Margaret Atwood on the Rise of Real World Authoritarians | Offline With Jon Favreau 

"There is not just good and evil. There is good, evil, and stupidity." So simple yet eye opening. Thank you, Ms. Atwood.

Margaret Atwood is now my favorite person on earth.

She's so much more than an author. She has watched the world churn for decades and she is so skilled at pointing out the most important patterns. Brilliant.

OMG this woman is an international treasure. Pure distilled wisdom, leavened with humour. We need to clone her!

As a Canadian, I have always loved and admired Margaret Atwood. I had read Handmaid's Tale when I was pregnant for my daughter over 35 years ago. Wow! Had I of known then how her story would almost come to fruition today, I would never have believed it! She's definitely a national treasure and has the wit, intelligence, and a funny woman all wrapped up in a nice package! Proud to be Canadian!

Bet this interview took you by surprise, John. Yup, she's smart. Yup, she's accomplished. Yup she is older than you and shows it in words of wisdom. Great interview. One of your very best. A treasure. Thank you to both of you. You lifted me up.

It is great to have Margaret Atwood talk about her experiences in the Soviet Union. I had very similar experiences when I went there in the mid-seventies. I was not an author; I had only the opportunity to listen. It is a relief to know that Atwood's perceptions are spot on. Thank you so much.

I started reading "The Handmaid's Tale" late one evening in the 80's, and I didn't stop till sunrise and the end of the book. It was scary, and the further I read, the farther I moved away in the bed from my sleeping husband. I was never so scared for my future.

If I am a fraction of this sharp, this incisive, this witty and this insightful at 83, I will count myself lucky, indeed. What a fantastic interview. You could tell there was a mutual rapport there, so well done, Favs!

It's a sad thing to realize that we would rather disagree to point of wishing each other dead. Instead of sitting down together and finding a solution and not wait for chaos to erupt. Where are the adults in the room? A child could figure this out. Mrs Atwood is a breath of fresh air. Her awareness is legendary. Thank you.

As a writer, I'm in awe of her skill in prose writing. I thought "The Handmaid's Tale" was going to be a dull polemic, just the usual thoughtless trashing on the patriarchy, but I wanted to borrow elements of Gilead for one of my stories. I was so wrong! Her prose just flows across the page, her scenes are powerful and striking. And I am so glad I was so wrong.

I've been reading Margaret Atwood for over 40 years. She is one of my favourite Canadians🍁🦫and one of my favourite authors; she is a master with the written word. Her Oryx and Crake Trilogy is a masterpiece.

Jon, thank you for this interview. She was an absolute delight.

I work at a restaurant frequented by Doug Mastriano, the former Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. He is a religious fundamentalist, Qanon supporter, election denier, and all-around Trump supporter. He's had his election rallies and announcement parties at my restaurant where Don Junior, and thus the Secret Service, were present. The one aspect of this that has hit me hardest during my direct dealings with this man and his wife is just how ordinary he is. It's the old "banality of evil" at its finest. He is kind and respectful and his wife is lovely. Yet, the policies this man would have engendered(including a full-no exceptions ban on abortion) would have destroyed real lives in Pennsylvania. We MUST remain vigilant. As long as one group is being marginalized and attacked, we are ALL under attack.

Thank you both for this thoughtful conversation. I recognize Margaret Atwood as an author but sadly never read any of her books. Tomorrow is my 70th Birthday and I'm changing that....I'm reading THE HANDMAID'S TALE!

I’m 64 and loved sitting at my grandmas knees listening to her wisdom. This Lady 🌹reminds me so very much of those days. Thank you is not enough 🙏

I had a boyfriend when I was in 2nd year law who spoke in tongues and his sister interpreted it. I don't think they were religious so much as they loved attention. The brother abnegated responsibility because he said he didn't know what he was saying (nobody did) and the sister was motivated by power, because who could gainsay her interpretation? This was in Canada in 1987 in a baptist church. As a young law student, I was just amazed and felt at the time that it was very important to witness it. For some reason, the two of them stopped going to that church and the boyfriend moved to another fundamentalist church. In that church, there was a lot of pressure to couple up and baby up between the parishioners. There was much talk about "sheep stealing". There was a huge focus on donations. The youth pastor actually apologized to me because I was forced to get a career rather than to stay home and reproduce. He couldn't fathom why I would stray from what amounted to God's work. I had a lot of conversations with the pastor, who was the only one who was prepared to have an intelligent discussion with me, particularly given my course of education (philosophy and law). I had doubts about his bona fides because I thought he was too smart not to know exactly what he was doing with those people. In the end, the leadership of the church came to me and told me I had to leave my boyfriend, because... he was "demon-possessed". They were entirely sincere and now they were meddling in my entirely personal life, which was where I decided to get off that bus. I accepted their offer to hide in the house of a family in the congregation for a couple of weeks so this guy couldn't find me. It put the exclamation mark at the end of the sentence. What a ride! Every closed system creates its own rules and therefore its own reality, is supported by the ignorant and directed by the cynical. We all need to be aware that these "innocent" groups exist not just around us, but among us.

