George Packer

George Packer is a staff writer for The Atlantic. He is newsworthy because he recently conducted an interview with author Salman Rushdie at Tulane University's New Orleans book festival. During the interview, Rushdie discussed his feelings about being seen as a symbol of free speech following the 2022 attack that severely injured him. Rushdie expressed a desire to move beyond this symbolic representation and be recognized for his ongoing work as a writer. Packer's role as the interviewer provides a platform for Rushdie to share his perspective and contributes to the ongoing discussion about free speech, artistic expression, and the impact of violence on writers and intellectuals.