin, London
Travelling this morning from Charlbury (Oxfordshire) to Manchester. Three trains, one missed connection, the last train packed liked sardines. One hour late. Could have walked more quickly. Come back German railways, all is forgiven
November 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Travelling this morning from Charlbury (Oxfordshire) to Manchester. Three trains, one missed connection, the last train packed liked sardines. One hour late. Could have walked more quickly. Come back German railways, all is forgiven
An extraordinary group of next-gen Germans and Brits, from all walks of life, super talented, coming together for the annual Young Königswinter conference in Berlin. It's been my pleasure to co-chair it for past four years with @birgitbujard.bsky.social with thanks @diplo.de and the British Embassy
October 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
An extraordinary group of next-gen Germans and Brits, from all walks of life, super talented, coming together for the annual Young Königswinter conference in Berlin. It's been my pleasure to co-chair it for past four years with @birgitbujard.bsky.social with thanks @diplo.de and the British Embassy
Start of quick swing through Saxony Anhalt and Thuringia to write various pieces. First stop: the Bauhaus Museum in Dessau
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Start of quick swing through Saxony Anhalt and Thuringia to write various pieces. First stop: the Bauhaus Museum in Dessau
Two years ago today I published 'In Search of Berlin', a personal take on the 800 years of my adopted home. I first lived here (in the East) as a young reporter in 1988. I'm so grateful for the reception the book received, and to the many people over the years who've been on the journey with me
October 5, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Two years ago today I published 'In Search of Berlin', a personal take on the 800 years of my adopted home. I first lived here (in the East) as a young reporter in 1988. I'm so grateful for the reception the book received, and to the many people over the years who've been on the journey with me
Had the privilege of seeing Daniel Barenboim conducting the Berlin Phil last night, Schubert's 'Unfinished' and Beethoven's 7th. He was so frail but he commanded the orchestra, and the audience was in raptures. What a servant to music and the cause of peace in Israel/Palestine
October 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Had the privilege of seeing Daniel Barenboim conducting the Berlin Phil last night, Schubert's 'Unfinished' and Beethoven's 7th. He was so frail but he commanded the orchestra, and the audience was in raptures. What a servant to music and the cause of peace in Israel/Palestine
Dear city of Munich, Free State of Bavaria and Government of Germany. There is no moral equivalence in these two flags
September 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Dear city of Munich, Free State of Bavaria and Government of Germany. There is no moral equivalence in these two flags
Not your usual activity on a sunny Sunday morning in Berlin: helping to remove long-standing graffiti in one of the city's wartime tunnels, one which also straddled the wall, on Dresdener Strasse
April 27, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Not your usual activity on a sunny Sunday morning in Berlin: helping to remove long-standing graffiti in one of the city's wartime tunnels, one which also straddled the wall, on Dresdener Strasse
A great 4 days in Delhi talking to experts about the use of tech for social and economic development, part of my new book on global solutions. Culminated in a whirlwind discussion hosted by good friend, the Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, on geo-politics in front of a daunting audience.
April 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
A great 4 days in Delhi talking to experts about the use of tech for social and economic development, part of my new book on global solutions. Culminated in a whirlwind discussion hosted by good friend, the Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, on geo-politics in front of a daunting audience.
