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
250 Years Later, Why We’re Still Fighting About Our Founding
With so many prisms through which to see the past, is there a story about the founding of America that can still be unifying?
36 mins
3 July Finished
The Fallout of Massive Earthquakes for Venezuela — and the U.S.
Venezuelans describe the disaster, and our reporter explains the political aftermath.
41 mins
2 July Finished
Why Americans Will Get Less Help Paying for College
With new limits on federal lending, many students will need private loans and some could be shut out.
29 mins
1 July Finished
The Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power. Again.
The justices ruled that President Trump could fire independent government regulators despite federal laws meant to protect their jobs.
24 mins
30 June Finished
Why Everyone Cares About This World Cup
Our reporter explains the magic of this moment, and two Iranian soccer fans discuss its complexity.
38 mins
29 June Finished
The Last 12 Weeks
explicitIn 1992, David Wood became El Paso’s most notorious convicted serial killer. He has been on death row ever since. More than 30 years later, his lawyers have just a few months to argue his innocence and stop his execution.
42 mins
28 June Finished
