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Last week was a crazy and difficult week for many Americans after the turmoil of Charlottesville, Virginia. While Tina Fey turned to a sheet cake to make sense of it all, we’re applauding the woman who bravely inserted herself directly into the chaos, VICE News Tonight correspondent Elle Reeve as our Woman Crush Wednesday.
WHO’S THAT GAL: Elle Reeve
WHY WE’RE CRUSHING: At this point, you’ve probably seen the VICE News Tonight report from Charlottesville, but if not, do yourself a favor and watch it. Yes, it is by no means an easy watch, but it is an important one. Which makes it nearly terrifying to imagine Elle right in the middle of it, embedded with the alt-right during one of the scariest weekends in our nation’s recent history. But Elle was a consummate professional throughout, fairly giving Neo-Nazis a platform to explain what they believe in and why they were moved to march.
Elle patiently listens (often times to actual hate, garbage, and misinformation) and is equipped with facts opposite a group of large men (with guns) who made it perfectly clear they don’t have full respect for her gender (female) or profession (the media).
But throughout her reporting, she gives her subjects a chance to speak while remaining cool, calm and collected. When she climbs in a van with them, she continues to pepper them with questions about their point of view, while most of us would’ve happily done a tuck and roll right on out of there. Plus, during all the confusion and bloodshed on the Saturday afternoon, Elle holds it together, hardly showing how scared she must’ve been feeling on the inside, forging on to deliver the story.
Elle presented thoughtful, unbiased questions to her subjects and witnesses alike, proving to be bold and resilient during a turbulent weekend. Her reporting on the scene is what makes the VICE News Tonight episode so alarming and effective, and it cemented her as one of our generation’s most important journalists.
WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER BEFORE: Elle has previously reported on politics for The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, The New Republic and is now a correspondent for VICE Media. In the last week she’s been on Face The Nation, CNN, and Charlie Rose discussing her experience in Charlottesville.
WHERE YOU’LL SEE HER AGAIN: With her latest endeavor, Elle has proved to be one of the bravest and most reliable reporters in the game. Look out for her on upcoming episodes of VICE News Tonight where she will continue to spotlight important stories that shape the face of American politics.
