Attacks on culture in the USA, plus the secret life of famous author Daniel Defoe

This episode of Late Night Live explores two interconnected themes: the erosion of cultural and journalistic independence in contemporary America under Trump's influence, and the hidden life of Daniel Defoe as a spy in 18th-century Scotland. Sebastian Smee, former Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic at The Washington Post, recounts how Jeff Bezos, despite initial resistance to Trump’s bullying, eventually compromised the paper’s editorial independence by cutting staff—particularly in the arts—after losing money, while also currying favor with the Trump administration through public displays of loyalty. Smee highlights the cancellation of a Philip Guston retrospective at the National Gallery as a chilling example of censorship driven by political pressure, and draws parallels between current U.S. cultural attacks and authoritarian tendencies. The second half turns to historical espionage, with Mark Mirowski discussing how Daniel Defoe, a failed businessman and pamphleteer, was recruited by Robert Harley to infiltrate Scottish opposition to the 1707 Union with England. Defoe used deception, propaganda, and intelligence gathering to dismantle resistance, while simultaneously writing fiction that mirrored his own double life. Mirowski argues Defoe’s work laid the foundation for modern political surveillance and the role of the ideologically driven operative in shaping public perception. The episode underscores a recurring danger: when power is wielded to silence dissent, whether through government pressure on museums or corporate ownership of media, the integrity of truth and culture is compromised. Smee’s personal experience at The Post serves as a warning about the fragility of free expression in the face of economic and political coercion. Meanwhile, Defoe’s legacy reveals how fiction and espionage are not so different—both rely on narrative, deception, and the manipulation of perception. The show concludes with a reflection on the enduring relevance of both historical and modern threats to free thought, urging vigilance in protecting institutions that uphold truth and artistic freedom.