Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know Why Hate Speech is Free Speech - with Anthony Romero
Nov 19, 2025
In this episode, Anthony Romero, the ACLU's Executive Director since 2001, dives into the organization's role in defending civil liberties, including the controversial choice to represent the NRA to uphold First Amendment rights. He discusses the strategy behind high-profile litigation against the Trump administration and shares his insights on the Supreme Court's influence on justice. Romero reflects on the importance of challenging all administrations, the significance of birthright citizenship, and why protecting even the most unpopular speech safeguards democracy for everyone.
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ACLU Represents Individuals, Not Parties
- The ACLU represents individuals who come to them with rights violations regardless of ideology.
- The organization provides free legal representation to protect civil liberties across the political spectrum.
File Multiple Cases And Play Long Game
- File multiple, strategically located cases because you can't predict which will reach the Supreme Court.
- Play the long game and diversify litigation paths to increase chances of a favorable precedent.
Defending The NRA To Protect Precedent
- The ACLU defended the NRA in a First Amendment case even though it disagreed with NRA policy.
- Anthony Romero says they represented the NRA for free and won the case 9-0 to protect precedent.