The American Wake-Up Call – Lessons from a Glance at the USA

Book Presentation & Discussion with Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook. As part of the d.a.i. series "What Unites U.S.?" 2026 – 250 Years of American Democracy. A historical anniversary that coincides with a phase of profound political tensions. While the United States celebrates a quarter-millennium of constitutional governance, President Trump is profoundly altering the country's political course. Transatlantic politics expert Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook highlights how central principles of American democracy are increasingly under pressure: the separation of powers, independent institutions, and free public discourse. She also looks to Europe and warns that similar dynamics are already observable on this side of the Atlantic, including in Germany. The widespread assumption that liberal democracies are inherently stable could prove to be a dangerous misconception. Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is a German-American political scientist and expert on transatlantic relations and U.S. politics. As an important transatlantic voice of the present, she is present on television (ARD, ZDF, CNN, BBC) and works as a commentator for the "Financial Times," "New York Times," and "Washington Post." "The American Wake-Up Call" was published on January 14, 2026. Copyright: Bertelsmann Stiftung, Sebastian Pfuetze.