In 16:1's first episode of 2025, we were joined by Jeremy C. Young, director of state and higher education policy at PEN America, a nonprofit organization that unites writers and their allies to defend the freedom of expression nationwide. He oversees PEN America’s state policy and advocacy work across all US free expression programs and directs the Freedom to Learn program fighting government censorship of colleges and universities. His commentary on issues of academic freedom, higher education, and American democracy appears frequently in media outlets, and he speaks regularly on these topics before national and international audiences.
We spoke with Jeremy about censorship and academic freedom, educational gag orders, the primacy of local communities in political communication, the role of charisma in political persuasion, and more. Listen below or find 16:1 on your favorite podcast app!