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Susan Collins hanging onto Senate seat despite heavy political gravity
The Maine Republican remains locked in a tight race with her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson.
Gun suicide prevention is the goal, but Anne Arundel still pushing for results
Gun suicides are up this year in Anne Arundel, despite an ongoing push to prevent them. “No one single intervention is going to change this,” the county health officer said.
American ‘Not Proactively Seeking’ New Members Despite Overtures
Three schools reportedly have interest in joining the league.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) Is Back In The Spotlight, What Is Driving Attention?
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) drew fresh attention after its Morpheus hotel at City of Dreams received the top-tier Three MICHELIN Keys award, and the group announced a new US$500 million share repurchase authorization. Despite the Morpheus accolade and the new US$500 million buyback plan, Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s short-term share price momentum has been weak, with the stock down 14.78% over 30 days and 12.87% over 90 days. This has contributed to a year-to-date share price...
Nasim Nuñez Sets Franchise Mark In Nationals Final Road Game
Despite all his struggles offensively, infielder Nasim Nuñez set a new franchise record for the Washington Nationals this week
Business schools and the leadership divide
Despite years of progress on diversity, women remain under-represented in senior business school leadership. Removing the barriers limiting advancement is becoming a strategic priority for institutions seeking stronger leadership, broader talent pipelines and more inclusive decision-making
Who on Earth Could Start Game 162 for the Astros?
There are three games remaining in the 2026 regular season, and somehow the Astros control their own destiny in the American League West. The Astros have won two of three games this week despite not having a starting pitcher complete three innings. Hunter Brown will start Friday’s game in West Sacramento, with Hayden Wesneski likely […]
New Jersey’s governor calls on her lieutenant governor to resign over ethics report
Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell’s “ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings.”
Paolo Banchero Plummets in Latest NBA Player Rankings
Despite elite production and playoff heroics, efficiency concerns and inconsistent decision-making have sparked a significant slide for Orlando’s cornerstone as he faces a pivotal make-or-break season.
Kansas’ Defense Deserves Credit Despite the Loss
Kansas’ Defense Deserves Credit Despite the Loss
Who Replaces Labaron Philon Jr for Alabama Basketball
Alabama basketball faces a major offensive problem with the loss of Labaron Philon Jr. Despite testing the NBA waters his freshman year, Philon Jr. decided to return to Alabama. In his sophomore year, Philon took a massive step in his game, becoming more than just a good defender and decent scorer. Last season, he averaged …
Analysis | Republicans are breaking from Trump on Iran. So what will they do about it?
Congress has rendered itself powerless to start and stop wars, despite the Constitution.
Reedijk 'not an academic guy' despite doctorate
New Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk insists he is more a man of action than an academic despite having a philosophy doctorate in sports coaching. The Dutchman is only 35 but had already worked in coaching with Ajax and West Bromwich Albion, Roeselare, Vitesse and Anderlecht before leading Beveren to the Belgian second-tier title and promotion last season. "I'm not a really an academic guy," he told Hibs TV.
Iran war powers measure falls short in Senate, despite new GOP support
The Googlebook has an opportunity to build Android like nothing else [Video]
Despite having effectively zero market share right now, there is an opportunity for Googlebook to do something that basically nobody...
Judge orders White House to lift Trump's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico — but reporters say they were still denied access
The news outlets asked the court for an immediate hearing after some of their journalists reported being turned away despite the ruling.
Trump ad airing with government funding despite law against ‘propaganda’
A TV ad boosting President Trump and saying that it was paid for by the U.S. government is airing in two major markets despite a federal law against using tax funds for "propaganda."
From 15,000 to 185 to Zero: Trump’s Claims of Illegal Voting in Nevada Fizzle
It was the Trump administration’s latest stumble in its effort to find proof of widespread noncitizen voting, despite decades of evidence that it is extremely rare.
ESPN Names 1 Part Of Broncos' Offense As 'Early Surprise'
Despite a sluggish start to the 2026 season, Denver’s newfound commitment to a balanced rushing attack behind Jonah Coleman and JK Dobbins signals a pivotal offensive shift.
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will lead on smart glasses privacy despite ‘pervert glasses’ criticism
In an exclusive interview with NBC News chief tech analyst Joanna Stern, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta will do more to highlight its safeguards against secret recording.
