The PEN Pod: A Reflection on Free Speech in 2021 with Suzanne Nossel
“Perhaps never before in our public discourse. . . has there been a moment where issues of free expression. . . have been more salient to our politics.” More
The PEN Pod: Fighting for Artistic Freedom in Myanmar with Karin Deutsch Karlekar and Bart Was Not Here
“It’s really striking to see the degree to which writing is at the heart of what we are debating about. . . . we are seeing just… More
The PEN Pod: On Disinformation Consumers, Trump Texts, and Free Speech Battles Ahead
“It’s really striking to see the degree to which writing is at the heart of what we are debating about. . . . we are seeing just… More
The PEN Pod: On Self-Censorship, Book Bans, and Biden’s Virtual Democracy Summit
“Students are really crucial allies. They have, I think, an instinctive sense of not wanting to be told what they can and can’t read.” More
The PEN Pod: On Peng Shuai, Critical Race Theory Taboos, and Simpsons Censorship
“It’s just this very palpable way in which the pressure is being felt at every level. . . from top administrators to individual professors who are being put under… More
The PEN Pod: Writing, Healing, and Redemption with Natashia Deón
“We’re extremely happy for Danny Fenster. . . but I think the real question is, do we see any loosening vis-à-vis the free expression of Myanmar’s own reporters and… More
The PEN Pod: On The University of Austin, Myanmar, and China
“We’re extremely happy for Danny Fenster. . . but I think the real question is, do we see any loosening vis-à-vis the free expression of Myanmar’s own reporters and… More
The PEN Pod: On Book Bans with George M. Johnson
“I’m proud that they’re trying to stop my truth in many ways. I can’t be intimidated. I mean, I put my story out there for the world to see,… More
The PEN Pod: The Journey to Cloud Cuckoo Land with Anthony Doerr
“Books allow us to slip out of the walls—the proverbial walls or the metaphorical walls—of our own lives. And thank goodness they do.” More
The PEN Pod: On Educational Gag Orders and the January 6 Insurrection Subpoena
“We should be encouraging young people to look at our history through a variety of lenses—through the lens of race, through the lens of socioeconomics, gender.” More