German Media Change Rules for AfD Interviews After Backlash

In September 2026, the children's news program "logo!" on KiKA and the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper changed how they handle interviews with the far-right AfD party after public backlash. The Mannheimer Morgen published an interview with an AfD politician with passages blacked out, while "logo!" revised its concept for AfD interviews. The AfD also threatened a streamer known as "Aktivist Mann" with a ban from its events. Separately, CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke out against online anonymity, and an SPD politician gave up a mandate after calling a journalist "annoying" in a WhatsApp status.