SFHHA Newsline September 2026 – Healthcare Is Becoming a Consumer Business—Whether Hospitals Like It or Not
I recently read an article in Becker’s Hospital Review that purported to identify the top ten geriatric hospitals based on a report from U.S. News & World Report. Despite having our fair share of geriatric patients here in South Florida, somehow we didn’t make the list. That got me thinking. For generations, healthcare operated under […]
Capitol agenda: Democrats fracture over college sports - Live Updates
Despite bipartisan backing of a college athletics bill, Black Democratic lawmakers are warning their own party that supporting the measure risks exploiting Black athletes.
Golden State Warriors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 season as an afterthought despite being one sleeper teams in the league.
As the coding boom fades, computer science grads focus on AI skills in choppy job market
Computer science student Jack Zemke was getting nowhere despite sending out hundreds of job applications that mostly disappeared into the void — ignored. With his graduation from Tulane University ju...
Jude Bellingham set for lucrative new Real Madrid contract
Jude Bellingham is next in line for a lucrative contract renewal at Real Madrid despite having almost three years remaining on his current deal.The England international joined Real Madrid from Boruss...
Bexar County Public Health work to continue after job cuts
Bexar County officials confirmed that essential health services will remain uninterrupted despite COVID relief coming to an end and a recent round of budget-driven department layoffs.
NRF: 2026 Halloween spending expected to rise 3.82%
Despite higher gasoline prices, consumers are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween-related items, up 3.82%, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey report. The percentage gain is not...
ASU hockey coach says he is 'right guy' despite player collapse
Arizona State head hockey coach Greg Powers declined Wednesday to answer questions about a player's collapse during a team workout last month but said he still believes he is the right person to lead the team.
49th Tawes Crab and Clam Bake serves up politics, seafood despite roaring winds
CRISFIELD, Md. — Howling winds and heavy rain could not halt one of Maryland’s most enduring political and culinary traditions on Wednesday.
UL System schools share team-level revenue sharing budgets despite new state law
Louisiana Tech University will spend nearly $2 million in public money to pay its student-athletes this year, while the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will devote $1.5 million to its sports teams.
Globant (GLOB) Following The TCI Entertainment Deal And The Undervalued Narrative
Globant (NYSE:GLOB) has become a development partner for TCI Entertainment through a new Master Services Agreement, establishing the legal and commercial framework for projects related to interactive commerce technology. Despite the new TCI Entertainment agreement, Globant’s recent share price performance has been weak, with the stock down 12.69% over the past week and 44.49% year to date, while the 1-year total shareholder return has declined 38.29%. This suggests sentiment has been under...
As Xi Visits Washington, Trump Plays Down China’s Actions Against U.S. Interests
Despite the rivalry between the United States and China, President Trump has repeatedly found ways to give President Xi Jinping of China a pass, portraying him more as a personal friend than a competitor.
GOP challenger gets within single digits of blue-state gov despite Dem's massive advantage
Bruce Blakeman trails Kathy Hochul by just 9 points in a new Siena poll, closing the gap in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one.
Chatbots are still falling short in mental health conversations with kids
Chatbots will sometimes offer up diagnoses or risky advice, a new study found, despite claims from AI companies to have improved safety.
How Rockies avoided F grade from ESPN despite 100 losses
The Rockies should feel better about their future.
Here’s What Strengthened CVS Health (CVS) in Q2
Polaris Capital Management, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for “Global Equity Strategy”. The letter can be downloaded here. Global markets delivered strong gains during the quarter, supported by an AI-driven earnings rally despite elevated interest rates, inflation concerns, and geopolitical uncertainty. Polaris Global Equity Composite (net of fees) returned 13.26% […]
Matt LaFleur calls out Packers’ “Disgusting” third down struggles
The Green Bay Packers managed to even its record at 1-1 by escaping with a 20-17 overtime victory against the New York Jets in Week 2. Despite securing the win, the Packers offense has yet to fully click through the opening two games. Their struggles on third down have been particularly noticeable, and Matt LaFleur [...]
Bethesda President Says Obsidian Will Retain ‘Creative Identity’ Despite Becoming Part Of Bethesda
"The Obsidian leadership team will continue to lead Obsidian"
Omada Health President Wei-Li Shao Sells 9,418 Shares for $236,000
Despite selling over 9,000 shares, the insider still holds 307,372 shares.
