The Lay of the Land

Panel Discussion with Americans in Freiburg

Venezuela on the brink of becoming a U.S. vassal state, Greenland as a geopolitical object of desire, deadly ICE raids in the middle of Minneapolis. What do such images, flickering across our screens at breathtaking speed in 2026, say about the state of the U.S.? And what about us, watching from the other side of the Atlantic and seriously fearing for the continued existence of the Western community of values? Our spontaneously arranged discussion brings together Americans from Freiburg to pause and think aloud. We don’t want to proclaim universal answers, but rather explore experiences of irritation, contradictions, and open questions. How does political escalation feel when it suddenly happens to you? What does it mean in concrete terms when a power like Donald Trump’s becomes visible—on the streets, at borders, in constantly changing headlines? In an open, moderated exchange, we will try to explore “The Lay of the Land”: U.S. society and the politics it produces. Its fractures, its tensions. Personal, precise, and without alarmist simplifications. It’s about classification instead of outrage, about listening instead of attributing!

Registration required!