October 19, 2021

To explore the inner workings of America’s newspapers, journalist McKay Coppins has been investigating the hedge fund Alden Global Capital and its years-long work gutting newspapers. Coppins' latest piece for The Atlantic is titled “The men who are killing America’s newspapers,” and he speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the destructive impact of all this on American communities.

A new Netflix documentary focuses on the everyday heroes who gave their all on the front lines of the pandemic. "Convergence: Courage in a Crisis" is directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, whose credits include such hit documentaries as "The White Helmets" and "Virunga." Featured performer Hassan Akkad is co-director. He fled Syria as a refugee before working on the front lines of COVID-19.

In Haiti, the FBI has joined the investigation into the abduction of American and Canadian missionaries. The kidnappers are now demanding $17 million in ransom – one million for each victim. Kidnappings are a daily occurrence in Haiti, where food and fuel shortages are common and where basic government services are virtually nonexistent. Yvens Rumbold works with a non-partisan think tank in Haiti.

NWSL player Kaiya McCullough came forward this summer with allegations of emotional abuse by Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke, a move that set in motion the reckoning we see now. Burke denies the claims, but McCullough says she quit the team after he made her “hate soccer.” At 23, McCullough is both a veteran player and a veteran sports activist, and she joins the show to explain her decision.