Tigers can seize series win on Wednesday afternoon against Nationals
The Detroit Tigers missed a chance to secure a series win over the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, dropping the second of the three-game series, 3-1. Despite tossing a quality start, Drew Anderson was saddled with the loss while the offense barely made a peep at Comerica Park. Making his final start of the […]
Tigers and Cubs: Week 3 vs. Ole Miss
Despite a loss, who performed well? Who struggled the most?
New Orleans Pelicans season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The New Orleans Pelicans enter the 2026-27 NBA season as perhaps the league's most confounding team after largely standing pat despite a poor record.
Former France manager Didier Deschamps may take a sabbatical
Didier Deschamps’ contract as manager of the France national team expired two months ago, upon the conclusion of Les Bleus FIFA World Cup campaign, however, despite wanting a return to management, h...
German business activity grows in September, PMI shows
By Maria Martinez BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German business activity expanded solidly in September despite firms facing increased inflationary pressures, a preliminary business survey showed on Wednesday. The S&P Global Flash Composite PMI Index fo...
German business activity grows in September, PMI shows
By Maria Martinez BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - German business activity expanded solidly in September despite firms facing increased inflationary pressures, a preliminary business survey showed on
JD Sports keeps its nerve on guidance despite a bruising half
JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD., OTC:JDSPY) has kept its full-year profit forecast intact, even after a rough six months in which earnings slid by a fifth. The FTSE 100 trainers-and-tracksuits giant still expects profit before tax and adjusting items of £700 million to £800 million for the...
JD Sports keeps its nerve on guidance despite a bruising half
JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD., OTC:JDSPY) has kept its full-year profit forecast intact, even after a rough six months in which earnings slid by a fifth. The FTSE 100 trainers-and-tracksuits giant still expects profit before tax and adjusting items of £700 million to £800 million for the...
AI-generated political ads warp reality ahead of U.S. midterms
The largely unregulated form of political communication is increasingly being adopted despite a broader backlash against AI-generated content.
Lynx clinch No. 1 seed despite 'embarrassing' loss to Fever, Olivia Miles dealing with calf injury
Olivia Miles missed Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis with a calf injury.
Discord's age verification era is upon us, despite community backlash
According to Discord, 90% of users will not have to verify their age.
Kenny Dillingham Offers Solutions to Arizona State’s Offensive Struggles
Kenny Dillingham and the Arizona State Sun Devils are in the midst of a necessary off week.Arizona State (2-1, 1-0 Big 12) are freshly coming off a conference-opening victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday.Despite the victory, there are several questions facing Dillingham and this team in particular. Saturday’s victory marks the first one that […] The post Kenny Dillingham Offers Solutions to Arizona State’s Offensive Struggles appeared first on HEAVY.
Knicks Ranked Behind 2 Teams After Historic Title Run
The defending champion Knicks landed only third in a preseason power ranking despite returning most of the core from their historic title run. The post Knicks Ranked Behind 2 Teams After Historic Title Run appeared first on HEAVY.
Penn State alumni shine despite low-scoring NFL Week 2
Penn State players are all over the NFL, and they had some of the defining performances around the league in Week 2.
New York Mets name Andy Green as full time manager
The Mets named Andy Green their full-time manager despite previous indications he would return to the front office.
Montreal Canadiens’ Trade Proposal Could Acquire Bruins’ $19 Million Veteran
The Montreal Canadiens are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators in their preseason clash.With preseason well underway, trade rumors are heating up.Despite Montreal already signing significant names, they are still caught up in rumors.According to one NHL insider, they are a top landing spot for a Boston Bruins veteran.Montreal Canadiens Named […] The post Montreal Canadiens’ Trade Proposal Could Acquire Bruins’ $19 Million Veteran appeared first on HEAVY.
Opinion: Guimaraes still needs time despite his Premier League experience
Bruno Guimaraes enjoyed the perfect start to life as an Arsenal player until last weekend, when he was seriously exposed by a relentless Brighton side. His difficult outing highlighted the challenges ...
Journey delivers farewell blast in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena
Despite internal turmoil, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers presented a strong, united front on their supposed farewell tour stop in Seattle.
Morocco’s youth between hope and resignation
On September 23, Moroccans will elect a new parliament. Despite a growing economy, many young people feel left behind. While some are prepared to fight for political change, others see emigration as their only option.
