Advisory Opinions Superhighways of Foreign Influence
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Sep 16, 2025 The discussion dives into the chilling rise of violence in American discourse and its impact on free speech, especially on college campuses. It highlights the concept of stochastic terrorism and the significant effects that public figures can have on susceptible individuals. Concerns about online foreign influence and the role of social media in amplifying extreme views take center stage. The legal complexities surrounding Section 230 and the balance between security and free speech during campus events are also scrutinized.
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Rising Acceptance Of Political Violence
- Political violence acceptance is rising among students and adults, showing deeper polarization. 20% to 34% of students now find violence sometimes acceptable to stop a speech, signaling alarming normalization.
Free Speech Viewed As Impediment
- Free speech is increasingly taught as an impediment to justice in elite institutions, reversing historical defenses. David French argues this shift fuels intolerance and violence rather than remedying it.
Frederick Douglass's Free Speech Plea
- Frederick Douglass wrote a powerful plea for free speech after abolitionist events were disrupted in Boston. David French cites Douglass's 1860 essay as the greatest pro-free-speech essay in American history.
