Thank You, PEN America. Thank You, Suzanne Nossel

This is more of a rant, than an episode. Last week PEN America held its annual gala at the Museum of Natural History, where they awarded Salman Rushdie its prize for free expression. Before the event, PEN America's chief executive, Suzanne Nossel spoke with The New York Times about the mission of her organization. Her comments sparked a mini uproar from the usual suspects on Twitter, who think censorship and the curbing of free expression is something that can only come from the right. 

This episode has a lot of outside references, so check here for links to all the things I talk about. Enjoy the episode. 

Links:

New York Times article that started the whole kerfuffle

That stupid Free Speech cartoon everyone loves to reference

Alberto Gullaba Jr.'s "University Thugs" controversy

Kosoko Jackson feeds that hand that bites him

Amelie Wen Zhao cancels her own debut, "Blood Heir" 

Chandler Morrison grosses people out at a gross out contest. Grossed out people get upset that they got grossed out. 

Michael Dickman's "Scholl's Ferry Road" removed with apologies

Myriam Gurba's searing review of Jeanine Cummins' "American Dirt."

Roald Dahl's books are bowdlerized

The fig leaf over Mark Twain's books