Just arrived in India on final leg of my book journey, looking at digitisation of economy of over a billion people. But before I hit the road on that, some street art in Delhi
April 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Just arrived in India on final leg of my book journey, looking at digitisation of economy of over a billion people. But before I hit the road on that, some street art in Delhi
Frankfurt. On my way to central train station, a delightful encounter
March 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Frankfurt. On my way to central train station, a delightful encounter
Germany passes historic change to constitution, voting in huge injection of funding for defence and infrastructure. A great decision for the country, for Europe and for those still trying to defend liberal democracy
March 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Germany passes historic change to constitution, voting in huge injection of funding for defence and infrastructure. A great decision for the country, for Europe and for those still trying to defend liberal democracy
Merz must form a new coalition within a few weeks, and the other parties seeking to resist Trump-Putin must cast aside their differences and make it work. Interview @jamesmates.bsky.social for the 10pm @itvnews.bsky.social bulletin as huge day for Germany continues
February 23, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Merz must form a new coalition within a few weeks, and the other parties seeking to resist Trump-Putin must cast aside their differences and make it work. Interview @jamesmates.bsky.social for the 10pm @itvnews.bsky.social bulletin as huge day for Germany continues
Just voted for the first time in Germany. In these most important elections for several generations. My decisions were based on who can best defend Germany and Europe from the Putin-Trump menace
February 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Just voted for the first time in Germany. In these most important elections for several generations. My decisions were based on who can best defend Germany and Europe from the Putin-Trump menace
Start of frantic day trying to explain these seismic German elections. Starting with Broadcasting House @bbcradio4.bsky.social
February 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Start of frantic day trying to explain these seismic German elections. Starting with Broadcasting House @bbcradio4.bsky.social
Is the US friend or foe? Key question we discussed in To The Point @deutschewelle.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Is the US friend or foe? Key question we discussed in To The Point @deutschewelle.bsky.social
Germany's big election face-off between Merz and Scholz. Takeways:
Two competent technocrats with a good grasp of policy issues but little emotional intelligence
Differences on migration (but not as large as claimed)
Differences on economy (significant)
Amusing height optics
Not a word on climate
Two competent technocrats with a good grasp of policy issues but little emotional intelligence
Differences on migration (but not as large as claimed)
Differences on economy (significant)
Amusing height optics
Not a word on climate
February 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Germany's big election face-off between Merz and Scholz. Takeways:
Two competent technocrats with a good grasp of policy issues but little emotional intelligence
Differences on migration (but not as large as claimed)
Differences on economy (significant)
Amusing height optics
Not a word on climate
Two competent technocrats with a good grasp of policy issues but little emotional intelligence
Differences on migration (but not as large as claimed)
Differences on economy (significant)
Amusing height optics
Not a word on climate
Sacrow Lake, Berlin, this late afternoon
February 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Sacrow Lake, Berlin, this late afternoon
Opposition CDU motion toughening asylum passes by 3 votes, thanks to support from AfD. Friedrich Merz, future Chancellor has broken the firewall that was supposed to keep the extremists at bay. Not only has he damaged democracy, he's made it much harder to build a post-election coalition.
Dark day
Dark day
January 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Opposition CDU motion toughening asylum passes by 3 votes, thanks to support from AfD. Friedrich Merz, future Chancellor has broken the firewall that was supposed to keep the extremists at bay. Not only has he damaged democracy, he's made it much harder to build a post-election coalition.
Dark day
Dark day
Berlin this evening
January 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Berlin this evening
Each birthday as you get older seems tougher, but this one has been one of the most invigorating of them all. On the Kumano Kodo pilgrims' trail (Japan's version of Santiago de Compostela)
December 27, 2024 at 12:57 PM
Each birthday as you get older seems tougher, but this one has been one of the most invigorating of them all. On the Kumano Kodo pilgrims' trail (Japan's version of Santiago de Compostela)
Christmas greetings to all from remarkable 🇯🇵
December 25, 2024 at 10:30 AM
Christmas greetings to all from remarkable 🇯🇵
Thank you to Gregor Peter Schmitz and the editorial team at Stern for inviting me to Hamburg to give a presentation on the challenges ahead. In the run-up to the February elections, the challenges facing German media will be stronger than ever
December 6, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Thank you to Gregor Peter Schmitz and the editorial team at Stern for inviting me to Hamburg to give a presentation on the challenges ahead. In the run-up to the February elections, the challenges facing German media will be stronger than ever
Greeted with this for long weekend in London
November 29, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Greeted with this for long weekend in London