Pushkin.

It's hard to read the news these days without asking yourself, how did we get here?

Fiasco is a history podcast for the co-creators of Slow Burn.

In our first season, Bush v. Gore, we examine an unmistakable turning point in American

politics, the 2000 election, which resulted in a high-stakes stalemate, ended with one of the most

controversial rulings in Supreme Court history. So if you're trying to make sense at the present

moment, check out Fiasco, Bush v. Gore. Listen on the Iart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

From Pushkin Industries, this is deep background, the show where we explore the stories

behind the stories in the news.

I'm Noah Feldman.

Today we speak to a globally best-selling novelist who has a special knack for angering the Turkish government.

Her name is Elif Shafak.

In 2006, at the height of her fame, she was charged with insulting Turkishness,

because one of the characters in her novel, The Bastard of Istanbul,

referred to the murder of Armenians during World War I as a genocide.

That case was eventually dismissed.

But last year, Turkish authorities began a new investigation into her past work for what they

called, quote, crimes of obscenity.

One thing that the Turkish authorities have not been able to do, however, is to keep

Turkish readers and readers all over the world from devouring Elif's books.

The government also hasn't been able to keep critics around the world from praising Elif's books either.

Her most recent novel, 10 minutes, 38 seconds in this strange world, was shortlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize.

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