alan. bennett. hello richard gere's burden you're at the listening post this coming tuesday november sixth americans will be voting in midterm elections which will be seen as a referendum on the trump presidency so it's fitting that one of the major issues before voters is the institution president trump cannot stop talking about the news media consider the stories monopolizing the us airwaves recently the coverage of that migrant caravan from central america the pipe bomb sent to c.n.n. amongst others and the president's incessant tweets all developments with significant media aspects to them this week we're breaking format focusing on the u.s. in the second half of the program we examine a christian broadcasting network that somehow backs a president who is nobody's idea of a saint we'll also talk to jay rosen an academic who's been studying the u.s. media for more than thirty years one of the most authoritative media critics out there will discuss donald trump's attacks on the mainstream media wh

and to learn what alan bennett was getting at when he said that for a writer nothing is ever quite as bad as it is for other people. i became a writer not because i was seeking community because i thought it was something i could do alone and hidden. how lucky to have discovered that writing books made the miraculous possible to be removed from the world into be a part of the world at the same time. [applause]. congratulations in an enormous congratulations to all the winners of tonight's national book award. your book well now get the coolest sticker. and they join the ranks of the best literature in america. and viewers. my brother who has been texting me criticism throughout the show. he has a bully, i learned that from books. i'm telling mom. it would not be possible without the wonderful support of readers everywhere. let's keep reading and for everyone here in attendance please join us upstairs for the after party. good night. [music]