Talk show “maischberger. die week “:” At some point we have to stop talking about Donald Trump “

WHow will things continue in the US until Joe Biden’s scheduled inauguration on January 20? What is known about the corona vaccine? And is it currently proportionate to closing cultural institutions? On Wednesday evening, moderator Sandra Maischberger spoke with experts, journalists and those who have been involved on these issues, which are probably also the greatest concern for the world and Germany at the moment.

In an individual interview, he interviewed former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) about the US elections. Sandra Navidi, US expert and business consultant, Christina Berndt, science journalist at SZ and Nikolaus Blome, head of politics at RTL / n-tv discussed the US elections and classified the current situation in the crown pandemic.

Actor Dieter Hallervorden was linked to a video call to talk about the consequences of the blockade for the cultural industry. As a Covid 19 patient, gallery owner and media expert Markus Peichl answered Maischberger’s questions about his illness, which he barely survived.

The reproach of the evening

Culture in particular suffers from the blockade. Because cinemas, theaters and museums are closed. This topic was announced quite prominently on Maischberger’s website for Wednesday’s broadcast. But it actually went under discussions about the US election result and the vaccine.

Perhaps this was due to the weighting of the arguments, but perhaps also to the fact that only one guest with reference to professional culture commented on it. Actor and theater operator Dieter Hallervorden spoke on video about his urgent demand against the closure of his theaters in Berlin.

“The fact is that the freedom of art and culture is enshrined in the Basic Law,” explains Hallervorden. “And religious freedom is guaranteed even in this pandemic,” he adds. Interpreting this one way and one way is a disadvantage and illegal.

The warning of the evening

One guest who could have acted as an opponent is Covid 19 survivor and gallery owner Markus Peichl. He supports the measures and thanked the politicians for them. Without this, he probably would not have been the 14th coronary ICU patient in the Charité, but perhaps the 18th or 25th. Since there are only 17 ICU beds in the ward, he would not have survived the disease.

Science journalist Berndt also supports the current blockade. If we had waited longer, the intensive care units would have been quickly overcrowded. If people stick now, growth may have slowed, at least in the short term. “I assume we won’t be able to get through this winter without another block,” he warns.

The request of the evening

After months of speculation about when the time will come, the first vaccine is about to be approved. But how good is it actually? What does “90% protection” mean? “Eventually, ten times more people in the unprotected group get sick than in the group that received the vaccine,” says Berndt, reflecting the analysis of the active ingredient. This would create 10 percent residual risk. However, it is still unclear whether vaccination only protects against disease or even infection.

The question that remains is who will ultimately receive the vaccination first. “Ultimately this has to be decided by the politicians. In my opinion, after a real public debate, ”says Berndt. For this too, scientific studies are needed. Probably also for this reason none of the guests starts the debate by sharing their opinion.

The discussion of the evening

One person who probably wasn’t happy with the coronavirus vaccination is Donald Trump. At the time of the vaccine’s announcement, he sees a blow against him from the pharmaceutical agency and the Democrats.

Even after the American elections, won by Joe Biden, it is not clear how things will go until its inauguration in January. “A worst-case scenario would be a coup,” warns US expert Navidi. Trump has already talked about holding the post of the Department of Defense, which is also in charge of the military. “The scenario that you consider seriously possible is that Donald Trump, with the help of the military, is working on not leaving this office?” Asked Maischberger. “What has he got to lose?” Navidi answers.

RTL political leader Blome sees it differently: “I don’t know if Americans and the American parliamentary and power-sharing system should assume that one man with few loyal followers can turn the state to the left or to autocracy, or To take over the coup “, he contradicts.” I see it differently, “says Navidi firmly. The scenario is not the most probable, but it is not completely excluded.

The counterattack of the evening

“At some point we have to stop talking about Donald Trump,” replied Sigmar Gabriel when Maischberger asked him about the elections in an individual interview. He believes we are “in the credits” of Trump’s term. “I want to believe you tonight, calm your nerves,” Maischberger says of Biden.

Many conflicts would remain with him as president, but unlike Trump, Biden is able to compromise, Gabriel believes. Asked how long Biden could hold office given his age, Gabriel Maischberger refuses: “I find the question odd. Dude, he’s not even in charge yet. That’s when we start speculating that he’s a bit old after all. “

Maischberger points out that it was the topic of the election campaign and Gabriel simply replies: “I think we can expect that he will want to remain American president for at least four years.”