Divided States

Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they team up for a new podcast to share their experiences from the frontline.    

They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events.  

From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise.

New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday, starting October 9th.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Racism is persistent and pervasive in America's history and present, but what about its future?

US Correspondent Cordelia Lynch reflects on whether the US has reached a true turning point, with promises of institutional reform starting to come into effect, and the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin throwing George Floyd's tragic killing into the spotlight once more.

All this in the context of Oprah's explosive Harry and Meghan interview where allegations of racism within the British royal family caused waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

QAnon has gone from fringe conspiracy theory to mainstream news. The latest prophecy of the group was that Donald Trump would be inaugurated again on 4th March 2021. Of course, that didn't come to fruition. So, what now?

In the first deep-dive episode of a new Divided States series, US Correspondent Cordelia Lynch interviews former Q followers to understand its devastating impact, and talks to conspiracy expert Mike Rothschild about where it all goes from here.

Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, and his VP pick Kamala Harris made history as the first black woman to hold such high office. Does a new administration mean a new era?

US Correspondent Cordelia Lynch and Washington Bureau Chief Emily Purser Brown discuss the many problems facing the new team - not least a pandemic that's still raging. This week they're joined by former Trump aide Omarosa Manigault Newman to gauge what Donald Trump may do next.

In the first fortnight of 2021 we have seen extraordinary events in the United States. After a violent pro-Trump mob stormed the United States Capitol, Donald Trump has become the only US President to be impeached twice. The security threat in Washington DC and other state capitals is at an all-time high as the country prepares to inaugurate President-elect Joe Biden. 

US Correspondent Cordelia Lynch and Washington Bureau Chief Emily Purser Brown reflect on a crazy couple of weeks.