I always get a kick out of her interviews. She is so sharp and witty!

That was absolutely wonderful. We got wisdom, history ( lived & learned), and humor. She is such a treasure!

She is an excellent example of one who is quite elderly but very wise. A reason no one should be considered incompetent just because of old age. 😊

Margaret Atwood has always managed to impress me every interview she does. Her breadth of knowledge, insight into human behaviour, her ability to use everyday expressions is amazing. Now I will find that Utopia resource to find out so much more. Thank you. 🇨🇦💪

Best interview ever Jon. Margaret Atwood's ability to synthesize human behavior and speak to our existential dilemmas is awe-inspiring. I could have listened for hours to her stories.

Thanks for bringing Margaret to us in this conversation. She's a treasure. 🤓

It’s so heartening that older women are finally becoming visible. The experience and wisdom they can bring to today’s world is invaluable. Learning about women who’ve made important discoveries and others whose achievements were claimed by men or simply quietly hidden has been enlightening. Women still have a long way to go toward equality but I am grateful that women of all ages are becoming more prevalent in all arenas.

Long time Margaret Atwood fan typing from Toronto. Just when I think your Offline podcast can't get better you do this. Thank you Jon Favreau for continued excellent podcasting. I long for a Crooked Media equivalent in Canada. Long may you pod.

Margaret is an international treasure. Thanks for the interview.

Ms. Atwood is a prime example of what the objective, analytical mind can achieve. I have admired her for years both as a writer and a critical thinker. This is one of Jon's best interviews and shows why Pod Save America is at the top of the heap in podcasts!👌✌👍

Ms. Atwood is saying ‘ Evil never sleeps’ when things get bad, evil shows its malice. When things are good, evil diminishes and crawls back into a hole. Ms. Atwood is right on the money.

I had the good fortune of visiting Margaret at University of Toronto when she was in residence. She had a strong presence then and I've enjoyed reading her books and poetry and now am happy to hear her wisdom

I remember reading The Handmaid's Tale when I was 12 or so, and the impact it had on me even then (I am going to be 37 later this year). The fact that in the last 25 or so years, I've seen the US and other countries spiral down this dark hole towards the reality in the book has been terrifying. Great interview, Jon.

Such a brilliant woman. Lovely to listen to her. New ideas spill out of her. So hopeful. A blessing to the rest of us.

I read this book in a high school AP English class at a catholic school. "The Handmaids tale" was the first book I had ever read that I didnt want to put down and was actually interesting to read! It truly changed my life, helping me realize I was not crazy to see this stuff happening at many times throughout the last 30 years.

What an interesting, intelligent, charismatic woman. Loved her stories

“Good, Evil, & Stupid. Don’t forget stupidity”. Best line EVER! 😇👿🤪

Imagine chilling out at the grocery store, talking to your mate about the busted dishwasher and suddenly, out of nowhere, Margaret Atwood tells you there's a filter in the thing you need to change.

Those who indulge in ageism: please listen to Margaret and then tell us why people of a certain age should not run for office or anything else.

Margaret has the most beautiful dry intelligent sense of humour, very Canadian. Thanks Jon for this thoughtful interview.

If I could host a dinner party with great wine, moody atmosphere, and the worlds most interesting people, Margaret Atwood would definitely be there.

This lady is a treasure to listen to, learn from. She doesn't just talk at you, she makes you think about what she's sharing.

I used to work at a highschool and the wisdom of "don't give advice unless they ask" is so true. Young people, to some extent, have to learn things on their own. They need to make mistakes. Our job is just to try to mitigate them making mistakes that will ruin lives, and help them recover from the mistakes they do make. Everyone has to fall off a bike a few times before they can ride. That's life, and that's ok :) If you're not constantly telling them what to do, but a gentle supportive presence, they are more likely to ask your for advice than if you're nagging all the time. As adults we understand things that they haven't yet learned, so to us it seems like a "well duh" but kids haven't learned that lesson yet. Just nagging them all the time won't make the lesson sink in. Let 'em fall off their skateboard, or spill their food, or whatever. That's how they learn to be more careful.

