So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast

FIRE Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere and guests discuss Supreme Court's First Amendment cases including NRA v. Vullo, Murthy v. Missouri, Moody v. NetChoice, and more. They analyze government officials blocking critics on social media, legal analysis of concealed carry insurance policies, viewpoint discrimination in business insurance, government pressure on social media platforms, net choice legislation, and navigating Section 230 and the First Amendment on social media platforms.

Bitcoin-focused entrepreneur, writer, and philosopher Robert Breedlove debates whether money is speech, advocating for its autonomy from government control. Topics include Austrian economics, anonymity in Bitcoin, prediction markets, and the impact of information access on society.

The podcast delves into censorship in Russia, discussing Alexei Navalny's death, Putin's regime, and the anti-censorship platform Samizdat Online. They explore tactics to bypass censorship, potential threats to Putin, and ways to support freedom of expression against authoritarian regimes.

Join Alex Morey, Aaron Terr, and Ronnie London as they discuss a range of compelling topics on the podcast, from NetChoice oral arguments to Taylor Swift's cease and desist letter, doxxing incidents on college campuses, challenges with no-contact orders at Princeton University, and the legal implications of property destruction related to Satanic worship in public spaces. The conversation also touches on censorship issues in universities and debates surrounding viewpoint neutrality in public forums.

The podcast delves into CJ Hopkins' trial in Germany for likening modern Germany to Nazi Germany, his disputed crime, and the legal complexities surrounding free speech. It explores his background, move to Europe, and writing journey. The discussion covers Berlin during the pandemic, book censorship, and the defense of democratic rights amidst legal challenges.

Michael Malice is a self-described “anarchist without adjectives” and is the author of several books, including most recently “The White Pill: A Tale of Good and Evil.” He is also the host of the podcast, “YOUR WELCOME,” and the subject of the biographical comic book, “Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story.”   Michael joins us today to explain why he hates the term “free speech,” and gives his thoughts on McCarthyism, anarchism, Twitter, and more.     Timestamps   0:00 Introduction 0:46 Who is Michael Malice? 6:45 What is an anarchist without adjectives? 7:26 The definition of anarchism/prominent anarchists  8:01 How do we have free speech in an anarchist society? 16:54 The McCarthy Era 20:38 Students for Justice in Palestine 24:57 Should we advocate for a culture of free speech? 30:44 “Hitman”  34:01 What is the core right under an anarchist system? 36:26 Elon, Twitter, and free speech 44:38 Emma Goldman and McCarthyism 55:27 Cancel culture   1:01:37 From Emma Goldman to Solzhenitsyn 1:05:31 What is it like to live under an authoritarian regime? 1:12:23 The war in Ukraine 1:15:24 Outro Show Notes    “Dear Reader: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il” by Michael Malice  “Hitman: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors” by Rex Feral (pseud.) “Khrushchev's Secret Speech” (Encyclopedia Britannica entry) “My Disillusionment in Russia” by Emma Goldman “Schenck v United States” (1919) “The Anarchist Handbook” by Michael Malice “The Gulag Archipelago” by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn   “The New Right: A Journey to the Fringe of American Politics” by Michael Malice Episode Transcript

Jeff Kosseff, author of 'Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation,' discusses the First Amendment, Section 230, and famous lawsuits on defamation. Topics include anonymity, age verification laws, and the ongoing debate surrounding Section 230.

Bill Courtney is an American football coach, entrepreneur, author, and the subject of the academy award winning 2011 documentary “Undefeated,” which tells the story of Courtney leading a high school football team in an economically depressed area of Memphis, Tenn. to the playoffs. Courtney is the host of the An Army of Normal Folks podcast, in which he shares stories of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things in and around their communities.” His book “Against the Grain: A Coach's Wisdom on Character, Faith, Family, and Love” was released in 2014. In this episode, we discuss coaching, the surprise success of “Undefeated,” and how talking across lines of difference can heal a polarized America.   Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:25 Courtney’s background 5:41 The influence of coaches 16:50 How Courtney ended up at Manassas High School 18:50 Coaching in difficult environments 24:30 Bridging divides 30:12 Forgiveness and grace 35:57 Daryl Davis 42:45 The “death spiral” of division and polarization 53:15 What happened to Manassas after Courtney left? 54:00 How did the filmmakers find Manassas? 59:21 Was the documentary good for the school and the kids? Show Transcript

Guests Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Robert Corn-Revere, and Ronnie London discuss the Backpage trial—FBI seizure, federal prosecution, and concerns about protected speech and website rights. They also dive into the history of Backpage, the significance of classified ads, the protection of escort ads, content moderation, and federal memos. The podcast explores the implications of the case on free speech, the importance of Section 230, and the impact of federal financial regulators.

Nico and FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff appeared on an X Space to discuss the fallout from the recent congressional hearing on anti-Semitism involving Harvard President Claudine Gay, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, and former Penn President Liz Magill, who resigned last week following backlash over her testimony. Timestamps 0:00- Introduction  1:53 - History of FIRE 5:40 - MIT/Harvard/Penn presidents’ testimony  11:35 - How speech codes are abused and conflict over the definition of genocide  14:05 - Penn “water buffalo” incident  16:20 - Will universities take the wrong lesson from these hearings? 21:25 - Double standards on campus  23:41 - Standards for hostile environment harassment, Title VI 26:43 - Is there a university that is currently handling the situation well? 31:19 - Institutional neutrality  38:29 - Guidance for donors   41:51 - The mission of the university 47:35 - College admissions and political litmus tests  51:20 - Faculty viewpoint diversity  57:17 - The path forward    Show notes Show Transcript The Canceling of the American Mind Congressional hearing FIRE’s College Free Speech Rankings Kalven Report “Mighty Ira” Richard Berthold (“anyone who can blow up the pentagon has my vote”) Student arrested for true threats at Cornell Skokie case (neo Nazi protest in Illinois)  The Eternally Radical Idea (Greg’s Substack)  Penn “water buffalo” case