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The body politic — a Baltimore mayor's struggle for peace

42:34

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November 4, 2025

Brandon Scott, a young black politician, was elected mayor of Baltimore in 2020. It was a turbulent time: the city's crime rate was high, and there were mass protests in response to the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans.

Scott, a reformer and idealist, grew up in Baltimore at a time when the city was marked by crime and urban decay. He had lost friends to gun violence and knew first-hand what life on the streets was like. As mayor, he and his team aimed to reduce the crime rate. His guiding principle was that, in a city overwhelmed by violence, peace is the only thing worth fighting for. In contrast to previous city governments, Scott focused more on prevention than on controlling crime and making arrests. He wanted to give people alternatives, opportunities and hope. But as soon as he took office he was confronted by a new wave of violence. Before he could implement his reforms, he was already under pressure. The media and political opponents attacked his "woke" policies, and the Maryland governor refused to talk to the new mayor for months - despite being responsible for funding city programs. This documentary follows Brandon Scott and his team through their first year in City Hall. It shows the struggle of a man who is determined to stick to his convictions, despite resistance, setbacks and political isolation. Can his holistic approach help Baltimore heal? Could it even become a blueprint for other cities in the US?

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Exciting stories, a wide variety of topics, fascinating pictures: every day, half or three-quarters of an hour of carefully researched background reports from the worlds of politics, business, science, culture, nature, history, lifestyle and sport.

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