Rieke Havertz »Goodbye, Amerika? Die USA und wir – eine Neuvermessung«

In the organizer's words:

November 17, 2025 / 7.30 pm / Literature Café

Rieke Havertz "Goodbye, America? The USA and us - a reassessment"

Moderation: Eric Fraunholz

Trump for a second time, tech billionaires in the American and German election campaigns, the transatlantic alliance in crisis: the view of the USA is increasingly perplexing, reporting in this country is characterized by anti-Americanism, sensationalism and the mantra of a divided country. There is another way, above all a more productive one. Because the USA is still the most powerful country in the world, a genuine understanding as the basis for a sustainable relationship is therefore essential. Rieke Havertz, an expert and correspondent on the USA for many years, invites us into her America. She traces surprising facts, takes us to the country's key locations and makes it clear: if you want to understand US politics, you have to understand the people (Aufbau Verlag 2025).

Rieke Havertz, born in 1980, is an international correspondent for ZEIT and has been co-host of the podcast "OK, America?" since 2020. She reports from Washington about a country she fell in love with 20 years ago - even if she sometimes despairs of it. Havertz studied journalism and American studies in Leipzig and at Ohio University. After working for taz, she joined ZEIT ONLINE in 2016, initially as editorial director and chief of staff.

Eric Fraunholz grew up in a German-American family in Grafenwöhr and has been Managing Director of the German-American Institute Saxony, which is based in Leipzig, since 2019.

Admission: 10,- / 7,- EUR

Event of the Literaturhaus Leipzig e.V.

Price information:

Disabled persons and their accompanying person (only if entered in the disabled pass), unemployed persons, pupils and students (up to 35) as well as holders of the Leipzig Pass or an honorary pass are entitled to a discount).