Hey, it's John Cusack. I'm here talk to about Freedom of the Press Foundation, among other things. Ask me anything.

Where's my 2 dollars?

Shit -- out of change...sorry.

follow me on twitter @johncusack i also answer everything there..unless someone's a total asshole.

You got to spend some time with a personal hero of mine, Hunter S Thompson. Can you tell me any crazy stories from the time you spent with him or anything he said to you that really stuck with you?

I spent many many late nights on phone with Hunter through Clinton and Bush years...

Here were his thoughts on the Iraq war Bush & company started:

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world -- a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us. No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. "Well, shit on that dumbness, George W. Bush does not speak for me or my son or my mother or my friends or the people I respect in this world. We didn't vote for these cheap, greedy little killers who speak for America today -- and we will not vote for them again in 2002. Or 2004. Or ever. "Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid rich kids like George Bush? "They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and hate mongers among us -- they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis. And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck them."

HST didn't mince words.

I can only imagine what he would say about the expanded drone wars, or what he would make of the knowledge that Obama has overseen a fundamental extension of a vast array of Bush/Cheney executive privilege claims - or in many cases outdone them in ways that gut international law and our constitutional rights. I wonder how he would write about unchecked greed of wall street - and the bought and paid for government response - when the moral obligations of government declined and fiduciary responsibilities of elected officials were totally overtaken by rampant greed...

Here's a link to something I wrote a week after his death:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-cusack/goodbye-hunter-s_b_467.html

Hunter was also the funniest human being I have ever met—loyal and wicked in the best way...a deeply, almost romantic idealist at his core... Always the smartest guy in the room with the greatest bullshit detector I've ever seen

In my own country I am in a far off land I am strong yet have No force or power I win yet remain a loser At break of day I say goodnight When I lie down I have a great fear of falling -- François Villion

When Dan Akroyd yells "POPCORN!" in Grosse Pointe Blank... improvised or scripted?

Love your work, man! Keep it up!

Danny does what he wants - improv! I'm a smart enough writer to get out of the way of a comic genius

What limitations on free speech do you think are fair? In other words, what is the modern equivalent of shouting fire in a theater?

Let me link to this piece by my friend and fellow board member Trevor Timm, which answers the question about 'fire in a crowded theater' http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/its-time-to-stop-using-the-fire-in-a-crowded-theater-quote/264449/

How much fun is it working with your sister in roughly the 10 films you've appeared together in?

So much fun and so easy -- as a producer I know whenever she's on screen it's a home run. Also my other sister Annie as well. My brother Bill was the crazed backwater solider gobbling freeze dried coffee in War Inc. He also did a lot of the art designs and set decorations for the film. I'm lucky to have talented family members I can exploit for cheap labor!

More than one sibling, at times! Ann, Bill and Joan were all in Grosse Pointe Blank!

true and they were all great!

What are your all-time top five favorite records?

not a top five guy weirdly..too many to choose

Mr. Cusack,

Please tell the story behind this. We really want to know.

http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/hunter-cusack-depp-and-a-blow-up-doll.jpg

A fun night with two friends was always a memorable night (or nights) with the good doctor

Are you going to enter politics?

We are both in it now. With Freedom of the Press Foundation, we're on the front lines of politics, bringing transparency to government. https://pressfreedomfoundation.org

You don't necessarily to run for office to make a difference. Activism of all kinds is just as important.

thanks reddit this was great fun...i hope to do it again, follow me on twitter @johncusack. i'll be back soon if you'd like!

If you were to dramatically lift a boom box over your head in this current year, what song would it be playing?

ok - this is a dumb answer, but given the context of here, how about Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" -- and for those who tire of these horrid politics -- William Prince Bonny and Superwolf's " Beast for Thee"

Will High Fidelity ever be coming out on Blu-Ray?

shit i hope so!

what to make of Obama's (and much of lefts) transition from progressive academic humanists to regressive corporate warlords- droning the world and clamping down on whistleblowers at a record rate?

a great man i grew up with gives us some clues..

