Clay Risen, a New York Times reporter and author of "Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and the Making of Modern America," delves into the unsettling parallels between McCarthyism and today's political landscape. He discusses how current political rhetoric mirrors the tactics of the past, particularly the use of labels like 'communist' to discredit progressive figures. Risen also examines the impact of the Red Scare on civil rights and modern surveillance, emphasizing the need for historical awareness to navigate contemporary challenges in democracy.
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insights INSIGHT
Lavender Scare as Security Risk
McCarthyism included a "Lavender Scare" targeting gays and lesbians as security risks. - It was rooted in homophobic stereotypes reflecting Cold War-era constructions of masculinity.
insights INSIGHT
Mechanics of the Hollywood Blacklist
The Hollywood blacklist was enforced through unofficial whisper campaigns and lists compiled even by ex-FBI agents. - Some accused could clear their names by showing contrition, while others who resisted were blacklisted permanently.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Teacher Fired for Defiance
Julius of Hulavati, a top Bronx Science math teacher, was fired after refusing to implicate others. - His wife was also fired, showing the widespread effect of McCarthy-era crackdowns on educators.
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The Maltese Falcon, written by Dashiell Hammett, is a 1930 detective novel that follows the story of Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco. The plot begins when a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), hires Spade and his partner Miles Archer to tail a man named Floyd Thursby. After Archer's murder, Spade becomes entangled in a web of deceit and violence involving a valuable 16th-century statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. Other key characters include Joel Cairo, an effeminate Levantine, and Casper Gutman, a fat and jovial but sinister figure, all of whom are searching for the falcon. The novel is known for its vivid characters, sustained tension, and influential style in the hard-boiled genre[2][3][5].
Red Scare
Clay Risen
In 'Red Scare', Clay Risen provides a detailed narrative of the anti-Communist witch hunt that gripped America following World War II. Drawing on newly declassified sources, Risen examines the cultural and political forces behind McCarthyism, highlighting its effects on individuals and society. The book offers insights into how this period of political hysteria continues to influence contemporary American politics.
President Trump and other Republicans keep throwing around the C-word — Communist — to smear anyone slightly progressive, including Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s new Democratic mayoral candidate. But right-wing fearmongering isn’t the only reason it feels like McCarthyism is on the rise again.
So, just in time for the 4th of July, Kara speaks to New York Times reporter and author Clay Risen about his latest book, Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and the Making of Modern America. They unpack Joseph McCarthy’s insane antics, parallels between the Republican party of the 1940s/50s and today — and what lessons, if any, we can learn from McCarthy’s ultimate downfall.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher.
On with Kara Swisher 
