Fresh Air Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down
16 snips
Sep 2, 2025 
Jane Fonda, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor and activist, makes a powerful statement about her journey in activism and film. She reflects on her fiery critique of the Trump administration and emphasizes the importance of empathy across political divides. Fonda also delves into personal challenges, from familial complexities to confronting fears of aging. Her commitment to social change shines through as she navigates her career and personal growth, showing that it's never too late to embrace change and stand up for what you believe in.
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Controversial North Vietnam Visit
- Fonda traveled to North Vietnam to document bombing of dikes and sat on an anti-aircraft gun, a photo that haunted her.
- She says her motive was to stop the bombing and that the dyke bombing stopped two months later.
Surveillance Turned Personal And Scary
- FBI and CIA surveillance escalated to threats and attacks on Fonda's home, terrifying her children.
- She recalls car-bomb precautions, smoke bombs, and a ransacked home as traumatic episodes.
Climate Action And Democracy Are Intertwined
- Fonda links saving democracy and confronting climate change as mutually dependent goals.
- She focuses activism on local/state races because real climate and democracy work happens there.
