Since 2020, the American Council on Germany has expanded its digital programming to convene policymakers and thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic for timely discussions on the issues shaping transatlantic relations. Through webinars and virtual conversations, the ACG has broadened its reach, increased accessibility, and strengthened its role as a leading platform for transatlantic dialogue. These digital formats have enabled the organization to engage new audiences, foster sustained exchange, and complement its in-person programming.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On November 3, the ACG held a Kaffeepause with ACG Young Leader Alum Clay Risen, Reporter and Editor at The New York Times, who spent the months of May and October reporting from Berlin.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On October 27, the ACG held a Kaffeepause with Gordon Repinski, Executive Editor for Politico in Germany.
While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when traditional nation-states have not been able to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. In the next German-American State-to-State event, legislators will discuss the future of social cohesion and democracy. On both sides of the Atlantic, social cohesion serves as the glue that holds democratic societies together. When people feel connected to one another and work toward shared goals, democratic institutions gain resilience and legitimacy. In today’s climate of global uncertainty, strengthening social cohesion is not just desirable; it is essential to safeguarding democracy. Yet in recent years, social cohesion has weakened under the pressure of the ever-accelerating transformation of societies. Both the United States and Germany navigate a world marked by polycrises, in which social divisions are deepening as political polarization and inequality grow. The result has been an unprecedented erosion of trust in democratic institutions and governance. In this context, state and Länder governments in both countries play a pivotal role. Their proximity to local communities and better understanding of the issues they face, equip subnational legislators with the means to effectively address the decline of social cohesion with policies reflecting local values and priorities. To build trust in democratic institutions, subnational legislators have the responsibility to produce policies that nurture social ties and community engagement at the local level. On October 13, the ACG and Aspen Institute Germany held an insightful discussion between German and U.S. state legislators to highlight the role of states, cities, and local governments in fostering social cohesion, and promoting cross-border cooperation. The conversation included Tom Brüntrup, MdL (CDU) State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, Representative Lydia Glaize (D) Georgia House of Representatives, and Simone Strohmayr (SPD) Bavarian State Parliament.
The ACG regularly hosts discussions with a journalist based in Berlin on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse. On October 6, the ACG held a Kaffeepause with Anja Wehler-Schoeck, International Editor of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel.
Against the backdrop of increasing tensions between Europe and the United States over tariffs and trade, the German Economic Institute in Cologne published a report in late September that examines the dependence of the United States on imports from the EU and Germany. The report’s findings show that the U.S. dependence on imports from the EU is greater than often assumed – and that it has increased steadily over the past 15 years, making the U.S. dependence on imports from the EU higher (both in total value and in the number of goods) than its dependence on imports from China. On October 1, the ACG held a virtual discussion with Dr. Samina Sultan, who serves as a Senior Economist for European Economic and Fiscal Policy at the German Economic Institute.