The Coronavirus pandemic is rapidly spreading through the US, and the response has been intense. Normal life has been suspended in many parts of America: schools are closed, so too are many bars and restaurants, and the public are grappling with the prospect of social distancing for months.The crew talk through all the astonishing changes made in just the last few days. How will the US economy survive such an enormous shock? What happens to small businesses who are forced to close? Will the US election still happen?Listen to Divided States, wherever you get your podcasts.

COVID-19: America in lockdown

Divided States is the American politics podcast from Sky News looking at all the issues that divide the most powerful country on the planet.

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The headlines over the past month have been dominated by one issue: Ukraine. In this episode of Divided States, Sky News US Correspondent Mark Stone talks to the great-granddaughter of one of Vladimir Putin’s predecessors. Now a professor in New York, Nina Khrushcheva says the West continues to misunderstand the Russian psyche. And democratic strategist Mark Mellman defends President Biden against claims he’s botching another foreign policy challenge.

Biden vs Putin: Is the Ukraine crisis one big bluff?

18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was on trial for murder - in August 2020 he’d shot and killed two men and wounded a third in racial unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Last week he was acquitted on five counts. It's a trial that has divided America - the right are heralding him as a hero, while the left are condemning a justice system they say is flawed.In this episode, US Correspondent Mark Stone explains how Kyle Rittenhouse walked free, and chats to Robin Givhan, senior critic-at-large at the Washington Post, about what the case says about America.

A trial that divided America: How Kyle Rittenhouse walked free

This week a Texas judge halted the so-called ‘heartbeat bill’ which bans abortions after 6 weeks, calling it “flagrantly unconstitutional”. But the ruling is temporary, and Texas has already appealed it. It’s already testing the landmark Roe v Wade decision made by the Supreme Court in 1973.After recently going to Texas to report on the abortion restrictions in effect, the Sky News US team sit down to explain what’s happening with the ‘heartbeat bill’, and what’s next for abortion rights across the States.

Abortion in America: Texas' 'heartbeat bill' and beyond

It's been the most extraordinary week for Afghanistan, for Joe Biden and for America’s allies. Why was there such chaos in Kabul? How will this Taliban takeover play out - on the ground and in the White House? Can President Biden recover from this?In this episode, Sky News' new US Correspondent Mark Stone speaks to Charity Wallace - former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush - about the potentially catastrophic impact the US withdrawal will have on Afghanistan's women and girls. He also chats to Charles Lister, counter terrorism and foreign policy expert at the Middle East institute, about the impact Biden's decision making is having in the US and across the world.

Abandoning Afghanistan: Biden's darkest hour?

In a corner of southwest Detroit, there's a community that's spent years grappling with the air they're breathing in. The 48217 district has become known as Michigan's "most polluted zip code". There are more than two dozen pollutant-producing facilities owned by multiple companies scattered in and around the area, and residents say it's severely harming their health. The story of the 48217 district bears the hallmarks of many poor communities of colour in the US. Joe Biden has touted an extremely ambitious plan to help tackle climate change and environmental pollution. His challenge, though, will be balancing his big green ideas with big job generation.US Correspondent Cordelia Lynch speaks to renowned environmental activist Erin Brockovich about the situation in Detroit, and how the climate crisis at large should be tackled.

COVID-19: America in lockdown

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