Join Wajahat Ali for a timely conversation on his insights into the fragility of democratic institutions, his work fighting racism and extremism, and how ordinary citizens can resist authoritarianism. 

In his weekly podcast, Wajahat Ali, acclaimed writer and public speaker, urgently chronicles an American democracy “under assault from the forces of fascism and authoritarianism.” One way he copes is by building Star Wars Lego sets with his kids, “to instill in them a need for rebellion and hope against the Empire,” he recently joked with guest Heather Cox Richardson. It’s Wajahat Ali’s combination of insightful analysis, social critique . . . and humor . . . that has made him a leading public intellectual and frequent commentator on national television. 

He’ll also talk about his experiences growing up in Fremont as the child of Pakistani immigrants as told in his acclaimed memoir, Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, which NPR called “biting and funny and full of heart.” 

“We are all fortunate to be on the receiving end of not only his intellect, but his humanity and heart." —Katie Couric