Today, we’re talking about the Red Scare: a time of black-and-white politics when people could be arrested just for their political views. Granted, ICE wasn’t abducting people with visas off the street, but I think you’ll find today’s interview relevant nonetheless. Among other things, Clay Risen helps draw a clear throughline from Joseph McCarthy to Donald Trump and shares some valuable takeaways for combating fascism today.
Clay is a reporter and editor at The New York Times. He’s the author of several books on American history (and American whiskey). In our conversation, we explored his latest book: Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America.
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