1A 'If You Can Keep It': Trump, Hate Speech, And Free Speech
Oct 27, 2025
Faiza Patel, a legal expert at the Brennan Center, shares insights on the complexities of hate speech, emphasizing the risks of broad definitions that could target diverse groups. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, from American University, discusses the normalization of hate rhetoric and its effects on violence trends. Rachel Carroll Rivas from the SPLC talks about the shifting landscape of extremist movements and how narratives are shaped by influencers. Together, they dissect the implications of political rhetoric and the blurred lines surrounding domestic terrorism.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mainstream Dismissal Fuels Extremism
- Normalizing hate speech in mainstream discourse increases the risk of targeted and mass violence from fringe actors.
- Cynthia Miller-Idriss says mainstream dismissals like "it's just a joke" legitimize extremist behavior and lower social barriers to violence.
Antifa Is A Movement, Not An Organization
- Antifa is a decentralized movement, not an organization with chain-of-command structures to dismantle.
- Cynthia Miller-Idriss warns you cannot legally or practically "destroy" an idea without targeting specific criminal acts.
No Legal Path To Domestic Terror Labels
- The president cannot legally designate domestic groups as foreign terrorist organizations under current law.
- Faiza Patel explains such a designation exists only for foreign groups because domestic designation would risk shutting down broad civil society by criminalizing donations.
