EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 54 MIN
Why jailed Jimmy Lai's plight is a warning for press freedom and us all, everywhere
from Big Ideas · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
From rags, to riches, to a prison cell. He could have stayed wealthy and silent, but chose not to. Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai launched newspapers that dared to challenge Beijing, advocate for democracy, and report the truth when the truth was dangerous. Now Jimmy Lai faces a life sentence under China's crackdown on press freedom. But his story sends a warning to us all, everywhere.What happens when power decides that a free press is a threat? This event, The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, and China's Most Feared Critic was presented by the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate CenterSpeakersMark CliffordPresident of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong FoundationAuthor of The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, and China's Most Feared CriticEvan Osnos (host)Staff writer at The New Yorker
What this episode covers
From rags, to riches, to a prison cell. He could have stayed wealthy and silent, but chose not to. Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai launched newspapers that dared to challenge Beijing, advocate for democracy, and report the truth when the truth was dangerous. Now Jimmy Lai faces a life sentence under China's crackdown on press freedom. But his story sends a warning to us all, everywhere.What happens when power decides that a free press is a threat? This event, The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, and China's Most Feared Critic was presented by the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center Speakers Mark Clifford President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation Author of The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, and China's Most Feared Critic Evan Osnos (host) Staff writer at The New Yorker
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Why jailed Jimmy Lai's plight is a warning for press freedom and us all, everywhere
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