Season 5
Episode Guide
The QAnon Effect
S5
E23
What started out as a fringe conspiracy theory in 2017 has recently spread into the mainstream. Dozens of people linked to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory ran for federal office in 2020, and two were elected to Congress. This CBS Reports documentary explores how QAnon has taken root amid challenging times and a growing distrust in American institutions, and what it means for the future of the country.
A City Under Surveillance
S5
E22
The Detroit Police Department is using facial recognition technology and a network of surveillance cameras to combat the city's high crime rates. But critics say the technology has racial bias built into it and has even landed innocent people behind bars. In this documentary, CBS Reports explores the debate over high-tech policing that promises to make our communities safer yet at the same time threatens our civil liberties.
Gun Fight, Part Two
S5
E21
In the second episode of this two-part documentary, CBS Reports follows a growing movement of militias refusing to comply with new gun regulations. As the country navigates a pandemic, economic shutdowns and political unrest, gun sales are soaring and gun rights activists argue Americans should be armed now more than ever.
Gun Fight Part One
S5
E20
In the first episode of this two-part documentary, CBS Reports explores an armed backlash to new gun laws. Mass shootings in Virginia have mobilized the fight for more regulation, but some counties won't enforce laws they say infringe on their residents' constitutional rights.
Losing Las Vegas
S5
E19
The economic fallout from COVID-19 hit Las Vegas harder than any other major city in the nation, devastating households far from the famous Strip. Though the lights are flickering on once again, uncertainty still looms. This episode of CBS Reports reveals how some Las Vegas workers are navigating a tough new reality with no end in sight.
Generation Climate
S5
E18
A generation that grew up witnessing a world with a rapidly changing climate is coming of age. Now, Gen Z climate activists are bringing a sense of urgency to mobilizing social and political movements across the nation. As the world is running out of time, these young activists have made it their mission to fight for its future.
Welcome to Pine Lake
S5
E17
CBS Reports presents its first feature documentary, “Welcome to Pine Lake.” The film set out to tell the triumphant story of a progressive, women-run town – and ended up revealing the institutional racism at the city's core. The film is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and an extended discussion with important voices and thought leaders on the problems and possible solutions to systemic racism in America today, hosted by CBS News's Anne-Marie Green.
Symbolic Justice
S5
E16
With renewed calls for racial justice in America come fresh demands to take down Confederate monuments, rid sports teams of Native American mascots, and rebrand products that use racist caricatures. But does the focus on imagery distract from the fight for systemic change? This CBS Reports documentary explores the effectiveness of dismantling these symbols of the past in the push for a more equitable future.
Socialism
S5
E15
Socialism has gone mainstream in American politics, but it remains deeply controversial. For some, it seems to offer an appealing solution to the country’s woes, but for others, it evokes fearful imagery of authoritarian regimes. This CBS Reports documentary dives into the culture war over socialism and what it means for the nation's future.
Feminism
S5
E14
Feminism has never been more widely proclaimed than it is now. But there is no consensus within the movement about what that means or how to move forward. Are these conflicts getting in the way of progress — or paving the way for growth? This CBS Reports documentary explores the internal culture wars and the greatest obstacles facing the feminist movement today.
Censorship
S5
E13
Social media platforms have become de facto public spaces, where freedom of speech is exercised. But when online speech pushes the limits of acceptability, where do we draw the line? Are conservatives and liberals treated differently? And who gets to decide? This CBS Reports documentary explores the controversy that's spread far beyond Twitter and Facebook, with real-life consequences.
Fat Shaming
S5
E12
The body positivity movement was created to offer an inclusive community for those of all sizes. But some argue that it celebrates being overweight at the expense of tackling America’s rising obesity epidemic. This CBS Reports documentary explores the attitudes surrounding weight in America, featuring those trying to change the narrative and challenge stereotypes, as well as those concerned that we are avoiding necessary conversations about health.
Cancel Culture
S5
E11
Cancel culture has destroyed careers and upended the lives of many who've made a controversial statement or committed a socially unacceptable act. It's sparked a debate about whether such incidents precipitate much-needed change or simply threaten freedom of expression. This CBS Reports documentary dives into these complex conversations, featuring stories of people who experienced being "canceled" — and those who have used it as a tool to hold others to account.
