New “Counterspeak” Episode Available Now

A new episode of Counterspeak, the monthly podcast of the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE), is now available for download on BookWeb, Spotify, and iTunes. This installment features an interview with David E. McCraw, deputy general counsel of The New York Times, adjunct professor at the NYU School of Law, and author of Truth in Our Times: Inside the Fight for Press Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts (All Points Books).

Counterspeak is co-hosted by American Booksellers Association Content Director Sydney Jarrard; Director of ABFE, Advocacy, and Public Policy Dave Grogan; and Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator Maria Peroni. The podcast addresses issues pertaining to free expression and the First Amendment.

In this episode, McCraw talks to Jarrard about Truth in Our Times, his role as deputy general counsel at the Times, the dangers of a discredited press, and his “unfounded optimism” in spite of recent threats to press freedom. He also discusses his response in defense of the October 2016 article “Two Women Say Donald Trump Touched Them Inappropriately,” which Trump’s lawyers described as libel and demanded be taken down. McCraw’s letter had stated that The New York Times would “welcome the opportunity to have a court set him straight” on First Amendment rights.

Each month, Counterspeak features interviews with experts on the First Amendment and free speech, as well as discussions on relevant current events. A new episode is available on the first Wednesday of the month on BookWeb, Spotify, and iTunes. For more information, check out Counterspeak’s short introductory episode. You can now follow Counterspeak on Twitter or contact the podcast at [email protected].