Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship

At midnight, Serena Joy walks the handmaid out the kitchen door and sends her up the back stairs to Nick. The handmaid tells us what happened in that room. Then she tells us she made it up, and tells it again.This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don’t read ahead, so you’re discovering the story with us.Things To Listen For:Dan wants to know why everybody in this house is playing games. Robot informs Jennifer and Dan that they are the weird ones.Dan admits they would bumble through Gilead completely clueless, and there may be a T-shirt in it for you.Dan cuts in on Margaret Atwood mid-paragraph: “Margaret, you’re drifting.”Jennifer asks the scary book people a good question.Why was The Handmaid’s Tale banned?This chapter includes a sex scene, and the book is regularly challenged for sexual content. But the scene isn’t what makes it dangerous. The scene happens only because Gilead’s law says men are never sterile, so the women have to work around it in secret. A story that shows a government lying about bodies, and women paying for the lie, is what book banners would rather students never read.If this is your first episode, you’re fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).Banworthy to BingeworthyIf you like what we do here, calling out the people who want to control what you read, these two shows belong in your feed.The Oath and the Office: Constitutional law professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang mix real constitutional analysis with comedy. They’ve had Senator Ron Wyden on to talk about press freedom and government surveillance. Every president swears an oath to protect the Constitution, and this show asks what that means when those freedoms are under attack. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oath-and-the-office/id1795734509Good News for Lefties: Beowulf Rochlen’s show about good news for progressives. He is also our news correspondent on Banned Camp, and this week he brings a story about public libraries giving teenagers across the country free access to banned books.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple PodcastsRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.The material used from the book The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid’s Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy was The Handmaid’s Tale banned?The Handmaid’s Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed “offensive to Christians.” But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and “protecting families” as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That’s the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.Is there a podcast that discusses The Handmaid’s Tale chapter by chapter?Yes. Banned Camp breaks down a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time, through comedy, commentary, and discussion. Neither host has read ahead, so you’re discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid’s Tale. Every episode mixes a short reading with reactions, a fact-checking Robot, and a look at why the book gets banned. We always encourage listeners to read along with their own copy.Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?No. Every episode opens with Robot’s recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.What happens between Offred and Nick in Chapter 40 of The Handmaid’s Tale?Serena Joy sends Offred to Nick’s apartment over the garage at midnight, hoping he can get her pregnant. Offred describes a passionate thunderstorm scene, then admits she made it up and tells a more awkward, sadder version. Banned Camp reads the whole chapter and reacts to both versions in Season 11.Why does Offred say “I made that up” in The Handmaid’s Tale?In Chapter 40, Offred tells her night with Nick two different ways and says neither is exactly true. “All I can hope for is a reconstruction,” she says. It’s a reminder that she is telling the story after the fact. Banned Camp’s fact-checking Robot calls her an unreliable narrator.Topics Covered:The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Forty, Offred, Nick, Serena Joy, the Commander, Luke, Cora, Rita, Moira, Beowulf Rochlen, Corey Brettschneider, John Fugelsang, Ron Wyden, unreliable narrator, grief for the time before, control over women’s bodies, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Commander finally gets the Handmaid alone in a hotel room, and it’s the same hotel where she used to meet Luke. Hiding in the bathroom, she remembers the news Moira just gave her about her mother. Then she has to walk back out and face the man waiting on the bed.This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter — we don’t read ahead, so you’re discovering the story with us.Things To Listen For:Robot defines “lassitude” and tells Dan exactly how long he’s been living itDan compares the Handmaid’s mom to Ted McGinley, and Robot turns into a full-blown fanboyJennifer finds “something reassuring about the toilets” and confesses her own bathroom safe placeJennifer connects the mother’s disappearance to the vans rolling through America right nowWhy was The Handmaid’s Tale banned?Book banners point to scenes like this chapter’s hotel room. But the part that actually shakes you is a woman who vanished between ordinary visits, and a country where nobody writes down where people go.If this is your first episode, you’re fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).Banworthy to BingeworthyIf you like Banned Camp, check out these podcasts we think you’ll enjoy:The Oath and the Office: Law professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang talk about the Constitution, free speech, freedom of the press, and what happens when a president’s power runs up against your rights. Serious stuff with real humor, featuring guests like Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.Good News for Lefties: Hosted by our own Beowulf Rochlen, this daily podcast delivers positive, progressive news. A break from doom-scrolling and proof that good things are still happening.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple PodcastsRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857Featured ClipsThis episode includes short clips from Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” (live performance). All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education.DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.The material used from the book The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid’s Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy was The Handmaid’s Tale banned?The Handmaid’s Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed “offensive to Christians.” But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and “protecting families” as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That’s the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid’s Tale chapter by chapter?That’s us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you’re discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid’s Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned.Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?No. Every episode opens with Robot’s recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.What happened to Offred’s mother in The Handmaid’s Tale?In Chapter 39, Moira tells Offred she saw her mother in a film about the Colonies, where “Unwomen” are sent to clean up toxic waste until it kills them. Offred remembers finding her mother’s apartment ransacked, with no trace of her. Banned Camp reads this chapter in Season 11 and talks about why that empty apartment feels so familiar today.What happens in Chapter 39 of The Handmaid’s Tale?The Commander takes Offred to a hotel room upstairs from Jezebel’s, the same hotel where she once met Luke. In the bathroom, she remembers her mother’s disappearance. Then she joins the Commander on the bed and has to fake it. Banned Camp covers the chapter’s mix of grief, power, and dark comedy in Season 11.Topics Covered:The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter 39, Offred, the Commander, Moira, Luke, Serena Joy, Nick, the Marthas, grief and the last goodbye, power and consent, disappearance and state violence, Dolly Parton, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Moira finishes the story of how she got out of the Red Center. She goes from a Quaker safe house to a mail sack to a truck full of carsick chickens, and she gets within sight of a boat to freedom. The escape plan runs into a problem, and what Moira chooses next tells you everything about where this story is headed.This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.Things To Listen For:Dan asks why Margaret Atwood loves the Quakers so much. Jennifer connects the book's "sectarian roundups" to Pete Hegseth's "full armor of God" speech.Dan has a foolproof plan to escape across the Canadian border on foot, and a wall idea that gets out of hand.Jennifer asks if Russia is cooking up a plague bomb. Dan would take the colony and wear the dress. Jennifer would too, but Moira's route has a few perks.Beowulf brings a public readout of banned books in Rock Island, Illinois, and Dan has strong feelings about escape rooms.Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter has Moira describing Jezebel's, a secret club run for the Commanders, where women are free to do almost anything except leave. The book has been challenged for sexual content and for being "offensive to Christians." But this chapter also shows pious men running a secret brothel while the state hunts down other faiths, which is the exact hypocrisy book banners don't want students reading about.If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).Banworthy to BingeworthyIf you like what we do here, calling out the dum-dums who want to ban books, these two shows belong in your feed.The Oath and the Office: Law professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang talk about the Constitution, free speech, freedom of the press, and what happens when a president's power runs up against your rights. They've had Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on to talk about attacks on judges and the rule of law. It's not light stuff, but it has humor in it too. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oath-and-the-office/id1795734509Good News for Lefties: Beowulf Rochlen's show about good news for progressives. He is also our news correspondent on Banned Camp, and this week he brings a Banned Books Week readout that is doing the one thing book banners can't stand.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple PodcastsRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy was The Handmaid's Tale banned?The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.Is there a podcast that discusses The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter?Yes. Banned Camp breaks down a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time, through comedy, commentary, and discussion. Neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale. Every episode mixes a short reading with reactions, a fact-checking Robot, and a look at why the book gets banned. We always encourage listeners to read along with their own copy.Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.What are the Colonies in The Handmaid's Tale?The Colonies are Gilead's forced-labor camps for women the regime wants gone. Some workers clean up toxic waste and radiation spills or burn bodies, and the book says they last about three years. Others farm cotton and tomatoes. Moira is shown a film about them and picks Jezebel's instead. Banned Camp reacts in Season 11.Why do the Quakers help Moira escape in The Handmaid's Tale?In the book, Quakers run safe houses on the Underground Female Road, a network that smuggles women out of Gilead, echoing the real Underground Railroad. Banned Camp's fact-checking Robot also explains Atwood's Puritan ancestry and the Quaker Mary Dyer, hanged in Boston in 1660.Topics Covered:The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Thirty-Eight, Moira, Aunt Lydia, Aunt Elizabeth, Mary Webster, Mary Dyer, Pete Hegseth, Beowulf Rochlen, Corey Brettschneider, John Fugelsang, Sheldon Whitehouse, escape and resistance, religious hypocrisy, Quakers, the Colonies, Jezebel's, hope and loss, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Handmaid slips into the women's washroom of the hotel club, where an Aunt in a purple caftan and gold eyeshadow guards the door. Inside, behind the smoke and the pink walls, she finds Moira. Then Moira starts whispering the story of how she got out. This is the first half of the chapter, and it ends on a cliffhanger at a door.This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.Things To Listen For:Jennifer wonders if the Hadron Collider put us on a different timeline. Robot says no, then gets pulled into Dan's Fruit of the Loom argumentMoira says "nobody gets out of here except in a black van," and Robot explains what that really meansDan explains how he'd hold the resistance's mailing list in his head: milk, bread, eggs, and a trip home with Pop-Tarts and blue cheeseConstitutional law professor Corey Brettschneider joins PPP to talk about the First Amendment and what the founders would think of TrumpWhy was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter shows a secret club run by the same men who outlawed that kind of club. Moira calls it "screwing on the altar." The book has been challenged for its