Up First from NPR The State of Free Speech in America
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Apr 13, 2025 
Leila Fadel, co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition, dives into the changing landscape of free speech in America. She shares insightful interviews with teachers, students, and leaders who express fears of censorship and feel silenced under current political climates. The discussion touches on the cyclical nature of free expression threats and highlights perspectives from various advocacy groups. Personal experiences reveal the struggle for compassion towards marginalized communities amidst hostility, emphasizing the fragility of free speech and the burden of self-censorship.
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Student Detainment
- President Trump claimed to have restored free speech in America.
- Days later, immigration agents detained a Palestinian student for protesting, raising concerns among experts.
Historical Threats to Free Speech
- Free speech, while constitutionally protected, has historically been threatened during periods like the Red Scare and McCarthy era.
- Leila Fadel's investigation reveals a current climate of fear, with many Americans hesitant to speak openly.
Differing Views on Free Speech Threats
- Lee Bollinger expresses alarm over intrusions into university decision-making and threats to quell dissent.
- Jonathan Turley, conversely, argues the Biden administration suppressed conservative voices on social media and in academia.