“War is a last-ditch moral nightmare. People begin worshiping a mysterious slouching beast -- following after, bowing down, offering gifts, making much of zero; and worse. Love of death, idolatry, fear of life; that roughshod trek of war and warmongers throughout the world, hand in hand with death. Long live death!

They wouldn't worship it if they weren't in love. Or if they weren't in fear. The second being a state of devouring, at least , as the first. I think the clue is the second masquerading as the first . Just as the beast is the ape of God; to do something successfully, you have above all to hide what you're up to. In this way fear can ape love. Death can demand a tribute owed to life, the ape can play God.

Such reflections are of course ill at ease by some: those to whom the state is a given, the Church is a given, Western culture a given, war a given; likewise consumerism a given, taxpaying. All the neat slots of existence into which one is to fit, birth to death and every point in between. Nothing to be created, no one to be responsible to, nothing to risk, no objections to lodge. Life is a mechanical horizontal sidewalk, of the kind you sometimes ride at airports between buildings. One is carried along, a zonked spectator...

....Every nation-state by supposition, tends towards the imperial ; that is the point. Through banks, armies, secret police, propaganda courts and jails, treaties, taxes, laws and orders, myths of civil obedience, assumptions of civic virtue at the top. Still it should be said of the political left, we expect something better -- and correctly. We put more trust in those who show a measure of compassion, who denounce the hideous social arrangements that make war inevitable and human desire omnipresent; which fosters corporate selfishness, panders to appetites and disorder, waste the earth.”

-Daniel Berrigan, Poet, Jesuit Priest

Hey Mr. Cusack, I'd really love to know your take on this..

You recently wrote an article in The Huffington Post in which you mentioned "...it's up to the public to bring transparency to the government, if the government won't bring it to us." It's my understanding that you meant that on terms of donations but what do you think are other ways we, the public, can bring transparency to the government? Better yet, how do you view groups like Anonymous, being that Anons are huge supporters of WikiLeaks and retaliate against censorship in the media?

In general I would encourage redditors to get involved offline as well as online encourage them to do something, join our foundation, join a diff org, or just join their friend or neighbor in speaking out against what they believe is wrong and speaking up for what they believe is right. the world is changing at a dizzying pace and with that is opportunity I would want people to believe in themselves and have confidence in their abilities to make a difference in the world, with that, I think any human being is unstoppable, especially a brilliant kid with low self esteem. Free press, net freedom, war profiteering is a crime, drones are criminal, releasing bradley manning, more art everywhere etc...whatever you believe take some action...it's tempting to just be depressed..but it feels better to speak your truth..

I love this quote - it says it all to me - by the great author Arundhati Roy:

“Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness – and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we’re being brainwashed to believe.

The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling – their ideas, their version of history, their wars, their weapons, their notion of inevitability.

Remember this: We be many and they be few. They need us more than we need them.

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

I enjoyed War Inc.

Can we expect to see more work from you along those lines in the coming years?

Boy it's hard in this climate to raise money for films that don't make people feel good about the US WAR machine. I think people like art that politically feels like comfort food..May be good going down but ultimately makes you sick later...

Speaking of art, and films, and what not, I was REALLY psyched to see that MAX is on Amazon Prime Instant Videos. I have always wanted to see it, so it's on my watchlist now.

watch max! there's a great book also called "rites of spring the great war and the birth of the modern age" by morris eckstein that is incredible .. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/13/books/books-of-the-times-modernism-rites-of-spring-rites-of-destruction.html http://www.amazon.com/Max-John-Cusack/dp/B00008K77D

Hey Mr. Cusack! HUGE fan, I may or may not be slightly in love with you =] My question is do you think the government already censors the media, and should they have any say in what is shown/not shown? Also, what is you opinion of Bradley Manning's whistle-blowing incident to Wikileaks? I personally support wikileaks, but I would be curious as to your opinion? Thank you so much for your time, and stay awesome and handsome!

Check out these two long discussions I did with Constitutional law professor Jon Turley and close friend and a true political mastermind Kevin McCabe on this subject here and here.