Thank you for having one of our Canadian treasures on. As a Canadian myself, I'm thrilled that your audience is getting a glimpse of Margaret Atwood's brilliance. 🍁

Wonderful conversation. I wanted this interview to go on and on. My question for Ms. Atwood is , "Why are the people with the least knowledge the ones with the most advice?" I'd love to hear her advice on many topics and I wish she'd taught me history. Thank you for a wonderful podcast.

She's one of my heroes. Thank goodness for Margaret Atwood and her insightful novels. Decent people are fighting back against the rise of religious fascism in the U.S., and around the world. We've beat them before, we'll beat them again.

Margaret Atwood is a hero of mine. This was the best interview that I have seen with her in a long time! Thank you 🙏 😊

Thank you! Best episode ever. Margaret Atwood's creative and intellectual genius forever proves her to be not "O.L.D." (lol) but timeless and ever-relevant. Jon, I've been subbed for years and have always admired your work, online and offline, but I want to thank you also for this episode (which deserves to 'go viral'). Your questions and responses were thoughtful, the conversation a delight, insightful, and fun, but most of all, thank you for being so respectful and (a still rare in media, sadly) example of how to not interrupt or talk over someone, even during pregnant pauses. Oh, and please have more Canadians on more often! xo 🇨🇦

As the mother of a son now turning 30, give your children space to make mistakes, don't fix everything for them. Answer their questions when they ask! Teach them music and read to them every night no matter what. There, lots of advice!!

I have nothing but admiration for Margaret Atwood. Thank you for uploading this interview.

Thank you for interviewing Margaret Atwood, someone we all need to listen to.

Handmaid's Tale is one of my favorite books. Atwood is so gentle and subtle in her scathing dissection of the hypocrisy of Christian Fascists. Pro-life yet brutal executions, forced monogamy for the women but the men go to brothels, entitled access to women's reproduction but also a weird perverse aversion and ignorance to women's anatomy. And so much more.

Margaret was guest a year or two ago - it was THE BEST interview I had heard in a long time. She is so wise, so wise. I am so looking forward to this! Thank you! Margaret is a gift and a treasure.

To spend an afternoon with her, just listening, would be a dream come true. I watch everything I can that she puts out there. She’s a prophetess. She warns us of outcomes of our own actions, or inaction.. Her talent is enormous. Imo, she is the epitome of class, w/graceful & compelling thought of the present & the future. She will forever be a Hero for me & millions of others. Thank You, Margaret Atwood. I respect what you think, say, & write, immensely..❤

Margaret Atwood is a national treasure of Canada, and we proudly share her w. the rest of the world! Thank you for the interview.

She's just one if those folks that sees things so clearly and is so far ahead of our time. Mad respect for this visionary and most beloved genuis. Thank God for Margaret Atwood. Her fiction is our reality. Terrifying. But, she did say there is room for hope.

Gotta love Margaret Atwood. "Think about it. Are you thinking about it? Do you have the answer?" Thanks for reminding us that 'think about it' doesn't have to be an insult, it can be valid, an instruction from someone interested in the conclusion an askee will make. I love your reaction to MA, Jon, you look in parts introspective, like a little kid learning at grandma's knee.

Thank you for speaking the things that need to be spoken, for writing what needs to be understood and thank goodness you do. Many decades ago, yours were the words i needed to read. You helped me to change my life, and that of my children, and their children. Thank you.

So much wisdom! Thank you Margaret Atwood for being who you are.

This was an excellent interview with a great writer and intellectual - thank you, Jon.

A magnificent woman, her words are clear and true. She describes chaos with a calm and strong voice. If only the idiots leading the world would listen. But no, they ban books instead.

What a brilliant women,and when will they finally give her her Nobel!?!?

