When Book Bans Came to Small Town New Jersey

explicit

Podcast Series The Daily

This 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...

44 mins

Series Episodes

The Iranians Who Want More War

Fractures in Tehran are pitting a faction favoring negotiation with Washington against hard-liners who oppose making a deal with the United States.

29 mins

28 July Finished

What A.I. Is Actually Doing to the Economy

Some data suggest that artificial intelligence is causing job losses. Other sources show the opposite. Why is it so hard to figure out what’s going on?

34 mins

27 July Finished

Why Do Some Memories Survive Dementia?

When Times reporter Ellen Barry’s father developed dementia after a fall, her family spent years trying to manage his erratic behavior and confusion. They struggled to convince him that he was home, he was safe, and he shouldn’t try to leave. The experience was exasperating and impossible to understand. Today, Ellen tells the story of those years, and of how she discovered scientific research that helped explain everything her family had lived through — research that could potentially help to save precious memories from being lost forever.

29 mins

26 July Finished