So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

Ep. 239: Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, DEI, law firms, and more

4 snips
Mar 27, 2025
Will Creeley, legal director at FIRE, and Conor Fitzpatrick, supervising senior attorney at FIRE, dive into the intricate tensions between free speech and institutional pressures. They discuss Columbia University's controversial response to federal funding cuts over anti-Semitism allegations, the implications of the Mahmoud Khalil deportation case, and the chilling effects of DEI policies on dissent in academia. The conversation also touches on the risks of using funding to control political narratives and the essential role of due process in safeguarding civil liberties.
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INSIGHT

Columbia's Capitulation: A Dangerous Precedent

  • Columbia University's capitulation to the Trump administration's demands sets a dangerous precedent for institutional censorship.
  • The government's extortion-like tactics threaten academic freedom and free speech on campuses nationwide.
INSIGHT

The Importance of Due Process

  • Due process is essential for a civilized society and protects individuals from arbitrary government actions.
  • Abandoning due process opens the door to potential abuse of power by any political administration.
INSIGHT

Khalil Case: Shifting Justifications

  • The government's shifting justifications for Mahmoud Khalil's deportation raise concerns about potential free speech retaliation.
  • Focusing on alleged paperwork discrepancies obscures the initial emphasis on Khalil's protected expression.
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