Basically, we should be supporting any and all organziations that bring transparency to government. Check out our website and some of these amazing organizations we're supporting: https://pressfreedomfoundation.org

I've heard that you hated filming "Better Off Dead." Any particular reason why?

No, I just thought it could have been better but I think that about almost all my films. I have nothing against the film...Glad people love it still.

What initially compelled your interest in press freedom and issues re: government transparency? Any specific issue or has it always been an important cause to you?

I came in here seeking the inside scoop from a pretty great actor and I'm pleasantly surprised to learn about your involvement with the foundation and these other groups.

History and art -- my parents -- film, theater, authors-- art can be a mirror that reflects back society -- or perhaps even collective dream we all have. But also, as Brecht said, "Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it."

What's your preferred source(s) for real/informative news on the Internet?

any of the orgs we support.. really like truth-out on a daily basis..democracy now.. lots of great places

I follow you on twitter. You have been pretty critical of Obama. What current politicians do you admire?

Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alan Grayson, to name a few.

You are a big fan of ska music. I can't help but notice that you dress like Walt Jabsco in almost all of your films. Coincidence?

Who the hell is WALT JABSCO? Maybe I am and don't even know it!!

What, if anything, can be done about the lack of journalistic integrity in the most popular "news" shows, such as those on Fox News and MSNBC, which present such a partisan view of current events as to be entertainment?

How can the public be educated to discern the difference between "news entertainment" and bona fide journalism?

One great person to read on the subject of the partisan views of Fox News and MSNBC is fellow Freedom of the Press board member and general badass Glenn Greenwald. His blog is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/series/glenn-greenwald-security-liberty

What can we do...well, we can support organizations that don't bend to partisan views, like the orgs we're supporting: WikiLeaks, Truthout, Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and Center for Public Integrity. Along with our first bundle of organizations MuckRock, National Security Archives, and the UpTake.

Descriptions of them all are here: https://pressfreedomfoundation.org/organizations

What do you think the ramifications of Drones have not only on the USA but how the world views us?

You can read my interviews with law professor Jonathan Turley on this:

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/11264-john-cusack-and-jonathan-turley-on-obamas-constitution

Many of these questions can't be answered briefly...

Hello Mr.Cusack!:) Big fan of your work and love your movies:) But just had a actor question:) What is one actor or actors you would like to really work with in the future?

There are so many great ones and I've been so lucky - but lets see - Denzel Washington would be great. Just got to work with Robert De Niro which was a joy...

Freedom of the Press Foundation is supporting WikiLeaks (among others) very publicly. Does the potential for retribution from the protectors of the status quo ever give cause for concern?

I am interested in movements. We need a movement protecting the 1st Amendment and support it's broadest reach. If there is an individual whose rights are being violated, that means my rights are being violated—maybe not now but down the road...What happened to Aaron Swartz was tragic and arguably criminal...but remember, we be many, they be few...

Oh my god. John Cusack, you are one of my favorite, all time actors. I still own your Movie "Room 1408" and probably watch it 12-14 times a year. I know over a year it sounds small, but I've seen that movie over 70 times, and I watch it whenever I see it on TV, so that's actually higher then said.

Anyways, I have a question for you. How did you get into acting? Do you enjoy the liberties of being an actor both in life and on stage (for example, having the name credit to support charities)?

Additionally, and most importantly for me, what was it like shooting for Room 1408, which is, and probably will be one of my top 10 psychological horrors for a long, long time.

I'm happy to see you in the community, and thank you for your response (if I get one, that is... I've probably drowned in the questions by now).

thanks stephen king is a great writer to work with.. doing a version of cell with war inc writer mark leyner.. it should be another mind bender! to speak to your second question. it feels better to use whatever recognition i get in causes i believe in and to speak out what i believe...it always feels good to be of service in some small way.. on some level i just do it to sleep better at night.. but i'm also an eternal optimist in some ways- i really believe things can turn for the better when people become less passive and engage..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-vlahos/are-we-not-romans_b_379580.html