Masha Gessen and Sarah Kendzior: In Defense of Truth

Though a bit dated (it is a comparison between Trump and Putin as different and similar models of anti-establishment, autocratic national leaders), this talk by Masha Gessen​ at the UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute​ 2017 Conference is incredibly important. Here's the description from the clip - Highly recommended.

"The current political landscape has made clear the powerful role that the press can play in upholding democracy. Amid daily attacks on the legitimacy of the press, Trump and his administration have limited the press’s access to government and show overt contempt for the democratic norm and role of a free press. The President uses Twitter to manipulate the public discourse with lies and misinformation. For a country that has taken free press for granted, experiencing authoritarian disregard for journalism and truth itself is unsettling. Two journalists and scholars with deep experience observing and reporting under authoritarian leaders will share insights and perspective to help us interpret and contextualize the erosion of the truth and the responsibility of a free, independent, and democratic press. This talk is from the 2017 Othering & Belonging Conference hosted by the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley. For more information, visit haasinstitute.berkeley.edu or otheringandbelonging.org."