I've never loved Atwood's books, but I adore her essays and conversations. She is amazing. ❤

This was such a great interview. Thanks Jon! Margaret is an extraordinary woman. She has obviously been inquisitive her entire life and unlike many, she was proactive in seeking answers to the many curiosities she still seems to find interesting. I love her! ❤ The next time people shoot an ageists remark please remind them about Margaret Atwood. I knew a woman like her. We called her aunt Caroline even though we weren’t blood related. She was just a dear friend to my mom and our neighbor when I was growing up. She lived well into her 90’s. Her body gave out eventually but her mind remained razor sharp until the day she died. I’d like to think Margaret would be the same. She reminds me of my aunt Caroline. 🥰

We adore Maggie. She is incredibly humorous even though she writes such dystopian literature. Once an audience member asked her about her hair- was it real? And Maggie laughed and replied - do you think I would have hair like this on purpose? Her Massey Lecture on debt was prescient just before the crash of 2008 and she invented a remote way to sign books. She is a MARVEL and beloved by all Canadians. Thank you for this interview John.

What an incredible mind this woman has. I have been in awe of Ms Atwood for decades; this video just ramped that awe up a few notches.

What a refreshing interview. Oh, I can’t wait to read her memoir. Love her wise words.

Wow what a great interview. Thank you for letting the brilliant ms Atwood speak at length she had so many great things to express

I had the pleasure of training many new employees in several types of businesses. My best advice to every person was "Don't guess. Ask. You don't yet know what you don't know." It's hard to "untrain" a bad procedure.

Dear Ms. Atwood, you are young forever! Thank you for this interview.

I just stumbled across Ms. Atwood's novel "Lady Oracle," and I loved it! It's hilarious, completely different than any other book from Ms. Atwood that I've ever read.

I love her and the wisdom she has that is not even spoken yet I'm sure is as amazing as what she has spoken. I guess I'm a bit of a odd ball but I have always loved history. My grandma is the one that pretty much raised me. She came to live with my husband and I back in 2015 at the age of 95 she died here at home in 2021 at the age of 101. All my life I would ask her questions about the things she had gone through during her life. I also used to spend a lot of time with my great great aunt who died in 1987 at the age of 87. She was born in 1900, grandma in 1920 both women lived through some amazing and hard times. Just by asking them about the things they went through, the things they saw I actually learned a lot. Except for these two women I was mostly on my own since I was 9 or 10 and especially after I turned 13. There are things people go through in life that can make them grow up to fast like me, there are things people go through that make them grow up to slow, both things happen. But learning the truth of things, learning the truth of the past first hand from those that lived it is a wonderful teacher in itself. Even if not asking direct questions about something, even though the times were very different for them then for me at say age 16 or what ever age. There is still wisdom to be gained even if we don't realize we are gaining it at the time. I think that is something we should all remember, even when we are young and dumb and think we know it all. I'm 57 now and realize I know less and admit this, then I thought I knew at 16. Yes there are some legit things that I don't know if I will ever fully understand just because of how much has changed in such a short time, and other things I am learning or remembering I was taught or shown when I was young and didn't grasp it truly until now. We all need to search out the wisdom of those older then us even if times have seemed to have changed by a great deal, because basic wisdom, especially that of the soul is still invaluable and ever lasting. There are things from the past that even now can help us, even if for nothing else but give us strength. The strength those 2 wonderful women gave me through their knowledge is the greatest gift I have ever received. So don't avoid those older in your family unless they are d--k heads who we all have in our families, but seek them out and learn at least the history from someone who lived it first hand and you may also find they have many questions for you to help them learn about now and how to cope with the now. Above all keep politics out of it as much as possible unless they ask you to help them understand the truth that is going on now. You can learn much from each other in very respectful ways.

Atwood is woman’s wizard. I always feel the 60’s & the assassinations. “Regimes will kill you …” that is how I have always felt politically is fearful & guilty. Thank you so much, I have watched Handmaid’s Tale with my grand-daughter. Bless you for everything. It is such a joy to be able to tell you thanks from the bottom of my heart. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Fantastically intelligent woman whom I’ve been reading for 45 years. She helped shape my universe.

My five year old granddaughter just told me she knew everything. I kid you not. I related this story to a cabdriver this afternoon and he said his 41/2 year old son told him the same thing. lol. Their generation is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Delightful, insightful, interview. Much appreciated.

I am Canadian... my sister and I just finished watching the interview (together, and from different towns) I echo my sister with Wow! We love you Margaret Atwood, your candid response and easy-going, make sense info!

Fascinating lady. She's spent many years thinking about everything.