sexual content and for being "offensive to Christians." Moira's remark is the exact kind of religious hypocrisy book banners don't want students reading about.If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).Our Guest in PPP: Corey BrettschneiderCorey is a professor at Brown University, a constitutional law expert, and the cohost (with comedian John Fugelsang) of The Oath and the Office podcast. In this episode he explains the First Amendment's ban on establishing a religion, why authoritarians go after free speech first, and how the founders would feel about today's presidency.The Oath and the Office podcast (with Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oath-and-the-office/id1795734509The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It (W. W. Norton, 2024): https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9781324006275His earlier book, The Oath and the Office: A Guide to the Constitution for Future Presidents: https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780393652123Corey's website: https://www.coreybrettschneider.comBanworthy to BingeworthyBeowulf Rochlen brings us the racist beginnings of book bans in America, from an article by the National Education Association.Good News for Lefties: Beowulf's show about good news for progressives, broadcast from his "socialist safe house" deep in the Oregon woods.Shout-Out: Island BookstoreIt's National Banned Books Week. Island Bookstore on the Outer Banks (Corolla, Duck, and Kitty Hawk) is taking 10% off every banned book in the store on Saturday, October 10th. You can order online at https://www.islandbookstoreobx.comRate, Review, & Follow on Apple PodcastsRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy was The Handmaid's Tale banned?The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.Is there a podcast that discusses The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter?Yes. Banned Camp breaks down a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time, through comedy, commentary, and discussion. Neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale. Every episode mixes a short reading with reactions, a fact-checking Robot, and a look at why the book gets banned. We always encourage listeners to read along with their own copy.Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.What happens in Chapter 38 of The Handmaid's Tale?Offred slips into the hotel's women's washroom, guarded by an Aunt in a purple caftan, and finds her best friend Moira inside. In whispers, Moira tells her how she escaped the Red Center. Banned Camp reads the first half of the chapter in Season 11, then stops on a cliffhanger.What does "nobody gets out of here except in a black van" mean in The Handmaid's Tale?Moira means nobody leaves the hotel club on their own. In Gilead, black vans belong to the Eyes, the secret police, and a van pulling up means someone is being taken away. Banned Camp's fact-checking Robot breaks it down in Season 11, and Dan has his own theory first.Topics Covered:The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Thirty-Eight, Offred, Moira, the Commander, Aunt Elizabeth, Luke, Nick, Corey Brettschneider, John Fugelsang, The Oath and the Office, The Presidents and the People, Beowulf Rochlen, religious hypocrisy, First Amendment, separation of church and state, resistance and memory, Mandela effect, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Commander walks the Handmaid into a secret club hidden inside the same hotel she used to visit with Luke. It's packed with powerful men and women in scavenged costumes, all the things Gilead publicly banned. Then, across the room, Offred spots someone she never expected to see again.This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.Things To Listen For:Dan asks the only question that matters about the club: is it a BYO situation?Jennifer points out the saddest part of all those costumes: before Gilead, women chose to wear these things for themselvesDan makes an on-mic prediction halfway through the chapter. Then he gets to gloat about itDan asks why he and Jennifer don't have a secret signal. Jennifer is not interested in meeting him in the bathroomBeowulf brings good news about books behind bars, and Dan tells a story about a Flock camera and a very confused old ladyWhy was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter shows the men who outlawed lingerie, makeup, and "immoral" clothing quietly keeping all of it for themselves in a private club. A government that bans something in public and enjoys it in secret is exactly the kind of hypocrisy book banners don't want students reading about.If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).Banworthy to BingeworthyBeowulf Rochlen from Good News for Lefties joins with good news about access to books for incarcerated people.Good News for Lefties: Beowulf's show covering good news for progressives, one story at a time, broadcasting from his "socialist safe house" deep in the Oregon woods.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple PodcastsRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy was The Handmaid's Tale banned?The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.Is there a podcast that discusses The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter?Yes. Banned Camp breaks down a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time, through comedy, commentary, and discussion. Neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale. Every episode mixes a short reading with reactions, a fact-checking Robot, and a look at why the book gets banned. We always encourage listeners to read along with their own copy.Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.What happens in Chapter 37 of The Handmaid's Tale?The Commander brings Offred, disguised in a feathered costume, into a secret club for officials inside an old hotel. The club is full of women in scavenged outfits from before Gilead. While the Commander gets drinks, Offred recognizes someone from her past and gets a silent signal. Banned Camp reads and reacts to the whole scene in Season 11.What does "you merely have different women" mean in The Handmaid's Tale?The Commander claims women once wore many different clothes to trick men into feeling they had many different women. Offred turns his logic around: now that Gilead has taken the clothes away, the men simply use different women. He misses the irony completely. Banned Camp's fact-checking Robot breaks down the line in this episode.Topics Covered:The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Thirty-Seven, Offred, the Commander, Moira, Luke, the Marthas, hypocrisy of power, women's autonomy under Gilead, friendship and resistance, Sesame Street, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.