On this episode, Nancy is joined by guest co-host Betsy Morgan to speak with award- winning documentary filmmakers Kim Snyder and Maria Cuomo Cole about their recent documentary The Librarians. The film is a moving portrayal of the school librarians on the front line in the battle against book bans and censorship. In the film, Kim and Maria deftly explore how the rightwing political movement that started with parental rights evolved into an attack on librarians, traditionally viewed as valued and apolitical members of our society. Their conversation touches on the dark forces behind the book bans, the bravery and conviction of the librarians who have stepped outside their comfort zones to fight these bans, and the bipartisan movement that has been sparked by the film, giving voice to everyday Americans who oppose censorship and believe deeply in intellectual freedom. To learn more about how you can watch The Librarians or even host a screening, go to thelibrariansfilm.com. The film will also be broadcast on February 9th, 2026 on PBS, check your local station for details.Kim A. Snyder is an Academy Award® nominee and Peabody Award-winning Director / Producer whose latest feature, THE LIBRARIANS, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is now released globally in 160+ cities. Her Oscar-nominated short DEATH BY NUMBERS, co-created with gun-violence survivor Sam Fuentes, has won multiple awards. Snyder’s acclaimed films include US KIDS (Sundance 2020), LESSONS FROM A SCHOOL SHOOTING (Netflix Original), and NEWTOWN (Sundance 2016, Peabody Award, PBS). Her earlier work includes WELCOME TO SHELBYVILLE (PBS) and I REMEMBER ME (Zeitgeist Films). She also associate produced the Oscar-winning short TREVOR, which spawned The Trevor Project. Snyder holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins SAIS and lives in New York City.Peabody and Emmy Award-winning producer Maria Cuomo Cole’s credits include the Oscar-Nominated DEATH BY NUMBERS (2024, Montclair - Best Short Doc), US KIDS (Sundance 2020), LESSONS FROM A SCHOOL SHOOTING (Netflix), NEWTOWN (Sundance 2016) and Oscar-shortlisted Living for 32 (2010), EP: THE HUNTING GROUND (2015) and Oscar-nominated THE INVISIBLE WAR (2014)Thank you for being a listener!Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.Photo credit: Tessa Belle Dillman Photography
