OnlyFans, Merz’s remarks about city streets, democracy under pressure, CDU vs. SPD and Mamdani vs. Trump
Reza Mehman and Karsten Kammholz have an extended discussion about OnlyFans creators on panels, Friedrich Merz’s comments about the appearance of German cities, the limits of democracy, CDU vs. SPD and New York mayoral candidate Mamdani vs. Trump.
This translation preserves the original article and its transcript section. Political references, roles and forecasts reflect the discussion published on 27 November 2025.
Karsten Kammholz on politics and society
Reza Mehman and Karsten Kammholz appear together on the podcast for the first time, and it turns into a long, thoughtful conversation. Kammholz is a former editor-in-chief of a major newspaper and delivered a passionate speech in defence of democracy at Dinner im Schloss. In this episode, they discuss whether an OnlyFans creator should sit on a business panel. What did Friedrich Merz mean by his reference to the “Stadtbild”, or the appearance of city streets? Where are democracy’s limits? And what does Mamdani’s rise in New York mean for Western politics?
Summary
One-sentence version: Reza Mehman and Karsten Kammholz discuss OnlyFans on panels, Merz’s comments about city streets, the limits of democracy, CDU vs. SPD and Mamdani vs. Trump.
Three-sentence version: Kammholz is a former editor-in-chief who delivered a passionate defence of democracy. Reza asks whether an OnlyFans creator should sit on a business panel. Kammholz says: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.”
Five-sentence version: Kammholz is a former editor-in-chief who delivered a passionate defence of democracy at Dinner im Schloss. Reza asks whether an OnlyFans creator should sit on a business panel. Kammholz says: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.” They analyse Friedrich Merz’s comments about the appearance of city streets: what did he really mean? And what does Mamdani’s rise in New York mean for Western politics?
Context: who, what and why
Who is speaking: Reza Mehman and journalist Karsten Kammholz, a former editor-in-chief.
What it is about: Five contentious topics: OnlyFans on panels, Merz’s remarks about city streets, democracy under pressure, CDU vs. SPD and Mamdani vs. Trump.
Why it matters: As a former editor-in-chief, Kammholz brings a distinctive perspective on democracy, the media and politics. As an entrepreneur and migrant, Reza Mehman is an important voice from the political centre.
The episode’s five main themes:
- An OnlyFans creator on a business panel: where is the moral boundary?
- Friedrich Merz and the “Stadtbild”
- Democracy under pressure
- CDU vs. SPD: who represents the centre?
- Mamdani vs. Trump: what does it mean for the West?
Contents
- Introduction
- Summary
- Context
- Topics and analysis
- Key points
- Frequently asked questions
- Selected quotes
- The conversation: transcript from the original article
- Keywords
- Names and terms
- Passage for quotation
Topics and analysis
1. OnlyFans on business panels: where is the moral boundary?
Reza asks whether an OnlyFans creator should sit on a business panel. Kammholz says: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.” Reza considers his responsibility as a role model for other migrants.
Keywords: OnlyFans, panel, morality, role model, migrant, business
2. Moral boundaries for businesses
Defence companies, tobacco, Coca-Cola: where do you draw the line? Kammholz says: “You can find something negative anywhere if you want to.” Reza says: “It is about intention.”
Keywords: Rheinmetall, tobacco, Coca-Cola, morality, intention, business
3. Democracy under pressure
Kammholz delivered a passionate defence of democracy at Dinner im Schloss. He is convinced that we must talk to one another. Newspapers make an important contribution to democracy.
Keywords: democracy, newspapers, freedom of expression, dialogue, passionate speech
4. CDU vs. SPD: who represents the centre?
Reza says: “I am politically centrist, but sometimes I catch myself being more conservative or more left-wing than I want to be.” Kammholz says: “You always try to see the pros and cons.”
Keywords: CDU, SPD, political centre, conservative, left-wing, democracy
Key points
- Kammholz delivered a passionate defence of democracy at Dinner im Schloss: “We must talk to one another.”
- Reza asks whether an OnlyFans creator should sit on a business panel.
- Kammholz says: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.”
- Reza considers his responsibility as a role model: as a migrant, he is approached by young migrants seeking advice.
- Kammholz says: “You can find something negative anywhere if you want to.”
- Reza says: “It is about intention. If processed paper is used to pass on knowledge, the intention is always positive.”
- Defence companies such as Rheinmetall: Kammholz sees them as important for defence.
- Reza says: “I am politically centrist, but sometimes I catch myself being more conservative or more left-wing than I want to be.”
- Kammholz says: “With you, I get the feeling that you really do always try to see the pros and cons.”
- At the end, Kammholz says: “To be honest, I am an even bigger fan of yours now.”
Frequently asked questions
Should an OnlyFans creator sit on a business panel?
Reza Mehman is sceptical, not on moral grounds but because of his responsibility as a migrant role model: young migrants come to him for advice. Kammholz takes a more nuanced view: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.” He can find something negative about any business if he wants to. It is about its underlying character and intention.
Where do you draw the moral line for businesses?
