«For a month, the Regard Libre crossed part of the United States, from the East Coast to Texas, via the Great Plains, megalopolises and mountains of Oklahoma. This journalistic and human adventure, carried out during the summer of 2025, gave birth to the present special, The result of teamwork, roadwork and reflection.

All too often, America comes to us through the distorting prism of ready-made images: a country torn apart, an empire in decline, a laboratory of excess. We wanted to see for ourselves. In the field, we encountered a more nuanced reality: a welcoming, enterprising people who are also profoundly paradoxical.

At a time when Donald Trump is imposing 39% of tariffs on Swiss exports, Le Regard Libre wanted to open up the discussion by exploring what these sister republics, which have mutually influenced their democratic systems, still have something to say to each other. The trade war launched by the American president is analyzed in depth in the November issue's special report, dedicated to the return of mercantilism. 

Four observers took part in this expedition by plane, car, bus and on foot: Nicolas Brodard, Yann Costa, Nicolas Jutzet and myself. Together, we have signed the texts and images of this special issue, conceived as a intellectual and visual roadmap.

In reading these pages, we hope you'll rediscover some of the surprises of our journey and the contrasts of these lands. Our photographer Nicolas Brodard, who provided the artistic direction for the publication, has created a visual expression of these opposites. Gilded, it takes a critical look at the shortcomings and beauties of the present, exploiting the symbolism of the Golden Age to reveal them. Each image is composed of two photographs captured on location and placed in dialogue - without artificial intelligence. Bon voyage!

Jonas Follonier, Editor-in-Chief