Sources & Methods (NPR)

Episode: View from Munich / Europe’s far-right / DNI in Georgia
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Mary Louise Kelly
Guests: Rob Schmitz (Berlin correspondent), Greg Myre (NatSec correspondent)
Setting: On the ground at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), Germany

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the atmosphere and key debates at the Munich Security Conference, against the backdrop of a shifting US-Europe security relationship, the rising prominence of Europe’s far-right, and a striking appearance by the US Director of National Intelligence in a domestic law enforcement scenario. With correspondents reporting live from Munich and Washington, listeners get a rare insider’s look at the intersection of policy, power, and personality shaping not just Europe—but global security.

1. The Munich Security Conference: Atmosphere & Symbolism

• On-the-Ground Impressions
  • Kelly and Schmitz relay the palpable tension in Munich, humorously describing the MSC as equal parts “ten-ring circus, Middle Eastern bazaar, surrounded by snipers” ([03:06]).
  • “It's a zoo,” concludes Schmitz ([03:33]).
  • Hierarchy and status are manifest not just in suits and badges, but in who gets to participate, underscoring the event’s exclusivity.

Quote:
“Think of a ten ring circus and a Middle Eastern bazaar surrounded by snipers on the rooftops.”
– Constanze Stelzenmiller (via Kelly), [03:06]

• Underlying Anxiety
  • The prevailing “vibe” is one of unease given recent US political developments and a perceived unraveling of longstanding transatlantic security guarantees.

2. US–Europe Security Relations: A Fraying Partnership?

• J.D. Vance’s Provocative Speech (2025 Recap)
  • Vance, Trump’s Vice President, issued a forceful rebuke to European leaders at last year’s conference, shifting the focus from military engagement to “a threat from within” ([04:33]).
  • Critiqued European mainstream parties for ignoring voters—especially those backing far-right parties excluded from the conference.
  • Vance underscored that US security guarantees should not be taken for granted if European democracies are “running in fear” of their own voters ([05:38]).

Quote:
“If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you.”
– J.D. Vance (as paraphrased/quoted), [05:38]

• Burden-Sharing and US Retrenchment
  • The familiar call for increased European defense spending has sharpened considerably; the US is now openly indicating Europe must be prepared to defend itself ([06:08]).
  • Key NATO command positions are being transferred from US to European leadership ([08:50]).
  • Some nations—like Poland—are making substantial defense investments (5% of GDP), while Germany is slower to change, though its arms industry is pivoting from cars to drones ([09:53]).
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to deliver a more diplomatic yet fundamentally aligned message: partnership over dependency ([07:22]).

Quote:
“There definitely is this sense that the US is leaving Europe for Europe to defend.”
– Rob Schmitz, [00:26 & 08:50]

3. Europe’s Far Right Takes Center Stage

• AfD in Germany: From Pariah to Participant
  • The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, previously excluded, is attending the MSC in 2026 given its surging public support (second in national polls) and new conference management ([11:38]).
  • The AfD’s message has shifted from overtly nostalgic/nationalist to a focus on “making Germany great again”—riffing on, but not fully mirroring, America’s MAGA politics ([12:55]).

Quote:
“Most mainstream parties in Germany are losing voters. The AfD is actually gaining voters and they're now in second place… they're putting their big boy pants on and finally starting to sound more like a mainstream party.”
– Rob Schmitz, [12:36]

- The party remains anti-EU and its original base centers on anti-immigration sentiment.
- When it comes to global alliances, the AfD’s nationalism is sometimes at odds with the American right—highlighted by their resistance to Trump’s Greenland ambitions, which they viewed as European sovereignty concerns ([15:35]).

• Broader European Trends
  • Parallels are drawn to the UK’s Reform movement and other right-wing populist parties; all share skepticism of migration and supranational governance.
  • The European reluctance to fully align with “Trumpism” signals the complexities of the far-right international family.

