On the Media

Mahmoud Khalil and a New Red Scare. Plus, Press Freedom Under Threat.

22 snips
Mar 14, 2025
Corey Robin, a distinguished political science professor and author, examines the parallels between current events and the Red Scare, particularly in the context of Mahmoud Khalil's recent detention. He discusses how government crackdowns on free speech can erode political culture. David Enrich, business investigations editor for The New York Times, highlights the growing threats to press freedom and the dangerous rise of defamation lawsuits, warning of their implications for journalists and the First Amendment.
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ANECDOTE

McCarran-Walter Act

  • Jewish groups advocated for immigration reform, labeled the "Jewish problem" by opponents.
  • The McCarran-Walter Act, with anti-Semitic undertones, solidified restrictive quotas and ideological tests.
INSIGHT

Workforce Docility

  • The American right's 50-year program has aimed to create a more docile workforce, primarily in the private sector.
  • Public sector workers, with union protections and civil service, have been a challenge for this program.
ANECDOTE

Yale's Response to McCarthyism

  • Yale's president, Charles Seymour, during McCarthyism, assured no witch hunts were needed at Yale.
  • He implied Yale would handle any communist issues internally, preempting government intervention.
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