Lorne Michaels speaks on stage at the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala on May 18 in New York City. PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House and authors, alongside parents of children affected by Florida’s Escambia County School District’s book bans, sued in federal court to demand that banned books be returned to school library shelves. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

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I’m delighted to be back from vacation! There’s nothing like getting away to gain perspective on the daily onslaught of news. Throughout this week’s newsletter, you’ll notice a common theme: What we need to sustain and enrich a democratic society — freedom of thought. We need to fight for it at the ballot box and in the courtroom but also challenge ourselves to think critically and expand our own intellectual horizons.