Die Zeit, through the work of journalist Mariam Lau, is highlighted for its investigative reporting on Friedrich Merz and his controversial political maneuvers, including his past connections and ambiguous stance toward far-right policies. This reporting contributes to holding political figures accountable and fostering informed public debate on authoritarian tendencies.

Die Zeit, the prominent German newspaper, successfully defended itself in court after being sued over its critical coverage of influential lobbying in the Bundestag. The victory is seen as a defense of democratic discourse and media independence against external pressures from political forces.

Die Zeit published an in‐depth interview with Christina Deckwirth from LobbyControl addressing issues of political corruption and undue influence by lobby groups in government appointments. The piece criticizes compromised compliance procedures and highlights the need for stricter safeguards against conflicts of interest, reinforcing media accountability in the political arena.

Die Zeit published an investigative report revealing Economy Minister Peter Altmaier’s letter urging the European Commission to exempt the automotive sector from stricter CO2 emission standards. The report highlights how the German government is quietly lobbying in Brussels to dilute key environmental measures in the Green Deal, a development that undermines comprehensive climate action.

On October 5, 2019, Die Zeit published an in‐depth editorial warning of the risks that using Huawei's 5G technology could expose Germany to mass surveillance and authoritarian influence. The article details how Chinese legal frameworks, such as the Cybersecurity Law and National Intelligence Law, could compromise democratic privacy and autonomy, urging policymakers to prioritize civil liberties over expedient infrastructure deployment.