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.

FIRE's Ronnie London and Conor Fitzpatrick join the show to discuss the Supreme Court's oral argument in the conversion therapy case, the Pentagon's new press rules, Indiana University's censorship rampage, and where the situation stands with visa and green card holders who say things the feds don't like.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:19 Chiles v. Salazar, the conversion therapy case

30:03 The Pentagon's new press rules

48:48 What the hell is going on at Indiana University?

55:38 Feds boot noncitizens for Charlie Kirk speech

01:05:02 Outro

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today (https://www.thefire.org/) 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.

We tackle ten common arguments against free speech.

FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff and FIRE Senior Fellow and former ACLU President Nadine Strossen are the co-authors of the new book, "War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech—And Why They Fail."

Transcript

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:18 Book's origins

04:25 Argument #1: Words are violence

20:27 Argument #2: Words are dangerous

25:09 Argument #3: Hate speech isn't free speech

31:06 Argument #4: About shoutdowns

37:18 Argument #5: Free speech is outdated

45:41 Argument #6 Free speech is right-wing

50:14 Argument #7: About that crowded theater and marketplace of ideas

59:27 Argument #9: Misinformation and disinformation

01:03:53 Argument #8: Free speech protects power

01:09:30 Argument #10: About the Holocaust and Rwandan genocide

01:13:35 Outro

Get the Book:
Purchase War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech—And Why They Fail.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today (https://www.thefire.org/) 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.

FIRE Senior Scholar Sarah McLaughlin discusses her new book, "Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech."

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:17 Book origins

03:38 How China censored speech on American campuses

18:36 COVID's impact for international students' speech

22:05 What is sensitivity exploitation?

25:35 Free speech at international satellite campuses

31:28 Attempted deportations of Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk

36:52 Sarah's free speech inspirations: literature and people

About the Guest:
Learn more about Sarah McLaughlin and her work.

Get the Book:
Purchase Authoritarians in the Academy here.

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-transcript-authoritarians-academy

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today (https://www.thefire.org/) 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.

What is the Federal Communications Commission, and why does its chairman think the agency can regulate Jimmy Kimmel's jokes?

Note: Shortly after recording this episode, Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would return "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to their stations.

Joining us:

• Anna Gomez, FCC Commissioner

• Ronnie London, FIRE General Counsel

• Bob Corn-Revere, FIRE Chief Counsel

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:46 What's the FCC?

07:35 What's the "public interest" standard?

14:20 What is the "fairness doctrine"?

25:21 What is the "broadcast hoax" rule?

28:55 What is "news distortion"?

35:31 Role of network affiliates

41:15 What happens now?

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-what-going-fcc

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.

FIRE staff also take your questions on Charlie Kirk's assassination, President Trump's lawsuit against The New York Times, cancel culture, and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:42 Attorney General Pam Bondi's comments that "hate speech" is distinct from "free speech"

02:23 Is it OK for the Department of Justice to target people for "hate speech"?

05:42 How have "hate speech" laws played out overseas?

07:19 President Trump's response to Pam Bondi's "hate speech" remarks

08:50 Are "fighting words," "incitement," and "true threats" free speech?

11:22 What about doxxing?

15:15 Is it free speech to celebrate or condone the assassination of Charlie Kirk?

21:52 The termination of k-12 and university faculty in response to their commentary on Kirk's assassination

28:40 Is there a law that might implicate the Discord users who had reason to be aware of malicious intentions the shooter had towards Kirk ahead of the assassination?

30:05 The agency of speakers and those hearing their speech under the incitement standard

31:14 What are the differences between the free speech rights of citizens and non-citizens?

36:20 Does a court filing by President Trump as an individual in the New York Times lawsuit open him up to being deposed about a wide range of behaviors and actions?

37:40 What is the Trump's administration's legal strategy with the New York Times lawsuit?

39:24 What is FIRE doing about private employees being fired for their political commentary?

46:50 What is Charlie Kirk's legacy on free speech?

50:04 What is the difference between the academic protections enjoyed by tenured and non-tenured faculty members?

52:05 Does FIRE trust the Supreme Court to protect free speech?

56:12 How can we prevent capitulation from The New York Times?

59:20 How can ordinary people safely express their opinions on social media and promote civil discourse?

Joining us:

Ronnie London, general counsel

Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar, global expression

Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy