Americana - 12/09/2010

The American journalist H.L. Mencken was known as the Sage of Baltimore. This week, his ideas and acerbic insights guide Americana through an examination of life and politics in Baltimore... and a look at contemporary American politics more widely. Matt Frei talks to the award-winning journalist George Packer about the relevance of H.L. Mencken's words today and considers the inefficiencies of the U.S. Congress. The political analyst, Bill Adair, dissects the campaign messages that currently saturate America's TV screens. Baltimore's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, explains what issues are most important to the city. And one of Baltimore's most successful stars, the film-maker John Waters, joins Americana to discuss how his hometown continues to influence his career.