No new edition of tough but fair”: Merz answers questions!

No new edition of tough but fair”: Merz answers questions!

Today, December 8, 2025, there is a short break in the familiar Monday evening program. The popular talk show “hard but fair” will not be broadcast today. Instead, Chancellor Friedrich Merz decided to answer citizens' questions in the “Arena”. A move that will certainly cause a lot of conversation among viewers.

The talk show “hart aber fair”, which has been on the air since January 9, 2023 under the new moderation of Louis Klamroth, deals with current topics from politics, business and society every Monday at 9:00 p.m. Klamroth, who was awarded the German Television Prize in 2018 for his political talk show “Klamroths Konter”, followed long-time presenter Frank Plasberg, who left the ship after 750 broadcasts and 22 years. The show is also offered on free TV and in a live stream via the ARD media library, where current episodes can be viewed with a time delay.

Interactive audience participation

A salient feature of “hard but fair” is the opportunity for viewers to become an active part of the discussion. Questions, opinions and concerns can be sent to the editorial team not only by telephone, but also via the Internet, fax or email. If you would like to get involved, you can contact the hotline at 0800/5678-678 or send an email to hartaberfair@wdr.de send. Alternative contact options also include fax and social media via X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @hartaberfair.

The editorial team is based in Cologne, and those responsible, including editor Torsten Beermann, always strive to actively involve viewers. “hard but fair” is a joint production between WDR and Florida Factual GmbH and is produced by Niko Klamroth.

The importance of talk shows on German television

Talk shows have had an eventful career in Germany. “hard but fair” is one of the most established formats that has been connecting the whole of Germany since 2001 through discussions and analyzes of current topics. Compared to other popular shows, such as “Anne Will”, which was broadcast from 2007 to 2023, or “Maischberger”, which has been running since 2003, the great influence of these formats on the formation of political and social opinions is evident.

The way the talk show landscape on German television has developed shows how indispensable these formats have become for public discussion. From classic formats like “Beckmann,” which ran until 2014, to newer approaches with presenters like Louis Klamroth – the talk show culture remains dynamic and exciting.

The high availability of “hard but fair” is worth mentioning – current programs can be accessed through the ARD media library for up to a month after they have been broadcast. This ensures that the show remains accessible to viewers at all times, even if they have missed an episode.

So for many Munich residents and beyond, Monday evening remains associated with political issues and current social debates, even if an exception is made this evening. The interactive nature of the show and reliable reporting by experienced hosts continue to make “hard but fair” a reliable go-to for anyone who wants to stay in the conversation. What happens next remains to be seen, but we're excited to see what the next issue will bring.