{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Ep. 271: Minecraft, censorship, and threats to press freedom with Clayton Weimers","description":"Editorial note: This conversation was recorded on Friday, April 24, the day before the White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner. Both Nico and Clayton attended the event, where a gunman breached security and opened fire before being apprehended. No one was seriously injured, but the incident serves as a reminder of the threats reporters can face in the course of their work. Since we recorded the conversation before the shooting, Nico and Clayton do not address it, but the incident underscores the stakes of their discussion. \u2014 In 2020, Reporters Without Borders launched the Uncensored Library, a virtual archive housed inside Minecraft, the world\u2019s most popular computer game. It preserves the work of journalists who have faced censorship, imprisonment, exile, or even death. In countries where their reporting is banned, Minecraft itself is not, making the library a digital sanctuary for suppressed journalism that millions can still access. In March 2026, the project added a United States wing, reminding Americans that subtler, less direct threats to a free press happen everywhere \u2013 even at home. With today\u2019s release of the 2026 World Press Freedom Index and World Press Freedom Day approaching on May 3, we\u2019re unpacking the state of press freedom with Clayton Weimers, the executive director of Reporters Without Borders USA. Download The Uncensored Library here. &amp;nbsp; Timestamps:&amp;nbsp; 00:00 Intro&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 04:41 The state of press freedom in the United States 10:51 Trump administration\u2019s threats to press freedom 14:16  Patel v. The Atlantic and actual malice 22:55 Who is to blame for distrust in media? 27:58 Viewpoint diversity in the newsroom 32:15 The modern media ecosystem 40:27 What is RSF? 47:00 Freelance and independent journalism 49:11 Clayton\u2019s background and more on Reporters Without Borders 51:25 Inside the Uncensored Library&amp;nbsp; 01:01:59 Outro &amp;nbsp; Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more.&amp;nbsp; If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack\u2019s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@fire.org. ","author_name":"So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.sotospeakpodcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41074075\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/f04f63\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/201353090"}