Durable Business Strengths Underpin Vontier Corp’s (VNT) Long-Term Growth Outlook
The London Company, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its “Small Cap Strategy.” U.S. equities rebounded in the quarter, driven by AI infrastructure spending and positive earnings. The letter can be downloaded here. Despite this optimism, rate outlook uncertainty persisted. Technology, previously weak, surged to lead the market, especially in semiconductors, […]
Spurs legend Hughton 'very confident things will improve'
Former Tottenham defender Chris Hughton says he is "very confident things will improve" under Roberto de Zerbi despite a poor start to the 2026-27 season. Sometimes it clicks straight away, sometimes it takes time.
Patriots offense sputtered as Drake Maye looks for answers
The Patriots have serious offensive issues despite their 20-3 win over Pittsburgh. They've scored only two touchdowns in 20 drives over two games.
New translational research awards aim to redefine health for women
DALLAS, September 22, 2026 — Despite decades of progress in cardiovascular science, women continue to face significant gaps in research, diagnosis and treatment, according to a report published by the American Heart Association and the McKinsey Health...
Four clubs eyeing struggling Arsenal star
Viktor Gyokeres moved to Arsenal just over a year ago, but he already finds himself struggling for regular action despite arriving as one of the deadliest strikers in the world.When he competed for Sp...
🚨 Breaking: Fede Valverde suffers a serious sprain
Real Madrid have announced Fede Valverde’s injury following the tests carried out. The Uruguayan was injured by Kang-in Lee during the derby against Atlético de Madrid and, despite playing through ...
Cam Ward earns high marks despite Tennessee Titans loss
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward earned a B grade after a strong performance in a narrow loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Is 50 the new 60?
Subscribe TL;DR: Younger generations are showing signs of worse health compared to earlier-born cohorts at the same age This backward “drift” is showing up both in mortality risk and chronic disease Worsening trends in obesity and diabetes are the most consistent signals Taking the long view, we’ve made astonishing gains in health and life expectancy in the last century. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 years in 1900 to 73 years in 2024. (But don’t forget, there were still old people when life expectancy was 32). As people lived longer, they also generally lived healthier along the way. It turns out that avoiding things that can kill you early, like malnutrition and lots of childhood infections, also keeps you healthier later in life. In a classic 2004 paper, Finch and Crimmins proposed that cohorts of children who benefited from fewer early life infections had less lifetime exposure to inflammation and cardiovascular disease later in life, accelerating mortality improvements at older ages. Poor nutrition in the womb has also been linked to a higher risk of later chronic disease. The upshot is that improvements in childhood health can pay dividends many decades later. The combination of better living conditions (nutrition, sanitation) and medical advances (antibiotics, vaccines, blood pressure meds, etc) meant that people’s healthy lifespan generally expanded, even as they lived longer. Aging researchers call this best-case scenario “compression of morbidity”—meaning we delay the onset of disease and disability even faster than the years of life we are adding. During my 20+ year research career, we could generally bank on the idea that younger generations would not only live longer but also keep getting healthier along the way. “60 is the new 50” as they say… Enter “Generational Health Drift” Sadly, this expectation of steady progress may be changing. You’ve probably heard that US life expectancy gains have slowed to a crawl in the past couple of decades. Mortality improvements are also slowing (though less dramatically) in many other high-income countries (you can read more about that in a review paper I wrote here). Mortality is a very blunt health measure, but it is often a good barometer for the broader population health trends happening underneath. And we are now seeing that younger generations may be in worse health at similar ages compared to earlier born cohorts. My collaborator Prof. George Ploubidis at University College London coined this worsening health in more recently born cohorts “generational health drift.” “Generational health drift” is bad news on multiple fronts. Most obviously, we don’t want our health progress to go backward. But the timing is also bad, since our populations are aging. In demographic terms, “population aging” means that the proportion of the population at older ages (i.e >65 years) is increasing. Fun demography fact: Current population aging is not due to the recent declines in the birth rates making the news, but declines in fertility decades ago, after the “baby boom.” As baby boomers reach older ages, the smaller cohorts behind them mean the percentage of older adults will increase. For example, the share of the population age 65 and older in the US increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024. This story of population aging was written long ago. Many worry that population aging will put pressure on health care and pension systems. But if people reach older ages in better health than in years past, those fiscal pressures would be less dire than projected. Healthy older people can also continue to contribute to society in many valuable ways, including paid work, caregiving, community service….even high political office 🤷. On the flip side, if younger generations reach retirement age in worse health and with more disabling conditions, this could magnify the societal challenge of population aging. Evidence for worsening generational health A recent paper