George Saunders is one of literary fiction's most acclaimed living writers. Along with his many collections of short stories, he also published the Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo. To celebrate Read This' first birthday, we're bringing you Michael Williams' interview with George Saunders. They talk about his life and career and the three words that made him a writer.

George Saunders is one of literary fiction's most acclaimed living writers. Along with his many collections of short stories, he also published the Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo. To celebrate Read This' first birthday, we're bringing you Michael Williams' interview with George Saunders. They talk about his life and career and the three words that made him a writer.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Read This: The Three Words That Made George Saunders a Writer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/35914534-df87-4256-8dba-b25f000a3328/transcript

For decades, liberal democracy came with a promise: that with each generation we would become freer, wealthier, and have more control over our lives.

But after years of economic shocks, war and political upheaval, more and more people seem to have stopped believing that promise.

And in its place, we’re seeing political movements emerge that don’t just want different policies – they’re questioning some of the fundamental ideas our democracies were built on.

In his new Quarterly Essay, Time of Monsters, writer and broadcaster Waleed Aly argues this is part of something bigger – a crisis in liberalism itself.

Today, Waleed Aly on whether we’re entering a post-liberal age – and what might replace the old order.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Writer and broadcaster, Waleed Aly 

Photo: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

For decades, liberal democracy came with a promise: that with each generation we would become freer, wealthier, and have more control over our lives.
But after years of economic shocks, war and political upheaval, more and more people seem to have stopped believing that promise.
And in its place, we&rsquo;re seeing political movements emerge that don&rsquo;t just want different policies &ndash; they&rsquo;re questioning some of the fundamental ideas our democracies were built on.
In his new Quarterly Essay,&nbsp;Time of Monsters, writer and broadcaster Waleed Aly argues this is part of something bigger &ndash; a crisis in liberalism itself.
Today, Waleed Aly on whether we&rsquo;re entering a post-liberal age &ndash; and what might replace the old order.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Writer and broadcaster, Waleed Aly&nbsp;
Photo:&nbsp;AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Is liberal democracy running out of answers?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/f0abb1e9-6f36-4647-8e63-b4cf0048a07e/transcript

For years, Donald Trump’s attacks on the media were treated as part of the spectacle of his politics. Now, three major news organisations have had their White House passes revoked – and Trump says others could follow.

Here in Australia, we’re seeing Pauline Hanson follow the same playbook – with One Nation repeatedly deciding which news organisations can attend its press conferences. But unlike America, press freedom in Australia has remarkably few legal protections backing it.

So what happens when politicians stop respecting the rules we’ve simply assumed they would follow?

Today, journalist and press freedom advocate Peter Greste, on how fragile press freedom is in Australia and why we’ve relied for so long on convention rather than law.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Journalist and press freedom advocate, Peter Greste

Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

For years, Donald Trump&rsquo;s attacks on the media were treated as part of the spectacle of his politics. Now, three major news organisations have had their White House passes revoked &ndash; and Trump says others could follow.
Here in Australia, we&rsquo;re seeing Pauline Hanson follow the same playbook &ndash; with One Nation repeatedly deciding which news organisations can attend its press conferences. But unlike America, press freedom in Australia has remarkably few legal protections backing it.
So what happens when politicians stop respecting the rules we&rsquo;ve simply assumed they would follow?
Today, journalist and press freedom advocate Peter Greste, on how fragile press freedom is in Australia and why we&rsquo;ve relied for so long on convention rather than law.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Journalist and press freedom advocate, Peter Greste
Photo:&nbsp;AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Could Australia’s media survive Trump-style attacks?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/b3a82923-8589-47b8-a14d-b4ce00702270/transcript

It’s an uncomfortable fact our government doesn’t like to face: 25 years on from the Tampa affair, we’re still paying a tiny island micro-nation hundreds of millions of dollars to keep immigration detention alive.

One of the ways we’re doing that is by helping to prop up Nauru Airlines – a company riven with financial, governance and safety issues.

Today, independent journalist Nick Feik on how our relationship with a foreign commercial airline is compromising the Australian government’s own regulators, departments and procurement processes in the name of immigration detention.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Independent journalist, Nick Feik

Photo: Nauru Airlines

It&rsquo;s an uncomfortable fact our government doesn&rsquo;t like to face: 25 years on from the Tampa affair, we&rsquo;re still paying a tiny island micro-nation hundreds of millions of dollars to keep immigration detention alive.
One of the ways we&rsquo;re doing that is by helping to prop up Nauru Airlines &ndash; a company riven with financial, governance and safety issues.
Today, independent journalist Nick Feik on how our relationship with a foreign commercial airline is compromising the Australian government&rsquo;s own regulators, departments and procurement processes in the name of immigration detention.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Independent journalist, Nick Feik
Photo:&nbsp;Nauru Airlines

The absurd lengths Australia goes to keep Nauru Airlines flying

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/7155c222-0dc1-4c51-abf0-b4ce0061340c/transcript

Read This: The Three Words That Made George Saunders a Writer

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