September 27, 2021

In Germany, the center-left Social Democrats have scored a slim victory in the race to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor. Her more conservative party suffered its worst defeat in decades. But Germans likely won’t be saying “auf wiedersehen” to Merkel any time soon: negotiations to form a new government could take weeks, if not months, leaving her in charge in a caretaker capacity until then.

Democrats have three days to fund the government or face a shutdown. Moreover, President Biden’s economic agenda faces crucial votes this week in the House and the Senate. These bills face organized opposition from lobbyists and dark money campaigns. For a look at how dollars can damage democracy, Christiane speaks with The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer.

Despite pleas from the World Health Organization, the U.S., the U.K. and other wealthy nations are moving forward with COVID-19 booster shots. In America, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation by outside advisers to offer boosters to people over 65 and with underlying conditions – but in a rare step, she broke with the panel and decided also to include frontline workers.