Thank you Ms.Atwood for your wisdom. I finally got around to watching the TV series. Needless to say I quickly became horrified. Not only for what was happening in each of the scenes, but also the realization that I see this happening now in our country. Insidiously, slowly, quietly, but I have this uncanny suspicion that your story for us is about to begin. With Roe V Wade being passed onto the states and then watching these states pass detrimental laws that women will have to follow. The banning of books because it goes against their moral conviction, or the fact that the true history must not be taught to our children. To criminalizing the LGBTQ Community, and next they will pass laws that will make all those gay marriages null and void. I see the dystopian world you wrote about in "A Handmaid's Tale", I see it happening now. I pray the younger generation wakes up from their stupor before it's too late.....Thank you again Ms. Atwood. It was a pleasure listening to you talk with Jon, and look forward to others to come!

This lady is a treasure and a gift for this world 🤩

I just love this women! So much wisdom and GREAT author. Once again, you did not disappoint John!!!!!!

I only discovered the Handmaid’s Tale one month ago then binged watched it to the last published episode and I must say that this frightened to me and opened my eyes more to what’s happening now in the Republican Party. We as democrats and conscious citizens must work now to fight against the Republicans. We the “exhausted majority” want our freedom back! It’s up to us!

What an amazingly curious and inherently critical person. Margaret Atwood's perspective is a rare gift to the societies that currently occupy this planet.

She is amazing! Absolutely riveting! Thank you for having her on your Podcast!👍🏻👍🏻

Margaret Atwood is one of the people that makes me say "I wish I had said that".

I enjoyed this interview so much. It had me lol numerous times. I was pleased to find out the Ms Atwood was also a fan of Grimm’s Fairy Tales as a young girl and my mother loved finding me the most beautifully illustrated books with those stories. Your convo made me appreciate her more. Thank you Jon. 👍🏽

What a wonderful interview with Margaret Atwood ! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to catch it. What a very wise woman. I absolutely love A Handmaids Tale. Thank you for having her on your show.

I love Margaret Atwood. Thanks for having her on your show!

Margaret Atwood!! Thank you for a great interview, Jon! 🇨🇦

This was an amazing interview.

One of the few authors that I have read her books multiple times. They are so dense and complex and pertinent.

Thank you for this interesting, humorous and thoughtful interview !! Peggie Atwood is a Canadian treasure !!! ❤️🇨🇦

I was in university when Handmaid's Tale was first published. I stole time from my studies to devour it, much to the detriment of my mark in History. I thought at the time, 'Thank goodness this will never actually happen'.

Great conversation. Thank you Margaret and Jon

'Maybe you should read a bit of history." The book banners don't read, they just fearfully react.Two wonderful and intelligent people conversing. Thank you for giving us this.

This is a perfect example of an older person who has a sharp mind and a lifetime of experience a combination that is hard to beat and an asset that has a lot to offer humanity and a stark comparison to the many empty vessels that fill the space particularly in the political sphere especially on the right side of the spectrum

Where most sane people see The Handmaid's Tale as a warning there are others who see it as a how to manual. The combination of the sudden rise of the charismatic evangelical church and a fascist political movement in America is scary af. When I was younger I always imagined the Nazis were a smallish group of thugs who managed to rule by fear but looking back at old footage of Nazi Germany it's now clear that those people at the mass rallies or lining the streets weren't afraid or coerced to clap and cheer but were ecstatically and gleefully present for it with all their heart and soul. This is where I think Ms Atwood got it wrong a little when saying the reason Putin and others like him are able to establish a totalitarian regime. Yes fear is there for the small group who might oppose him but by and large the average Russian is on board through a mixture of feelings of national pride and paranoia. Putin like Hitler has mastered the art of demagoguery. Despite being a mighty nation the average Russian believes the rest of the world is out to destroy their nation and culture just as did the average German. The West didn't have enough imagination to understand that the humiliation of the Russian people with the collapse of the USSR would create the same conditions that caused the rise of fascism in Germany.

she's amazing, i could listen to her all day, or at least begin my day with a few of her wisdom nuggets. thanks for having her on

I’m so happy Ms Atwood is giving interviews. I read HT 20 years ago and it was terrifying how close we’ve gotten. Down with the patriarchy!

An absolute pleasure to listen to Margaret Atwood, as always. Thanks, Jon, for this great interview.

If my mother were still alive, she would be saying these things, in very similar ways. Made me cry. Thank you. Reminds me why I continue the struggle.

Thank you for this gem of an interview!

I could listen to her talk forever.. shes brilliant

Love her! So well spoken...Not ONCE does she interject the nonsense phrase "sort of" in the middle of her sentences. Refreshing.