Jailed for Abortion in El Salvador
S5
E10
At a moment when Roe v. Wade appears more vulnerable than ever to legal challenges, this half-hour documentary goes to El Salvador, where harsh laws offer a glimpse into what an abortion ban can look like. For more than 20 years, El Salvador's constitution has prohibited the procedure, and more than 140 women have been incarcerated, many of whom say they were wrongfully convicted after suffering a miscarriage. CBS News reporter Kate Smith investigates, and finds one rural family whose story could force the country to loosen its ban.
Coronavirus in Navajo Nation
S5
E9
A history of unfulfilled promises between the Navajo Nation and the U.S. government has helped fuel one of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country among Navajo People. The Navajo Nation imposed extensive lockdown orders, but inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to basic needs like running water is intensifying the crisis. Will the virus drive the Navajo People closer to the brink or will it spark a rallying cry and finally lead to the relief that’s long past due?
Lifelines In The Lockdown
S5
E8
With millions of Americans under stay-at-home orders in the coronavirus pandemic, workers like grocery store employees, bus drivers and delivery people have become indispensable lifelines. Often unnoticed and undervalued by society, they now risk their lives so that daily life can continue to function. In this episode of the CBS Reports documentary series REVERB, Adam Yamaguchi asks: Will better benefits, higher wages, and our newfound respect last beyond this crisis?
War of Words
S5
E7
As the US faces an unprecedented public health emergency, one thing stands in the way — trust in truth. For years now, Americans in large numbers have come to dismiss science, established fact, and the media. And the Internet has helped bring us to this critical moment in time. In this CBS Reports presentation, War of Words, we examine how we got here, and see how the Internet-fueled parallel universe threatens to tear at the fabric of American society.
Surviving an Unlivable Wage
S5
E6
The restaurant industry has driven a significant amount of economic growth since the Great Recession, but many restaurant employees continue to end up hungry due to a two-tiered wage system that allows tipped workers to be paid as little as $2.13 an hour. CBS Reports Adam Yamaguchi travels to Indiana to explore the impact of tipping as a primary source of income for people in one of America’s fastest-growing workforces.
Rising Tide: Priced Out in Miami
S5
E5
Miami is often seen as ground zero for the impacts of climate change in the U.S., but the fallout goes well beyond flooded streets. As real estate developers head to higher ground, rising rents in low-income communities there are threatening to push vulnerable residents out of their homes. In this episode of CBS Reports, Adam Yamaguchi explores climate gentrification in Miami.
Extremists Next Door
S5
E4
In recent years, gaming and anonymous social media sites have become breeding grounds for right-wing extremists. Populated by (mostly) young white men disenchanted with their place in society, the platforms have become spaces where hate is normalized and disaffected young people are susceptible to radicalization. CBS Reports' Adam Yamaguchi reports parents, activists and even some former white nationalists are trying to find ways to stop it, but as much of the rhetoric is cropping up on mainstream platforms it's proving to be an uphill battle.
The War On Science
S5
E3
In the age of misinformation, evidence-based science is under fire. Private schools with questionable curriculums, public schools that sidestep scientific topics, and a growing abundance of conspiratorial YouTube videos are hindering our ability to separate scientific facts from beliefs or opinions. Yet as Adam Yamaguchi reports in this CBS Reports documentary, educators are finding ways to fight back.
Complicit: The Amazon Fires
S5
E2
As fires ravaged Brazil's Amazon rainforest in the summer of 2019, concerned citizens, politicians and celebrities worldwide sounded alarms and urged Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to take immediate action. But Bolsonaro fired back, claiming his critics were spreading fake news to undermine Brazil’s economic progress. In this CBS Reports documentary, Adam Yamaguchi heads into the Brazilian Amazon to see what's driving the deforestation -- and finds surprising connections leading back to the U.S.
Racial Profiling 2.0
S5
E1
As police departments turn to big data to help reduce crime in their neighborhoods, advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about high-tech racial profiling. The algorithm-driven systems analyze supposedly impartial historical crime data to predict where crimes will occur or who might commit them. But critics say the data can actually reinforce biased past police practices. This CBS Reports documentary raises the question: Are predictive policing programs actually super-charging racial bias?