System Update with Glenn Greenwald cover image

System Update with Glenn Greenwald

As Trump Vows to Restore Free Speech, Harvard Just Assaulted It; Columbia Professor Forced Out Over Israel Criticisms

Jan 23, 2025
Katherine Franke, a tenured professor at Columbia University known for her expertise in gender and sexuality law, shares her experiences with the escalating censorship of pro-Palestine voices on college campuses. She discusses her own push-out due to criticisms of Israel and the broader implications for academic freedom and free speech. The conversation also touches on the complexities surrounding selective definitions of anti-Semitism and the challenges faced by educators in fostering open dialogue amidst a politically charged environment.
01:30:32

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes that censorship of Pro-Palestine voices on college campuses poses a significant threat to academic freedom and open discourse.
  • Katherine Franke's experience at Columbia illustrates the severe backlash faced by academics criticizing Israel, raising concerns about the protection of dissenting opinions.

Deep dives

Censorship and Free Speech Complaints

The podcast highlights the ongoing issues of censorship and free speech, particularly within the context of political discourse in America. For over a decade, conservatives have expressed concerns over the suppression of anti-establishment speech, mainly focusing on actions taken by big tech and various organizations against Trump supporters. Recently, this censorship has expanded beyond conservative voices, as critics of Israel, especially those vocal about the situation in Gaza, face similar reactions from media and educational institutions. This shift in focus raises questions about the First Amendment rights surrounding free expression, as the podcast discusses how criticisms of Israel are often met with severe consequences for those who speak out.

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