When Book Bans Came to Small Town New Jersey
7 December 2022 - 44 mins explicitThis episode contains strong language.
In the contentious debate over who controls what happens in America’s schools, a new battleground has emerged: library books.
This is the story of what happened when parents in one town in New Jersey tried to remove a handful of books that they said were explicit and sexually inappropriate — and the battle that ensued.
Guest: Alexandra Alter, a reporter covering publishing and the literary world for The New York Times.
Background reading:
As highly visible and politicized book bans have exploded across the United States, librarians — accustomed to being seen as dedicated public servants in their communities — have found themselves on the front l...
Series Episodes
'The Interview': John Green Knows That No One Really Loves You on the Internet
The writer and YouTube star on trying to get back to the experiences that make us feel alive.
44 mins
22 November Finished
Parenting a Trans Kid in Trump’s America
Since starting his second term, President Trump has thrown the full weight of the federal government behind the denying the idea of transgender identity, and pushing to prevent trans minors from getting gender-affirming medical care. Two parents of a trans child discuss facing the scramble of supporting their child, and their fears of becoming targets of the government.
43 mins
21 November Finished
Is There an A.I. Bubble? And What if It Pops?
After years of soaring optimism and colossal investment, Wall Street has begun to seriously question whether the frenzy for A.I. is justified. Cade Metz, who covers technology for The New York Times, explains why Silicon Valley companies believe so fervently in A.I. and why they’re willing to take enormous risks to deliver on its promise.
25 mins
20 November Finished
Congress Orders Trump to Release the Epstein Files
Congressional Republicans on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to release all of the files related to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a bill that President Trump spent months trying to kill. The Times correspondents Anni Karni and Carl Hulse explain how a rebellion started by a handful of Republican lawmakers became a partywide mutiny, and Representative Thomas Massie talks about his role in bringing about the vote.
33 mins
19 November Finished
The Future of Energy Has Arrived — Just Not in the U.S.
For the first time in 30 years, the annual U.N. conference on climate change is taking place without top government representation from the United States. China has emerged as the top dog at the summit and is poised to become the world’s supplier of green energy technology. David Gelles and Brad Plumer explain the growing showdown between global superpowers over the future of energy.
35 mins
18 November Finished
Unpacking Trump’s 50-Year Mortgage Proposal
When President Trump proposed the introduction of a 50-year mortgage, he challenged a bedrock of the American housing market and financial system. He also revealed how desperate the administration is to lower prices for consumers. Conor Dougherty, who covers housing and development, explains what’s attractive about the idea and its potential drawbacks — and why housing affordability is such an intractable problem.
25 mins
17 November Finished
