I traveled to the U.S. several times for “20 Minuten”. Definitely a highlight of my reporting career so far was a month-long road trip with a colleague in 2024, just before the presidential election. We wanted to get a firsthand look at the mood of the country and capture the stories that often get lost in the headlines.

Along the way, we experienced the deep contrasts of American life. I saw, how fentanyl destroys entire neighborhoods in Philadelphia, how violence shapes daily life in Detroit, and how migrants wait at the border between Mexico and Texas with nothing but hope for a better life. I visited the Swiss-rooted communities of New Glarus and Berne and experienced the different vibes at rallies for both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This journey resulted in a series of articles, a live blog documenting our entire trip, and several video reports—a selection of which you can find below.

While I was also on the ground in Washington D.C. for the election and the inauguration, my time in Los Angeles covering the devastating wildfires was another experience I will never forget. Walking through the burned-out neighborhoods and talking to people who had lost everything was a heavy experience, completely different from the political noise of the months before.

Detroit: A city where violence is part of daily life

It was eye-opening to see, how growing up in a violent neighborhood shapes the lives of young people in Detroit. What struck me most was the incredible resilience and drive of the teenagers I met, who refuse to let their environment define their future.

A walk through Philadelphia’s “zombie town”

Walking through Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood was a shock. To understand the scale of the opioid epidemic, I spent time with a former addict who showed me firsthand how fentanyl is systematically destroying entire communities.

How Swiss are Berne and New Glarus?

I wanted to see how much “Switzerland” is actually left in places like Berne, Indiana, and New Glarus, Wisconsin. While these towns keep their Swiss traditions alive, their political views are worlds apart—a contrast I also explored in depth in a written article.

After the fire: Pacific Palisades

Filming in the aftermath of the wildfires felt completely surreal, like walking through an end-of-the-world scenario. The haunting, apocalyptic atmosphere and the eerie silence in these scorched neighborhoods is something that will stay with me for a long time. I documented these impressions and the local stories in a live blog as well.

Former Swiss model returns to the ruins of her home

I accompanied a former Swiss model back to her burnt out home in LA for the first time since the fires. It was a deeply emotional moment to witness her standing in the ruins of her existence, realizing that everything she owned had turned to ash.