038: MAGA’s War on Free Speech feat. Kelly Jensen

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” – Madline Peltz

Links for Kelly:

• Book Riot newsletter: “Weekly Literary Activism”

• Kelly’s newsletter, “Well Sourced”

• Blueksy: @heykellyjensen.bsky.social

Stories Kelly referenced:

• Timeline of IMLS Cuts, Impact to Libraries, and More

• The Lie of "Local Control," as Texas and Florida Signal What's Next in Book Censorship

• Judge Strikes Down Much of Florida Book Ban Bill

• What'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 Ruling

• South Carolina Bans 10 More Books Statewide

• Utah Bans 18th Book Statewide from Public Schools

• The Anti-Book Ban Bills Passed in 2025 and What They Mean

• Pride is Disappearing in Libraries

• Why Would a County Evict Its Public Library Over $1?

• Wyoming Proposes Extreme Anti-Library Bill

• Public Libraries On the Chopping Block, 2025 Edition

• As local governments struggle with budgets, they discover libraries, museums as new revenue sources

• Menomonee Falls diverts $300k from library to police budget

Transition Music: “Portions for Foxes” by Rilo Kiley