This episode is a rebroadcast from March 2017. "If you spend five minutes with your worst enemy, you will find you have something in common," said Daryl Davis. "If you spend 10 minutes, you'll find you even have more in common. And the more you find that you have in common and build upon those things, the less the things that you have in contrast will begin to matter, like skin color." Since the early 90s, Davis, a black man, has taken up the curious pastime of befriending members of the Ku Klux...
Jun 24, 2020•40 min
During the summer of 2017, a fierce dispute over the removal of Confederate monuments in Charlottesville, Va. captured national attention. The events that summer led to racial animosity and heated debate over our nation's history and the First Amendment, and threw one historic city into turmoil, ultimately culminating in death and tragedy during the weekend of Aug. 11. On today's episode of So to Speak , we are joined by Rodney Smolla to reflect on what happened in Charlottesville. Smolla is Dea...
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 1 min
A new FIRE report finds that 77% of public colleges and universities use a blacklist of secret words to censor comments on their Facebook pages. What's more, 87% of them block particular users on Facebook or Twitter. How do these blacklists work? How were they discovered? And do they violate the First Amendment? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino is joined by the director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, Adam Steinbaugh. He is the author of...
May 21, 2020•37 min
On Wednesday, the Department of Education published its long-awaited new Title IX regulations. Over the years — and with the federal government's prodding — Title IX has been twisted and used to justify censorship and the denial of core due process rights for those accused of sexual misconduct on America's college campus. The new regulations will better protect certain free speech and due process rights long denied to students. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Ni...
May 08, 2020•1 hr
With much of the country under stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, what do these orders mean for the five freedoms of the First Amendment? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino and constitutional law expert Josh Blackman will break it all down. Blackman is a professor of law at the South Texas College of Law in Houston and the author of three books, including his recently co-authored book with Professor Randy E. Barnett, "An Introduction to Constitutiona...
Apr 28, 2020•37 min
For authoritarian leaders across the globe, the coronavirus emergency presents an opportunity to silence critics and consolidate power. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino is joined by international free expression experts Jacob Mchangama and Sarah McLaughlin to discuss how countries like Turkey, Hungary, Egypt, and Thailand are banning "fake news" amidst the pandemic — but, in doing so, are making the crisis worse. Mchangama is the executive director o...
Apr 16, 2020•50 min
How and why do authoritarian regimes seek to control information? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino is joined by University of Maryland Associate Professor Cynthia L. Martin to explore how one country, the former Soviet Union, restricted access to information and stifled dissent — and what changed when that regime collapsed in 1991. Show notes: Podcast transcript Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia Cato Inst...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 2 min
"Coronavirus and the failure of the 'Marketplace of Ideas'" by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, as read by Susan Kruth. www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org...
Mar 20, 2020•17 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino sits down with FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff to discuss how FIRE is adapting to the coronavirus outbreak. We also explore the ideas behind Greg's new, widely discussed article, " Coronavirus and the failure of the 'Marketplace of Ideas' ." Show notes: Transcript Greg's "The Eternally Radical Idea" blog Abrams v. United States (1919) FIRE's free speech high school curricula Yale's "Woodward" report" on freedo...
Mar 20, 2020•52 min
Why is it important that we protect freedom of speech? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino speaks with Duke University School of Law professor Joseph Blocher , who argues that one of the most common justifications for free speech — creating a "marketplace of ideas" in our search for truth — rests on unstable ground in our "post-truth" era. In his article, " Free Speech and Justified True Belief ," Blocher argues for a reframing of this epistemic theory ...
Mar 19, 2020•1 hr 14 min
At a time when artistic expression has never enjoyed greater First Amendment protection, rap music has seemingly been left behind. Rap lyrics are routinely used as evidence by police and prosecutors to justify arresting and charging suspects for all manner of alleged crimes. In their new book, "Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America," authors Erik Nielson and Andrea L. Dennis identify approximately 500 cases where the violent and aggressive themes within rap lyrics were used against de...
Mar 05, 2020•56 min
Do violent video games make people more violent? Amid calls to censor or restrict access to violent video games because of their perceived contributions to violent events (such as school shootings), the question is as important as ever. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino explores this question. He is joined by FIRE's resident video game expert (and FIRE staffer) Ryne Weiss and Villanova University professor Patrick M. Markey . Markey is the co-author w...
Feb 20, 2020•55 min
Is carrying a weapon during a political demonstration protected by the First Amendment? What about intentionally creating an addictive video game? Does the First Amendment's press clause require the existence of news outlets? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we explore these three topics and more with First Amendment scholar Luke Morgan, who has written three fascinating articles that examine the scope of the First Amendment's protections: "Leave your guns at home: Th...
Feb 06, 2020•1 hr 33 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , host Nico Perrino is joined by his FIRE colleagues Robert Shibley, Samantha Harris, and Will Creeley to discuss: the firing of a faculty member at Babson College for a satirical Facebook post; the punishment of two students at the University of Connecticut for the use of a racial epithet; an executive order on antisemitism ; and upcoming regulations on Title IX . Recorded on Jan. 15. www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https...
Jan 22, 2020•57 min
"Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?"On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we explore how America's fear of communism in the early- to mid-20th century led to firings and blacklists in Hollywood, government, and higher education — and how these actions compromised America's treasured principles of free speech, free conscience, free association, and due process of law.We are joined by Ellen Schrecker , a former professor at Yeshiva University ...
