Campus Life

Washington Post columnist to discuss free press in the Trump era

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the lines between real news and fake news continue to blur and alternative facts plague public discourse, the need for a free press is greater than ever.

Jennifer Rubin, author of The Washington Post’s Right Turn column, will discuss the media’s role in holding the Trump administration accountable in a lecture titled "Defending Democratic Norms and a Free Press in the Trump Era" at 4 p.m. Nov. 8 in 104 Keller Building.

On Right Turn, Rubin covers a range of domestic and foreign policy issues and provides insight into the conservative movement and the Republican Party. Her recent work includes pieces on President Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with Sen. Bob Corker and Republicans’ efforts to push tax reform on Capitol Hill.

Rubin’s lecture is sponsored by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy in Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts. It is the final lecture in the institute’s fall speaker series, which was organized around the theme of “democratic dissent.” For Rubin, that dissent came in the form of early and frequent criticism of Trump and his administration.

Chris Beem, managing director of the McCourtney Institute, said Rubin’s prolific writing and well-argued essays made her a natural choice for a conservative voice to add to this semester’s speaker lineup.

“She has been a consistent center-right voice among Washington Post columnists,” Beem said. “She is occupying a space of dissent within Republican politics, and we think that’s pretty interesting.”

Rubin came to The Washington Post after three years with Commentary magazine. Her work also has appeared in outlets including The Weekly Standard, Politico and the National Review. She spent nearly 20 years as a labor attorney before beginning a career in journalism.

Rubin's talk is free and open to the public. For more information on the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, visit democracyinstitute.la.psu.edu.

Last Updated October 25, 2017

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