4. Ukraine: A War Now on the Backburner?

• Dwindling Urgency Amid New Crises
  • Despite the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine now receives secondary attention at the conference, with the energy devoted elsewhere, including Europe’s own political and security reckoning ([16:06]).
  • European countries (UK, Germany) are increasing security assistance, but there’s no replacement for the scale of US supplies—nor the previous “urgency” around Ukraine ([16:34]).

Quote:
“It just has lost its sense of urgency… People are talking about it, but there’s not a sense of ‘we’ve got to step up.’”
– Greg Myre, [16:34]

5. Tulsi Gabbard (DNI) in Georgia: An Unprecedented Domestic Foray

• What Happened?
  • On January 28, FBI agents executed a search for 2020 election ballots in Fulton County, Georgia; surprising photos showed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard present ([18:52]).
  • The DNI’s role is oversight of foreign intelligence, not domestic law enforcement—her presence sparked bipartisan concerns and speculation.
  • Gabbard was reportedly called from a White House Syria briefing into the election-related matter, exemplifying the politicization and blending of intelligence with domestic politics ([19:49]).

Quote:
“She is foreign intelligence, not domestic criminal investigations.”
– Senator Mark Warner (via Greg Myre), [20:16]

- Kelly adds color on the symbolic, cross-agency “big room” at ODNI, where multiple agencies share information, but clarifies this does not cover domestic criminal probes ([21:23]).

6. OSINT—Open Source Intelligence: Notable Anecdotes

• Greg Myre: Pentagon Laser Incident in El Paso
  • FAA abruptly closed El Paso airspace, later revealed to be triggered by a Pentagon-supplied laser weapon shooting down what was believed to be a cartel drone—except it was a Mylar party balloon. The mix-up led to confusion, airspace shutdowns, and finger-pointing ([21:58]).

Quote:
“The sources are saying this was not a drug cartel drone. It was a party balloon made of Mylar.”
– Greg Myre, [22:21]

• Rob Schmitz: Hungarian Election Dirty Tricks

  • Hungary faces a rare credible challenge to Viktor Orban. His opponent, Peter Magyar, warned supporters that authorities might leak a sex tape of him, signaling political “dirty tricks” ahead of April’s election ([23:58]).

• Mary Louise Kelly: Women Networking at the MSC

  • Kelly highlights the changing role of women at the once-male-dominated MSC, relaying stories of “raids” on high-end shopping to cope with “mansplaining,” and spotlighting the Women’s Breakfast event, headlined by Greenland’s female foreign minister ([25:29]).

7. Notable & Memorable Moments

• Vivid Descriptions

  • The unique soundscape: “VIPs from all over are here. They're trading notes. They're drinking coffee.” ([00:50])

• Humor & Humanity

  • On badge status at MSC:

  “I've got the lowest status badge there is, and I've discovered this over and over today trying to get through security.”
  – Rob Schmitz, [02:33]

  • “You need an escort. Like to go to the men's room.”
    – Mary Louise Kelly, [02:43]

8. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:34] “Wrecking ball politics” and intro from Munich
• [03:06] “Ten-ring circus, Middle Eastern bazaar” – What it’s like on the ground
• [04:11] Vance’s 2025 speech reshaping Europe’s security debate
• [06:08] US pivot: “You can’t count on us anymore”
• [08:50] NATO command shifts, European defense spending
• [11:38] AfD’s attendance at MSC and impact on German politics
• [12:55] What the AfD stands for; comparison to MAGA
• [15:35] AfD vs. Trump on Greenland and sovereignty issues
• [16:34] Ukraine drops in priority
• [18:52] Tulsi Gabbard’s controversial presence in Fulton, Georgia
• [21:58] OSINT: El Paso’s Mylar balloon incident
• [23:58] OSINT: Hungary’s opposition sex tape warning
• [25:29] Women’s experience and progress at the MSC

Conclusion

This episode lays bare the anxieties and contradictions shaping Europe’s security posture, the emboldenment of far-right parties, and the confusion sowed when intelligence and politics collide. Through a blend of sharp analysis, first-person color, and newsroom banter, listeners emerge with a deeper understanding of how the big security stories playing out in Munich and beyond matter—globally and at home.

End of Summary