EPISODE 127 - “HOLLYWOOD FIGHTS BACK: THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT” - 2/16/2026

On October 1st, a group of entertainment professionals—led by iconic actress and activist JANE FONDA—relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment. They did so in response to what they see as troubling actions by the current government, including renewed efforts to silence critics across government, media, the courts, universities, and the entertainment industry. The group is standing up for free speech and creative expression, believing that the right to criticize, question, protest—and even poke fun at those in power—is central to what America has always aimed to be.This isn’t the first time Hollywood has come together to push back against the federal government for violating the Constitution. Back in 1947, the fear of communism sent the government into a frenzy. In an effort to root out so-called “commies,” officials went after elected leaders, government workers, professors, and artists. Many were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even jailed because of their political beliefs. To counter this, a group of actors, writers, producers, and directors formed the Committee for the First Amendment, an advocacy group to fight these Hollywood blacklisting, during what would turn out to be a very dark and shameful chapter in American history. This week, we dive into the Committee for the First Amendment, how it started, what it stood for, and why it’s still relevant today.

SHOW NOTES:

Sources:

Show Trial: Hollywood HUAC, and the Birth of the Blacklist (2018), by Thomas Doherty;

Hollywood on Trial: McCarthyism’s War Against the Movies (2007), by Michael Freeland;

Tender Comrades (1997), by Patrick McGilligan & Paul Buhle;

Red Scare: The Memories of the American Inquisition (1995), by Griffen Fariello;

The Way We Wore (1993), by Marsha Hunt;

Witch Hunt: The Revival of Heresy (1950), by Carey McWilliams;

“When Hayden Named Names,” May 3, 2023, by Larry Clinton, SausalitoHistoricalSociety.com

Wikipedia.com;

TCM.com;

IBDB.com;

IMDBPro.com;

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