Podcast Episodes

Ep. 230: Wilson vs. FDR: Who was worse for free speech?

Woodrow Wilson or Franklin D. Roosevelt: which president was worse for free speech?

In August, FIRE posted a viral X thread, arguing that Woodrow Wilson may be America’s worst-ever president for free…

Published on 9 months ago

Ep. 229: Ayaan Hirsi Ali will not submit

Ayaan Hirsi Ali grew up in a culture of conformity. She was beaten and mutilated. She was told who she must marry.

Eventually, she rebelled.

“You don’t speak up at first,” she told us. “First you lea…

Published on 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Ep. 228: Does artificial intelligence have free speech rights?

In this live recording of “So to Speak” at the First Amendment Lawyers Association meeting, Samir Jain, Andy Phillips, and Benjamin Wittes discuss the legal questions surrounding free speech and arti…

Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Ep. 227: Should there be categories of unprotected speech?

The FIRE team debates the proposition: Should there be any categories of unprotected speech?

General Counsel Ronnie London and Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere go through each category of speech fallin…

Published on 10 months ago

Ep. 226: ‘Shouting fire,’ deepfake laws, tenured professors, and mask bans

The FIRE team discusses Tim Walz’s controversial comments on hate speech and “shouting fire in a crowded theater.” We also examine California’s AI deepfake laws, the punishment of tenured professors,…

Published on 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Ep. 225: Debating social media content moderation

Can free speech and content moderation on social media coexist?

Jonathan Rauch and Renee DiResta discuss the complexities of content moderation on social media platforms. They explore how platforms b…

Published on 11 months ago

Ep. 224: Ayn Rand, Objectivism, and free speech

What happens when philosopher Ayn Rand’s theories meet free speech?

Tara Smith and Onkar Ghate of the Ayn Rand Institute explore Rand’s Objectivist philosophy, its emphasis on reason and individual r…

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Ep. 223: Teaching conservatism on a liberal college campus

Can a course on conservatism shake up the liberal status quo on campus?

Tufts University professor Eitan Hersh presents his unique class on American conservatism and its impact on campus free speec…

Published on 11 months, 4 weeks ago

Ep. 222: John Stuart Mill’s lasting impact on the Supreme Court

Episode 222

How has 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill influenced America’s conception of free speech and the First Amendment?

In their new book, “The Supreme Court and the Philosopher: How John S…

Published on 1 year ago

Ep. 221: Section 230 co-author, Rep. Christopher Cox

Some argue that Section 230 allows the internet to flourish. Others argue it allows harmful content to flourish.

Christopher Cox knows something about Section 230: He co-wrote it. 

Section 230 of th…

Published on 1 year ago