An anchor again: Ted Koppel to host CBS show on US divisions

NEW YORK — At age 82, Ted Koppel is supplied to take the lengthy view when discussing what divides People.

The former “Nightline” anchor, now an occasional contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning,” takes over from Jane Pauley for the primary time this weekend to host a specifically themed program on the subject.

The present contains tales on divisions created by social media and the web, speak radio, and disparities in wealth. It delves right into a border dispute between Oregon and Idaho and the way different international locations view People as we speak. Koppel contributes three tales himself, together with interviews with singer John Legend and tv producer Norman Lear.

Koppel is distressed about a lot of what he sees, significantly the pace at which hate spreads on-line.

But within the present, he’ll quote Gallup ballot outcomes that illustrate the exceptional turnaround in six a long time, from opposition to acceptance, in how People felt about marriage between Black folks and white folks.

His level? We’ve been right here earlier than. Issues can, and do, change.

“There may be this problematic pressure that runs by means of the American countryside that periodically we get uninterested in liking one another a lot and we begin discovering all of the issues we don’t like about one another,” he stated. “It’s nothing new. We’ve finished it many instances earlier than, most importantly with the Civil Conflict, in fact.”

The “CBS Sunday Morning” particular version was initially deliberate for greater than a month in the past however was postpone following Queen Elizabeth II’s dying. Koppel, who hosted ABC’s “Nightline” from 1980 to 2005, has contributed to the CBS present for about 5 years. His enthusiasm in regards to the matter led Rand Morrison, “CBS Sunday Morning” govt producer, to counsel that he host it.

Morrison stated he’s been stunned at how energetic Koppel has been, significantly in producing concepts. Koppel’s story final yr about how Mount Ethereal, North Carolina, is making an attempt to capitalize on a connection to the fictional Mayberry of “The Andy Griffith Present” was significantly properly obtained.

“For an previous geezer, I’m doing OK,” stated Koppel, who’s lived in Maryland for greater than 50 years.

This weekend’s particular version is pointedly titled “A Nation Divided?”

Word the punctuation.

“You’ll depart the published understanding that we’ve been right here earlier than as a nation,” Morrison stated. “It’s not a terminal scenario. We wish to give a very good have a look at the battlegrounds if you'll. However we wish to depart you with the solar on the horizon.”

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