As Goes Janesville

In the wake of a recession that has hit Janesville, Wisconsin particularly hard, the town and its residents struggle to redefine themselves and find solutions they can agree upon. The result is a microcosm of the national plight of the middle class and the political polarization over what the American Dream looks like in the 21st century.

More >>

Check TV listings >>

In Pictures: Janesville’s Industrial Rollercoaster

In As Goes Janesville, when the General Motors plant in Janesville, Wisconsin closed for good in 2008, the town found itself in the midst of an identity crisis. Here is a pictorial history of some of Janesville’s bygone industries.

More >>

The Making of the Unmaking of Janesville, WI

We sat down with As Goes Janesville filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein in the midst of a whirlwind media tour ahead of the premiere of his film on Independent Lens. Get updates on the people in the film, find out why Paul Ryan is on the cutting room floor, and consider a cocktail of scotch and Arby’s milkshake.

Read the interview >>

Persistent unemployment, poor consumer confidence, still free-falling housing prices, rising fuel and food prices. For more than five years, the United States has suffered. A majority of the American public has been affected by the downturn in one way or another. How has your life changed since the recession began? Do you think the American Dream is still possible?

Weigh in >>