In the ZDF documentary “Markus Lanz – America without makeup”, which will be broadcast on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 10:15 p.m., the presenter gets to the bottom of these questions and explores the mood in the country five weeks before the election. The documentary will be available in the ZDF media library from the broadcast date and will be accompanied by a panel discussion with ZDF USA correspondent Elmar Theveßen, who will be broadcasting live from Wisconsin.
A fateful election for the USA
The 2024 US election could go down in history as one of the most decisive elections. For the first time, a woman who has served as Vice President for four years is running for office, while on the other side a former president who has strongly polarized the country is running again. In his documentary “America Unvarnished”, Markus Lanz embarks on a journey through the United States to find out what the mood in the country is like. Will the American people once again believe Donald Trump’s promises and theses, or are they ready to break new ground with Kamala Harris?
Insights into the border area with Mexico
A central theme of the election campaign is illegal immigration, especially on the border with Mexico. Markus Lanz travels to the Mexican-American border region and speaks to refugees, helpers and residents on both sides of the border. These encounters shed light on the real challenges that people there face. What does it really mean to want to leave everything behind and start a new life in the USA? The documentary impressively shows the human fates that often remain hidden behind the political debates about immigration.
Election campaign in a divided country
The documentary also sheds light on the deep rifts that run through American society. Since the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, the political landscape of the USA has become further polarized. Markus Lanz visits Washington, DC and the swing state of Pennsylvania, among others, to understand how the events from then to today have an impact and how they are influencing the current election campaign.
“Terra X” podcast on the US election: “The Crack”
In addition to the documentary, ZDF is offering the six-part podcast “USA – The Rift”, which will be available in the ZDFmediathek from Friday, September 27, 2024. Journalists Ciani-Sophia Hoeder and Tong Jin Smith explore the question of how the USA, once known as the guardian of democracy, is now itself struggling with a deep division in society. In weekly episodes, the podcast provides deep insights into the political and social changes that are shaping the country.
