Inside the Americas

Social media is everywhere these days. We take an in-depth look at just what kind of effect this growing online influence could have on voters in the US presidential election. What have the candidates, intelligence agencies and troll farms learnt since 2016 and what's changed this time around? We find out more and also speak to political analyst Caitlin Chin. Meanwhile, with Covid-19 forcing more and more campaigners to stay home, social networks are overflowing with influencers. We take a closer look at their impact on the US political landscape.

This week, US President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden faced off in the first of three presidential debates ahead of the vote on November 3. This initial clash was chaotic, full of insults and – for many people – anything but presidential. FRANCE 24's Cole Stangler gives us his take.

The Supreme Court is the new political battleground in the United States, with the passing of feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg opening up a seat at the country's highest judicial authority. In this special edition, we delve into the inner workings of that institution. We tell you how the Supreme Court works and take a closer look at two of the female nominees who could fill the crucial seat. Plus, we get analysis from author and journalist David A. Kaplan.

In the United States, a French film has found itself at the centre of controversy over the hyper-sexualisation of young girls. It's called "Cuties," or "Mignonnes" in French, and the irony is that it's being accused of the very thing the film is trying to criticise, according to its director. The backlash has prompted an online campaign to "Cancel Netflix," its distributor in the United States. We tell you more.

In this week's show, we look at the civil unrest that continues to grip many American cities. We bring you a report which looks at the rising number of pro-Trump and right-wing vigilante groups.

Coronavirus cases in Colombia surpassed 600,000 on Sunday. Despite the spike in numbers, a five-month-long lockdown came to an end earlier this week, with a month-long "selective" quarantine being put in place. In the capital, Bogota, though, intensive care units are reaching their limits. Our correspondents Pascale Mariani and Simone Bruno report on the challenges faced by the country's healthcare professionals.

In this week's show we take a look at Donald Trump's chances of being re-elected in November. As the US struggles to limit the spread of the coronavirus, and millions more Americans claim unemployment benefits, polls suggest that Joe Biden will oust Trump from the White House. We explore the US president's arguments for staying in office, see if those who voted for him four years ago will do so again and break down the campaign strategy with our in-house expert Douglas Herbert.

As Covid-19 cases surge in the United States — topping 3 million cases on Wednesday with an 85 percent increase in just two weeks — Inside the Americas brings you a special programme focused on the country's handling of the coronavirus crisis. The US has already recorded more than 130,000 deaths, the highest toll of any country on the planet.

As Covid-19 continues to batter the world, we examine how Latin America is now facing not just a record human death toll but also devastating economic damage. Policymakers say the pandemic could wipe out two decades of social progress and push tens of millions of people back into poverty. We take a look at the regions that have been particularly hard hit. We also head to Colombia, where many Venezuelan migrants have lost everything and are now living on the street. Finally, we see how one Guatemalan restaurant has transformed itself into a soup kitchen to help the country's needy.

This week, Inside the Americas focuses on the conversation ignited in the United States by George Floyd's death while in police custody. The 46-year-old unarmed African American was killed after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Footage of Floyd's death sparked protests around the world calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.