Kammholz says: “You can find something negative anywhere if you want to. Always.” Reza says: “It is about intention. If processed paper is used to pass on knowledge, the intention is always positive.” Reza sees no positive underlying purpose in tobacco. Kammholz regards defence companies such as Rheinmetall as important for defence, but says it is necessary to investigate where a company supplies its products.
How important are newspapers for democracy?
Kammholz gave a passionate speech at Dinner im Schloss: in a democracy, we must talk to one another. Newspapers make an important contribution to democracy. As a former editor-in-chief, he is convinced that without newspapers we lose an important democratic check on power.
Selected quotes
“I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.”
— Karsten Kammholz
“You can find something negative anywhere if you want to. Always.”
— Karsten Kammholz
“It is about intention. If processed paper is used to pass on knowledge, the intention is always positive.”
— Reza Mehman
“I am politically centrist, but sometimes I catch myself being more conservative or more left-wing than I want to be.”
— Reza Mehman
“To be honest, I am an even bigger fan of yours now.”
— Karsten Kammholz at the end of the episode
The conversation: transcript from the original article
Introduction: how Reza and Kammholz met
Reza Mehman:
Karsten Kammholz, thank you very much for your time today. I have already told you that I am a big fan of yours. It has taken a little while to get you on the podcast. Thank you for making it happen today. I need to go back a little and give listeners some context about how I know you and how we met. It was actually a speech of yours that really stuck with me. That was at this year’s Dinner im Schloss. You were there as a guest. I think it was shortly after the second course, after the main course, that I briefly handed you and your colleague the microphone.
At the time, you were still editor-in-chief of a major newspaper. The subject was democracy in Germany and why newspapers matter to democracy, too. You gave a very passionate speech, almost a rallying cry, saying that, first, we must talk to one another in a democracy. And second, newspapers also make their contribution to democracy. That has stayed with me very vividly.
OnlyFans on panels: where is the moral boundary?
Reza Mehman:
Then I hear that there is a panel discussion with an OnlyFans creator and, let’s say, an old-money businessman. My first thought was: wow, would I want my kids to attend, for example, to listen? Or to ask me afterwards: “Dad, why are you taking part? What interests you about it?” What would I say? I am thinking about my role as a role model, and I take that very, very seriously. Especially because I am a migrant myself, young migrants often come to me. They see me as a role model, talk to me, ask for advice and so on.
Karsten Kammholz:
I find it incredibly difficult. I really do find it difficult to draw a moral line between businesses. With individuals, it is easier for me once I have met them. But when you said that tobacco is so difficult and you cannot see any positive impact, I immediately thought of Coca-Cola. I thought: that is difficult, too. But I really enjoy drinking cola, knowing that it is not healthy. I am not trying to compare drinking cola with smoking. But I think that, in anything that initially gives me a positive impression, I can always find something negative. Always. I can find something in every business that makes me say: that is not right.
Defence companies and democracy
Reza Mehman:
What about defence companies? Don’t we need them right now? Don’t we need to defend ourselves? Aren’t we currently putting €500 billion into defence? Are those managers not more important than ever? Aren’t the people working for Rheinmetall and similar companies incredibly important to us right now? By making us capable of defending ourselves again so quickly, aren’t they helping us feel less afraid of Putin?
Karsten Kammholz:
That probably depends on the company itself. If I know that it is doing very questionable business abroad, I would be more cautious. If it is for defence, I completely agree with you. I think you need to do a little more research. What exactly is it doing? Where does the company supply its products? What legal requirements does it have to follow, and so on?
Closing thoughts: Reza and Kammholz as a duo
Karsten Kammholz:
No, really. To be honest, I am an even bigger fan of yours now. I hope this was not our last conversation. Perhaps we can exchange ideas again, because the time has just flown by for me. It is wonderful to talk to someone with whom I can simply air my questions. Sometimes I do not know where I stand. I would describe myself as very much a centrist, but I have opinions on certain topics where I catch myself being a little more conservative than I would like. Sometimes I catch myself being a little more left-wing, too. With you, I get the feeling that you really do always try to see the pros and cons. So, Karsten, thank you so much for your time.
Keywords
Tags: OnlyFans, panel, morality, Merz’s remarks about city streets, democracy, CDU, SPD, Mamdani, Trump, Rheinmetall, defence, Karsten Kammholz, Reza Mehman
Names and terms
Reza Mehman, Karsten Kammholz, OnlyFans, Merz, city streets, democracy, CDU, SPD, Mamdani, Trump, Rheinmetall, defence, tobacco, Coca-Cola, Dinner im Schloss, passionate speech, editor-in-chief, migrant, role model
Passage for quotation
Kammholz at Dinner im Schloss, in a passionate defence of democracy: “We must talk to one another.”
OnlyFans on panels: where is the moral boundary?
Kammholz: “I find it incredibly difficult to draw a moral line between businesses.”
Reza: “It is about intention.”
Kammholz at the end: “To be honest, I am an even bigger fan of yours now.”
Find out more about the event mentioned in this conversation on my Dinner im Schloss page.
