Topic: Book Burning

The Trump administration shut down the primary website for the National Climate Assessment, a series of reports mandated by Congress since the 1990s. Scientists, including Catherine Hayhoe, criticized the move as a "modern version of book burning" that leaves local planners without essential data. NASA officials stated that existing reports would eventually be hosted as PDFs on a different platform.

Kara Swisher appeared on Bill Maher's show to promote her new memoir, "Burn Book," which features insults from tech figures like Elon Musk on its back cover. The interview was noted for Maher's ability to counter Swisher's typical conversational interruptions, specifically her habit of saying "but go ahead."

The discussion explores the rise of identity politics and its influence on the Democratic Party, specifically regarding "fat millennials" and gender activists. Concerns are raised about "digital book burning" as classic works like Huckleberry Finn and the Hardy Boys are removed from reading lists due to modern sensitivities. The CEO of YouTube is criticized for her public comments about explaining the Google memo to her daughter.

Attorney Alan Dershowitz criticizes the "double standard" of college students who demand personal freedoms while seeking "safe places" from challenging ideas. He compares the current campus climate to the 1930s, noting that students were the first to start burning books under the Nazi regime. Dershowitz warns that a "fog of fascism" is descending on American universities as administrators fail to stand up to student protesters.