On January 7, 2017, The Associated Press announced that "Free-thinking author and columnist Nat Hentoff is dead at 91."

For well over 60 years, Hentoff was a one of America's foremost public intellectuals and a familiar byline to free speech advocates and jazz aficionados.

The First Amendment was a way of life for Nat Hentoff. He would have been 100 years old this year. To reflect on his life and legacy, we are joined by his son Nick Hentoff and filmmaker David Lewis, whose 2013 documentary, "The Pleasures of Being Out of Step," explored Nat Hentoff's embodiment of free expression as the defining characteristic of the individual.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:52 Who was Nat Hentoff

03:48 Nat's early life & influences

18:20 Jazz, writing, & finding his voice

31:24 Free speech as a way of being

35:15 Being out of step: Controversy, courage, and consequences

41:56 Rage, compassion, & moral clarity

51:53 Nat Hentoff's legacy of dissent

55:20 Outro

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Changes at the Pentagon, Charlie Kirk and cancel culture, free speech and misinformation, globalized censorship, Indiana University, how to support FIRE, and more!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introductions

02:11 What is the Press Clause, and who does it apply to?

05:53 FIRE's position on Oklahoma student grading incident

08:50 What does FIRE need from Members besides financial support?

15:59 FIRE's College Free Speech Rankings and what they mean

19:44 What is the latest on the Ann Seltzer cases?

22:08 What is FIRE's view on the Pentagon press room changes?

24:50 What is the value of small donations? How can FIRE supporters volunteer?

29:21 Indiana University is good at football but bad at free speech

33:46 Are courts trending in a more speech-protective direction?

37:05 Charlie Kirk and cancel culture

39:20 Pro- and anti-Zionist speech and "hostile environment" harassment

43:48 Is "globalize the intifada" incitement?

45:07 How does FIRE distinguish between free speech and misinformation?

47:54 Can FIRE help supporters start free speech alumni groups?

48:55 Free speech, artificial intelligence, and copyright/trademarks

51:51 The sordid legacy of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

53:22 Staying hopeful amidst so much hypocrisy

55:32 Global speech platforms and censorship

58:14 Differences between FIRE and the ACLU?

59:34 Does FIRE have a Substack? (The Eternally Radical Idea, So to Speak, Expression)

1:00:03 Closing remarks.

Read the transcript here.

Joining us:

• Alisha Glennon, chief operating officer

• Nico Perrino, executive vice president

• Greg Lukianoff, president and ceo

• Will Creeley, legal director

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The Institute for Free Speech's Bradley Smith and Brett Nolan join the show to discuss two upcoming Supreme Court arguments involving donor disclosure (First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin) and political party contributions to candidates (National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC).

The conversation also explores the broader landscape for political speech and campaign regulation, what legal battles may be next for the Supreme Court, and how both guests found their way into First Amendment advocacy.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:32 What is the Institute for Free Speech?

02:39 Personal paths into free speech work

05:10 First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin

32:08 NRSC v. FEC

51:50 What's next for campaign finance at SCOTUS?

54:58 Outro

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org.