Archive Event Highlight
American Library in Paris: The US Presidential Elections – Journalists Look at What’s Ahead (Hybrid)
Join the American Library in Paris for a panel discussion in partnership with The Overseas Press Club on the US presidential race.
RSVP to attend online or in person here.
The US presidential race has provoked intense anxiety, not only among voters but also around the world. The results could have profound implications on almost every front: immigration, the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, NATO, Russia, the Supreme Court. Join us for an extended, 90-minute media panel moderated by Vivienne Walt, in partnership with the Overseas Press Club of America, to discuss how the campaign is going, what to look for in the months ahead, and to answer your questions.
Please note the early start time of this event.
About the speakers:
Vivienne Walt is a Paris correspondent for TIME Magazine and Fortune Magazine. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, BusinessWeek, and more. She is governor of the Overseas Press Club of America.
The Washington Post’s senior national political correspondent, Ashley Parker has covered the White House since Trump’s 2016 election, a campaign she also covered. She has shared two Pulitzer Prizes, one for Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, the other for the January 6 insurrection. Ashley will Zoom in from the campaign trial to talk about Biden’s strengths and weaknesses, and a Trump victory might bring. She recently described the feeling in the Democratic Party: “There’s a deep concern Biden may not be the best candidate to beat Trump…There’s a desire among some for a plan B.”
The New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe, Steven Erlanger has covered about 120 countries. He’s been bureau chief in eight cities, including London, Moscow, Jerusalem and Paris, and has also served as the Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Washington. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes for the New York Times, one for covering Al Qaeda after 9/11, the other for coverage of Russia in 2017. Steve will talk about how the U.S. elections will impact the world. Recently he wrote: “For most European governments, the prospect that Trump could return to the White House is a prime topic of private discussion. Mr. Trump’s victory in 2016 gave a major boost to European populist politics, and another victory would almost surely do the same.”
Guillaume Debré, Deputy Editorial Director of TF1, France’s biggest TV news network, was based in Washington for 16 years, working for CNN and French TV, covering the Obama and Trump presidencies. He’s the author of several books on US politics, including on Obama and Trump, and a book titled “How Money Ruined American democracy.” Guillaume will talk about how the elections are being covered by the rest of the world, from his Paris perch, and how the stakes are truly global.
For years, Cuban-American illustrator Edel Rodriguez has captured the dark absurdity of US politics on the covers of TIME, the New Yorker, and others. His “Meltdown” and “Total Meltdown” TIME covers became iconic representations of the Trump presidency. He will join the panel on Zoom to talk about how to portray the election’s epic importance amid media overload and voter dissatisfaction.
Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions. Please note the early start time of this event.
