Strike!

The French publishing sector faces unprecedented upheaval as over 260 writers protest the editorial influence of major shareholder Vincent Bolloré at Grasset, highlighting critical concerns over editorial independence. Simultaneously, Bertolt Brecht’s *The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*, currently staged at the Royal Shakespeare Company, serves as a potent critique of authoritarianism, utilizing a circus-like structure to force audience engagement with the mechanics of power. The conversation also explores digital tributes like "GNU Terry Pratchett" and John-Paul Stonard’s upcoming book, *The Worst Exhibition in the World*. Stonard analyzes the Nazi-era "degenerate art" exhibition, framing it as a failed attempt at suppression that paradoxically solidified modern art's status as a symbol of democratic resistance. These segments collectively examine how cultural institutions navigate political pressure, artistic integrity, and the enduring relevance of historical narratives in contemporary society.