ZDF is giving Sarah Tacke (43) her own time slot. The first episode of the talk format "Sarah Tacke" airs on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 10:15 p.m. Four more episodes will follow through August 27, every Thursday at the same time. This becomes possible because "maybrit illner" is going on summer break. ZDF announced this in a press release.
Tacke kicks off with a topic currently igniting political debate. Following the alleged Islamist-motivated attack near the Christopher Street Day in Berlin, demands for legal consequences are growing louder. The premiere episode therefore focuses on a question troubling many people: Why was the alleged perpetrator able to move freely even though he was known to authorities and had already been convicted?
Where Criminal Law Reaches Its Limits
This leads to uncomfortable follow-up questions. What weaknesses does German criminal law have? And were legal mistakes made beforehand that actually enabled the attack to happen? The host brings a rare dual qualification to such topics: Tacke holds a doctorate in law and is a journalist.
The show's concept starts exactly where politics affects everyday life. Tacke wants to know what goes wrong and what helps. Critical and solution-oriented, as ZDF announces, she speaks with those affected, with experts and with those who bear responsibility. Causes are analyzed, arguments tested for their validity, viable solutions sought.
From Social Reforms to Elections in Eastern Germany
The choice of topics is guided by debates currently occupying the country. Social reforms are among them, as is the economic situation of many households. The elections in eastern Germany and how to deal with political extremes at the grassroots level are also on the list. Different perspectives should meet on equal footing.
Tacke's role in this setting: providing context, questioning positions and making visible what consequences political decisions have for people's lived reality. The focus is not on abstract legislation but on what actually reaches everyday life.
The Audience Votes via QR Code
It won't stop with the guests in the studio. Through a QR code survey, viewers can get directly involved during the show. The format is also flanked by intensive social media communication through ZDFheute's channels, both before and after the broadcast.
