Best Of: Fighting for free press in Russia / ‘Fear and Fury’

This episode of Fresh Air Weekend explores press freedom and the weaponization of fear. Filmmaker Julia Loktev discusses her documentary, "My Undesirable Friends, Part One, Last Air in Moscow," which follows independent Russian journalists leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the criminalization of dissent and the journalists' resilience. Historian Heather Ann Thompson examines the 1984 Bernhard Goetz subway shooting and its lasting impact on American society, arguing that the case marked a turning point where white racial fear was sanctioned and leveraged by elites. Thompson connects this event to contemporary examples, such as the killing of Trayvon Martin, emphasizing the racial through-line and the normalization of public violence.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction, Media Context

Part 2: Russian Journalism, Dissent, and Exile

Part 3: American History, Race, and Fear

Part 4: Conclusion, Future Outlook

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Fresh Air

Part 1: Introduction, Media Context

Fresh Air Playlist Featuring Great Filmmakers and Fresh Air Plus

Julia Loktev's Documentary on Russian Journalists and Press Freedom Concerns

Part 2: Russian Journalism, Dissent, and Exile

Documenting the Criminalization of Dissent in Russia Through an iPhone Lens

The Shrinking Space for Independent Journalism in Russia

Filming Under Threat: Capturing the Risks Faced by Russian Journalists

The Loss of a Familiar World and the Role of Opposition

Part 3: American History, Race, and Fear

Introducing Heather Ann Thompson's "Fear and Fury" and the Bernhard Goetz Case

The Reagan Era, Racial Resentment, and the South Bronx Crisis

The Goetz Shooting: Fear, Race, and the Erosion of Truth

Part 4: Conclusion, Future Outlook

Conclusion of Heather Ann Thompson Interview and NPR Podcast Recommendations

Best Of: Fighting for free press in Russia / ‘Fear and Fury’

Fresh Air

Part 1: Introduction, Media Context

00:00Fresh Air Playlist Featuring Great Filmmakers and Fresh Air Plus

Fresh Air Playlist Featuring Great Filmmakers and Fresh Air Plus

00:22Julia Loktev's Documentary on Russian Journalists and Press Freedom Concerns

Julia Loktev's Documentary on Russian Journalists and Press Freedom Concerns

Part 2: Russian Journalism, Dissent, and Exile

07:14Documenting the Criminalization of Dissent in Russia Through an iPhone Lens

Documenting the Criminalization of Dissent in Russia Through an iPhone Lens

12:13The Shrinking Space for Independent Journalism in Russia

The Shrinking Space for Independent Journalism in Russia

17:21Filming Under Threat: Capturing the Risks Faced by Russian Journalists

Filming Under Threat: Capturing the Risks Faced by Russian Journalists

25:14The Loss of a Familiar World and the Role of Opposition

The Loss of a Familiar World and the Role of Opposition

Part 3: American History, Race, and Fear

31:27Introducing Heather Ann Thompson's "Fear and Fury" and the Bernhard Goetz Case

Introducing Heather Ann Thompson's "Fear and Fury" and the Bernhard Goetz Case

37:15The Reagan Era, Racial Resentment, and the South Bronx Crisis

The Reagan Era, Racial Resentment, and the South Bronx Crisis

42:05The Goetz Shooting: Fear, Race, and the Erosion of Truth

The Goetz Shooting: Fear, Race, and the Erosion of Truth

Part 4: Conclusion, Future Outlook

50:05Conclusion of Heather Ann Thompson Interview and NPR Podcast Recommendations

Conclusion of Heather Ann Thompson Interview and NPR Podcast Recommendations