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Writer’s Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform
Episode Summary
Today, a double episode on press freedom under siege.
Investigative journalist and author Will Potter joins us to talk about Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth, from Farm to Fable. It’s a powerful exposé of how the agriculture industry attacks journalism to hide the brutal reality of factory farming—and how far it goes to silence those who speak out.
“Environmental and animal rights movements are threatening not just because of what they do—but what they represent: empathy, solidarity, and a challenge to human exceptionalism.” — Will Potter
Then, we speak with Andy Lee Roth and Shaleigh Voitl of Project Censored about the group’s annual yearbook State of the Free Press 2025. We dive into the stories the corporate media ignored—from suppressing reporting on the climate catastrophe and on Gaza to nonprofit journalism in the crosshairs.
“In 2024, the U.S. ranked 55th in global press freedom. That’s a five-point drop.” — Shaleigh Voitl
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Key Words: Will Potter, Little Red Barns, ag-gag laws, factory farming, press freedom, Project Censored, State of the Free Press 2025, Andy Lee Roth, Shaleigh Voitl, Gaza protests, nonprofit journalism, white nationalism, animal rights, environmental activism, censorship laws,
You Might Also Like: Andy Lee Roth, STATE OF THE FREE PRESS 2024, Sy Montgomery, WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS
Segment 1: Will Potter on Little Red Barns
Will Potter explores the mythology of the “Little Red Barn” and how it shapes Americans’ understanding of food, farming, and identity. He reveals how this image is weaponized by agribusiness to reinforce consumer complacency while hiding systemic cruelty.
Potter outlines how “ag-gag” laws—designed to criminalize undercover footage and whistleblowing—have spread globally and set a dangerous precedent for corporate censorship. He also unpacks the disturbing links between factory farming, white nationalist rhetoric, and authoritarian crackdowns on protest.
Through firsthand experience and personal reflection, Potter makes the case that food justice and press freedom are fundamentally intertwined.
Key Topics:
- The myth of the family farm and cultural indoctrination
- Ag-gag laws and their constitutional challenges
- Criminalization of investigative journalism
- Factory farming and the rise of white nationalist ideologies
- Government-industry collusion in repressing protest
- Psychological impact of surveillance and repression
- Empathy, solidarity, and the threat of values-based movements
Segment 2: Project Censored on State of the Free Press 2025
Project Censored editor Andy Lee Roth and Associate Director Shaleigh Voitl tell us how press freedom is under attack from all sides—through corporate media failure, government censorship, and bipartisan legislation that targets nonprofit journalism.
They break down the top underreported stories of 2024, including climate-driven saltwater intrusion, fossil fuel insurer collusion, the Gaza reporting crackdown, and threats to nonprofit news outlets.
They discuss how media trust collapses when profit and power trump truth—and how independent journalism offers an alternative vision of informed democracy.
Key Topics:
- Decline of U.S. press freedom rankings
- Arrests and assaults of journalists covering Gaza protests
- Legislative attacks on nonprofit news and humanitarian orgs
- TikTok ban and social media censorship
- Climate change underreporting (saltwater intrusion, wildfires, gas stoves)
- The insurance industry’s role in climate disaster and disinformation
- Media deserts and corporate ownership consolidation
- Journalism as a public service and civic defense
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