Jan 02, 2020•1 hr 9 min
On today's edition of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we celebrate 100 episodes by bringing back on the show popular past guests for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of free speech in America. Joining us are: Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow, Brookings Institution Nadine Strossen, professor, New York Law School, past president of the ACLU (1991-2008) Bob Corn-Revere, partner, Davis Wright Tremaine Greg Lukianoff, president & CEO, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Show n...
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 31 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we are joined by professor Dale E. Miller to discuss the life and philosophy of the English philosopher John Stuart Mill, whose 1859 essay "On Liberty" is a classic text — maybe the classic text — defending the principles of free expression. Miller is a professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies at Old Dominion University. He is the author of J.S. Mill: Moral, Social, and Political Thought . Show notes: Podcast tran...
Nov 26, 2019•1 hr 28 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we are joined by William & Mary Law School Professor Timothy Zick to discuss his new book, " The First Amendment in the Trump Era ." www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 1 min
Does free speech exist? According to Cardozo Law Professor Stanley Fish, it does not. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we dig into what the colorful professor means by this assertion and discuss his forthcoming book, " The First: How to Think About Hate Speech, Campus Speech, Religious Speech, Fake News, Post-Truth, and Donald Trump ." Show notes: Podcast transcript "There's No Such Thing As Free Speech: And It's a Good Thing, Too" by Stanley Fish "Areopagitica" by Jo...
Oct 31, 2019•1 hr 11 min
He brought 45 First Amendment cases to the United States Supreme Court between 1939 and 1955. His success rate before the court was second only to future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He handled as many as 50 major cases a year and is responsible for much of the First Amendment doctrine we take for granted today. Who was this man — and why have most free speech scholars and activists never heard of him? On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we discuss the life a...
Oct 17, 2019•48 min
In 1999, criminal defense attorney Harvey Silverglate joined with University of Pennsylvania Professor Alan Charles Kors to found the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we connect with Silverglate at his office in Cambridge, Mass. to discuss FIRE's founding, the origins of his interest in campus civil liberties, and what he sees for his creation's future. Join FIRE in celebrating our 20th anniversary in New York City on Oct...
Oct 03, 2019•46 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , journalist Kevin Williamson joins us to discuss his new book, " The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in the Age of Mob Politics ." Williamson is the roving correspondent for National Review and co-host of the podcast Mad Dogs & Englishmen . Show notes: Podcast transcript " When the Twitter Mob Came for Me " by Kevin Williamson FIRE's High School Curriculum FIRE's Free Speech Essay Contest www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us o...
Sep 16, 2019•50 min
One year ago this week, "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure" was published. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we sit down with FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, who co-authored the book with Jonathan Haidt, to reflect on what's changed — or hasn't changed — in the intervening year. Show notes: TheCoddling.com "College suggests students respond to 'offensive' language with 'ouch!'" Media co...
Sep 05, 2019•46 min
On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we are joined by Knight First Amendment Institute Litigation Director Alex Abdo to discuss free speech, privacy, and President Donald Trump's Twitter account. Show notes: Podcast transcript " Why Rely on the Fourth Amendment To Do the Work of the First? " " Knight Institute v. Trump — lawsuit challenging President Trump's blocking of critics on Twitter " www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeecht...
Aug 22, 2019•48 min
Last fall, three writers and scholars announced they had submitted 20 fake papers to academic journals to test whether — as they suspected — certain fields of study lacked scientific and academic rigor. Of the 20 papers they submitted before revealing their hoax, seven were accepted, four published, seven were "still in play," and six were retired. The result is what's become known as the "Grievance Studies Affair." But what does their experiment prove, exactly? On today's episode of So to Speak...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr 23 min
National Review senior writer and former FIRE President David French has become an "-ism." On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , French joins us to discuss "David French-ism" and " the battle dividing conservatives " over civil liberties. Also joining us is FIRE's current President & CEO Greg Lukianoff, author of The New York Times bestseller "The Coddling of the American Mind," due out in paperback on Aug. 20 . Show notes: Podcast transcript Podcast video "Against Dav...
Jul 24, 2019•1 hr 9 min
His office door was vandalized. He was accused of causing "harm" to his "college community." There was even a demand — supported by dozens of his faculty peers — to review his tenure.Why? Because he wrote an op-ed in The New York Times arguing for more viewpoint diversity at his campus. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , Sarah Lawrence College professor Samuel Abrams joins us to discuss the response to his op-ed and the future of academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, a...
Jul 11, 2019•53 min
Community libraries have always been a target for would-be censors — and the past few months are no exception. On today's episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast , we explore past and present challenges to library content, and the unique role libraries play historically as bastions for free inquiry. We are joined by James LaRue , an award-winning librarian and the former director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read Foundation . Sh...
Jun 27, 2019•48 min
The Constitution grants Congress the power "[t]o promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." However, figuring out how Congress actually does this can be confusing. Copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, fair use? What do they all mean? Today's episode of So to Speak is all about simplifying intellectual property law for you — and explaining why free speech advo...
Jun 13, 2019•1 hr 2 min
On today's episode of So to Speak , we are joined by Williams College Professor of Biology Luana Maroja . Professor Maroja's experience growing up under a dictatorship in Brazil led her to become an outspoken advocate for free speech at Williams College and a skeptic of the idea that words are violence. Show notes: Podcast transcript Relevant writings from Professor Maroja: " Freedom of speech at Williams College: Are the walls closing in? " " Standing with the free exchange of ideas: Understand...
May 30, 2019•40 min
