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cover of episode Aided by new sources, Clay Risen's 'Red Scare' brings McCarthyism back to life

Aided by new sources, Clay Risen's 'Red Scare' brings McCarthyism back to life

2025/4/21
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Andrew Limbaugh
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Clay Risen
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Steve Inskeep
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Clay Risen: 我认为20世纪30年代开始的美国文化变革，是新政带来的进步、多元和国际化转变。虽然确实存在苏联间谍，但他们的努力规模很小，而且大部分活动在二战结束时就已停止。麦卡锡等极端反共主义者的动机是意识形态热情、对国家现状的担忧以及机会主义的结合。麦卡锡主义体现了阴谋论的强大力量，尤其是在冷战背景下。美国宪法在麦卡锡主义时期表现不佳，直到后来人们挺身而出捍卫宪法价值观。许多本应挺身而出的人没有这样做，但最终律师、政客和记者等站了出来。首席大法官厄尔·沃伦出乎意料地成为捍卫公民自由的坚定支持者，利用法院权力来维护宪法价值观，最终抵制了麦卡锡主义。麦卡锡主义最终使得美国人民更加重视并捍卫公民自由。麦卡锡主义的结束部分是因为世界形势的变化（共产主义威胁减弱，冷战降温），也因为像爱德华·默罗这样的记者和厄尔·沃伦这样的法官的努力。 Steve Inskeep: 麦卡锡时代是对美国宪法的压力测试，检验了其限制。相信共产主义阴谋论的人，会根据这种叙事来判断任何证据，找不到证据只会让他们认为阴谋更大。 Andrew Limbaugh: 麦卡锡主义是美国的一次真正的宪法危机，美国直到最终有所作为前，表现都不太好。麦卡锡主义是一场针对各种各样的人的文化猎巫行动，他们不应被赶出职业和生计。

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Clay Risen's book, Red Scare, explores the period after World War II, arguing that it wasn't simply a counterintelligence effort but a cultural witch hunt. He discusses the opportunism of figures like Senator McCarthy and the broader cultural backlash against New Deal progressivism.
  • Red Scare was a cultural witch hunt, not just a counterintelligence effort
  • Senator McCarthy's opportunism and the role of conspiracy theories
  • Cultural backlash against New Deal progressivism and cosmopolitanism

Shownotes Transcript

Journalist Clay Risen is out with a new narrative history of the Red Scare, based in part on newly declassified sources. In Red Scare, Risen depicts McCarthyism as a cultural witch hunt against all kinds of people, not just potential communist spies. And he argues that the Red Scare was part of a broader cultural backlash against New Deal progressivism and an increasing sense of cosmopolitanism in the United States. In today's episode, Risen joins NPR's Steve Inskeep for a conversation about Senator Joseph McCarthy's personal and political opportunism, the enduring power of conspiracy theories, and how the Constitution did – and didn't – stand up to protect American civil liberties.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)