038: MAGA’s War on Free Speech feat. Kelly Jensen
Podcast: Posting Through ItPublished On: Mon Sep 22 2025
Description: Mike and Jared discuss how the Trump Administration and its allies have escalated their efforts to censor and criminalize their opponents in wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. They also talk about the ways leaders in business and media – even “anti-hate” nonprofits – have been spooked into self-censorship.Then, Jared shares an interview he did with Kelly Jensen. She’s a former librarian and writer celebrated for her coverage of movements to ban books from libraries. Their conversation expands beyond books to cover the Right’s attacks on public institutions overall and what normal people can do about it. As you’d expect from a former librarian, Kelly put together an incredibly thorough reading list for listeners to check out.“Charlie Kirk opposed free speech but the media won’t tell you that” – Madeline Peltzhttps://www.patreon.com/PostingThroughItLinks for Kelly:Book Riot newsletter: “Weekly Literary Activism”Kelly’s newsletter, “Well Sourced”Blueksy: @heykellyjensen.bsky.socialStories Kelly referenced:Timeline of IMLS Cuts, Impact to Libraries, and MoreThe Lie of "Local Control," as Texas and Florida Signal What's Next in Book CensorshipJudge Strikes Down Much of Florida Book Ban BillWhat's in the 596 Books Banned by the Department of Defense in their Education Activity Schools?Politics Can Now Dictate Public Library Collections in Three States, Thanks to Fifth Circuit RulingSouth Carolina Bans 10 More Books StatewideUtah Bans 18th Book Statewide from Public SchoolsThe Anti-Book Ban Bills Passed in 2025 and What They MeanPride is Disappearing in LibrariesWhy Would a County Evict Its Public Library Over $1?Wyoming Proposes Extreme Anti-Library BillPublic Libraries On the Chopping Block, 2025 EditionAs local governments struggle with budgets, they discover libraries, museums as new revenue sourcesMenomonee Falls diverts $300k from library to police budgetTransition Music: “Portions for Foxes” by Rilo Kiley
The note was deleted
The note was saved
Your message was sent