Aaron Sorkin, the Oscar-winning writer behind classics like A Few Good Men and The West Wing, returns to Facebook with The Social Reckoning. The new work focuses on Frances Haugen, the whistle-blower who leaked internal documents to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. Sorkin defends his idealistic storytelling style, arguing that government, media, and journalism are where stories suit his writing.

He distinguishes the project from The Social Network, calling it another movie about Facebook rather than a sequel. The piece explores how platforms knew of negative effects yet resisted change. Sorkin maintains that work must first work as entertainment before it can be thought-provoking.

The interview touches on his views about Hollywood's influence on politics and his long-standing belief in American institutions despite skepticism from others. The Social Reckoning opens on Oct. 9.