that I LOVED in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leah Abrams and colleagues examined which birth cohorts (aka generations) were behind worsening US mortality. Behold the Lexis diagram (cue swooning demographers). Calendar time is on the x-axis, age on the y-axis. Birth cohorts can be followed over time as they age on the diagonal lines moving up and to the right. This figure plots the year-on-year % change in all-cause mortality at a given age. Green shading indicates mortality improvements over time, white is stagnation, and gray shading indicates worsening mortality. Following the diagonal line for those born in 1950, you can see a noticeable shift from green to gray that follows this cohort for most of their lives. This gray shading shows generally worsening mortality for the 1950 to 1959 birth cohorts compared to their predecessors across all ages. Concerningly for my GenX and elder millennial peeps, there was also a deterioration in mortality for birth cohorts born in the 1970s and 1980s, visible as dark gray areas at ages 30 to 45 during the 2010s. While some of these mortality changes reflect specific shocks such as the opioid epidemic, most deaths still occur from major causes of death such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. For cancer, the gray in the top left corner of the figure below reflects the legacies of smoking for older cohorts, followed by a period of green with improvements in cancer mortality as smoking rates declined. But the white/gray shading in the bottom right corner highlights a stagnation and reversal of the cancer trends, with cohorts born around 1970 to 1985 experiencing worsening cancer mortality. This deterioration was most noticeable for colon cancer mortality, possibly linked to obesity or dietary factors. Not just dying more, but less healthy along the way. A recent paper by Dr. Laura Gimeno of University College London (of which I am a co-author), found evidence that more recently born cohorts in Great Britain have stagnating or worsening health. A stylized picture of what“generational health drift” might look like: The review paper found: Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among Gen Z. Rates of diabetes in the 40s almost doubled from 3.1% among the Baby Boomers to 5.9% in Generation X. Gen Z reported higher rates of poor mental health in adolescence compared to earlier-born groups. These UK results are consistent with studies showing worsening health across generations in the US as well. A 2021 US study found that more recently born cohorts had worse biological markers (like blood pressure and blood sugar) than earlier generations at the same age. A separate 2022 study of Americans aged 50 and over found that more recently born generations had a higher number of chronic diseases, with younger age of disease onset. A 2024 Lancet paper found that in the US, women born in 1945 had 33% obesity prevalence at age 50, rising to 48.2% for women born in 1970 turning 50. So what’s going on, and can we turn it around? We don’t have a definitive answer for what’s causing the deteriorating health of younger cohorts, but circumstantial evidence points to worsening trends in obesity and diabetes in both the US and UK. Remember that cohort trends reflect lagged effects of early environments, and younger generations have faced both earlier onset and more severe obesity across their lifetimes. Despite these very concerning trends, the future is not set in stone. We’ve reversed poor generational health trends before: drops in smoking are a major reason cancer and heart disease deaths fell so dramatically in recent decades. GLP-1 drugs may finally turn the tide against rising rates of obesity and diabetes, though it is still early days. But things could also get worse…for example from a return to higher levels of childhood infectious diseases that can have a lasting impact on health. See for example: [ ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) [ Don’t You Forget About Me(asles): The Virus That Erases Immune Memory ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Jenn Dowd, PhD · March 24, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Even as an optimist, emerging data on the “generational health drift” has my full attention. For most of my research career, we took it for granted that each generation would be healthier than the last. But if present trends continue, **50 could be the new 60….**and Gen Z celebrities will soon look older than Paul Rudd :). Stay well, Jenn Share the Health! If you found this post useful, please share it with a friend. Share
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)
Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury
The New Orleans Saints might have a valuable backup QB that teams with injured starters could call on, despite being only two weeks into the 2026 NFL season. New Orleans has its franchise guy in Tyler Shough, but its backup QB, Spencer Rattler, could be a trade piece. On Sept. 21, the New York Giants […] The post Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
Penguins Already Dealing With Injury Concerns
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Michael Carrick believes Man Utd can still have big season despite equalling club's worst Premier League start- Paper Talk
Latest transfer news and headlines include: JJ Gabriels reason behind wanting to leave Manchester United; Andoni Iraola continuing to want more from Alexander Isak despite his winning goal against Bournemouth; Martin ONeill ponders his future as Celtic boss
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Under Fire Despite Snapping Losing Streak
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NJ small businesses invest in tech despite low confidence
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Experts say Arkansas lacks data about mental health screenings for new mothers, despite state mandate
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