The leader of Germany’s conservative opposition, Friedrich Merz, sides with the far-right AfD party, breaking political taboo. But will the move prove to be a mistake? Monocle’s Andrew Mueller is joined by panellists Marta Lorimer and Robin Lustig to unpack this and the day’s other top stories, including Portugal and Spain’s defence commitments, when fact-checking gets muddled with politics and how one London institution refuses to break with tradition and allow female membership. Plus: Chiara Rimella sends us a ‘Letter from Sifnos’.