The PEN Pod

The United States has long heralded itself as a place where dissenters are welcome.  But the country has a long history of ideological exclusion that stretches to present day. We discuss this with historian Julia Rose Kraut who dissects this trend in her new book Threat of Dissent: A History of Ideological Exclusion and Deportation in the United States, and examines how PEN America played a role in fighting against such exclusion.

It's been a heckuva an election week. We turn to free speech expert and PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel to discuss the tough questions this campaign has presented over the past few months; how to fix our broken information infrastructure; and what we can do to address mis- and disinformation in the weeks and months ahead. Then, writer Rhonda Mitchell on her method of writing the now, capturing the immediacy of the moment in writing.

On this special edition for Election Day 2020, we have a conversation with PEN America expert Nora Benavidez on what to expect in the coming hours and days, how to prepare for disinformation, and how voting is an act of free expression. Then poet Natalie Diaz shares an essay on voting and togetherness as part of our We Will Emerge Project. And Alice Randall talks about her latest book Black Bottom Saints.

On this Friday edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel discusses what to expect as we head into the final stretch of the campaign season; our decision to honor the young woman who documented George Floyd's murder, Darnella Frazier; and how a brazen killing in France reflects our perilous moment. Then, Kevin Young discusses his plans for documenting our current history as the incoming director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and he talks about his new book of African American poetry.

In this special edition of The PEN Pod, we share one in a series of essays from writers across the country sharing their hopes and anxieties in advance of Election Day. Here, novelist Laila Lalami with her piece, "Why Vote?"

In this special edition of The PEN Pod, we share one in a series of essays from writers across the country sharing their hopes and anxieties in advance of Election Day. Here, author and journalist Jean Guerrero with her piece, "Your Mestizaje Is a Superpower."

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Gina Chung speaks with bestselling children's and young adult writer Tami Charles about her new book, All Because You Matter, providing a starting point for parents to discuss the racial climate in America today.

On this edition for Friday, October 23, we talk tough questions with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel, focusing on the  days of disinformation ahead and how the social media platforms are reacting, as well as her take on the global protest movements that seem to be gathering steam. Then, novelist Yun Ko-eun on her latest novel The Disaster Tourist.

On this Tuesday edition of The PEN Pod, we bring you an interview with debut novelist David Heska Wanbli Weiden, whose new book Winter Counts is a thriller that also explores the tension between justice systems inside and outside Indian Country. Then, PEN America's own Matt Bailey discusses the latest on the social platforms throttling back an unsubstantiated New York Post story.

On this episode, PEN America's Gina Chung talks storytelling, representation, and elevating new voices with writer and editor Michi Trota. Then, CEO Suzanne Nossel explores the free speech controversies of the week, including Facebook's crackdown on Holocaust denial, a New York Post story gone awry, and China's influence on academic freedom.