Morning headlines across major German editorial boards shifted abruptly from domestic politics to the US Department of Justice’s release of the 'Epstein Files.' Outlets like Zeit and Spiegel prioritized the inclusion of Bill Clinton and the relative absence of Donald Trump, while critiquing the heavy redactions and perceived lack of transparency from the US government. By early afternoon, attention returned to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s domestic vulnerability following his recent diplomatic and internal party setbacks. Reports focused on the suspension of key artificial intelligence programs and a decline in public trust. Simultaneously, conservative outlets highlighted a growing divide between the CDU and the AfD, specifically regarding the exclusion of AfD members from church offices and the potential for a CDU-Left party coalition in Saxony-Anhalt to isolate the right-wing party. In the evening, the focus remained on the legal fallout of the Epstein documents alongside reports of internal CDU friction, as regional campaigners began distancing themselves from Merz ahead of upcoming state elections.