
Sarah McLaughlin
Senior scholar of global expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Author of Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech.
Top 3 podcasts with Sarah McLaughlin
Ranked by the Snipd community

10 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 50min
Is Free Speech Under Threat in America? ft. Sarah McLaughlin
Sarah McLaughlin, a senior staffer at FIRE and author of "Authoritarians in the Academy," dives into the precarious state of free speech in America. She discusses the implications of Trump's administration on speech rights, unpacking the Jimmy Kimmel suspension and Pam Bondi's controversial comments on hate speech. McLaughlin explains the distinction between government and corporate censorship, warns of media consolidation risks, and emphasizes the importance of defending diverse expression. Their conversation offers a nuanced look at cancel culture and the chilling effects of intimidation tactics.

7 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 47min
Authoritarians in the Academy ft. Sarah McLaughlin
Sarah McLaughlin, a senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and author of Authoritarians in the Academy, discusses the alarming ways China exerts influence over American universities. She highlights how Chinese authorities use surveillance to monitor dissent among international students and pressure institutions to cancel controversial speakers. McLaughlin also addresses the financial motivations behind universities capitulating to this censorship, emphasizing the urgent need for academic freedom and protective measures for students.

Aug 19, 2025 • 1h 10min
How Foreign Governments Influence U.S. Universities
Sarah McLaughlin, a senior scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, dives into the alarming influence of foreign authoritarian regimes on U.S. universities. She reveals how financial ties with countries like China compromise academic integrity and freedom of expression. McLaughlin shares personal insights on censorship's rise since 2014, the implications for international students, and the debate surrounding political correctness on campuses. Her findings challenge us to consider the cost of globalization on free thought in education.


