
So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
Ep. 167 That Facebook post about abortion could land you in jail
Aug 11, 2022
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States, many people expected states to pass laws restricting access to abortion services. Perhaps less expected was that some lawmakers now seek to pass laws restricting — and criminalizing — speech about abortion services.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion in the United States, many people expected states to pass laws restricting access to abortion services. Perhaps less expected was that some lawmakers now seek to pass laws restricting — and criminalizing — speech about abortion services.
FIRE Legal Director Will Creeley and FIRE Senior Fellow and former ACLU President Nadine Strossen join the show to discuss their recent essay, “That Facebook post about abortion could land you in jail — if South Carolina legislators have their way.”
Show notes:
- Text of South Carolina bill criminalizing speech about abortion
- National Right to Life Committee model legislation
- National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra (2018)
- Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)
- UNC Chapel Hill student government commits to follow First Amendment after suggesting it wouldn’t fund pro-life student groups
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So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
Ep. 166 Substack, a platform for free speech?
Jul 21, 2022
Substack — the popular newsletter and publishing service — has made a name for itself by swimming against the current: As many technology companies devise new ways to censor or moderate content on their platforms, Substack made free speech one of its core values and, in doing so, has attracted bloggers and journalists from across the political spectrum.
Substack — the popular newsletter and publishing service — has made a name for itself by swimming against the current: As many technology companies devise new ways to censor or moderate content on their platforms, Substack made free speech one of its core values and, in doing so, has attracted bloggers and journalists from across the political spectrum.
“While we have content guidelines that allow us to protect the platform at the extremes, we will always view censorship as a last resort, because we believe open discourse is better for writers and better for society,” proclaimed Substack’s founders.
Lulu Cheng Meservey is Vice President of Communications for Substack. She went viral earlier this year when she tweeted about why free expression is an important principle for Substack. She joins us this week to discuss Substack, free speech, and the new media ecosystem.
Show notes:
Transcript
Lulu’s viral tweet thread
“Society has a trust problem. More censorship will only make it worse.” by Hamish McKenzie, Chris Best, and Jairaj Sethi
Substack’s “Content Guidelines”
Substackers mentioned: Andrew Sullivan, Casey Newton, The Fifth Column, Patti Smith, George Saunders, Salman Rushdie, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Freddie deBoer, Nikita Petrov, Blocked and Reported
John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty”
www.sotospeakpodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SotoSpeakTheFreeSpeechPodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechtalk/ Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org
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So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
Ep. 165 Title IX gets twisted again
Jul 07, 2022
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new Title IX regulations that, if implemented, would gut essential free speech and due process rights for college students facing sexual misconduct allegations on campus.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new Title IX regulations that, if implemented, would gut essential free speech and due process rights for college students facing sexual misconduct allegations on campus.
Joining us to analyze the regulations and their impact are FIRE’s executive director and author of the book “Twisting Title IX,” Robert Shibley, Allen Harris Law Partner Samantha Harris, and Brooklyn College professor KC Johnson.
Show notes:
- FIRE press release
- Proposed Title IX regulations
- Current Title IX regulations
- “Twisting Title IX” by Robert Shibley
- Lawsuits filed by students accused of sexual misconduct, 4/4/2011 through 01/07/21
- Post Dear-Colleague Letter legal rulings and settlements
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SotoSpeakTheFreeSpeechPodcast
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Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org
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So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
Ep. 164 ‘The First Amendment created gay America’
Jun 23, 2022
“Every advance gay people have made in this country has been the result of the exercise of free expression,” argues writer James Kirchick, author of the New York Times bestseller, “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington.”
“Every advance gay people have made in this country has been the result of the exercise of free expression,” argues writer James Kirchick, author of the New York Times bestseller, “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington.”
Transcript:
https://www.thefire.org/so-to-speak-podcast-transcript-the-first-amendment-created-gay-america/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SotoSpeakTheFreeSpeechPodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk
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Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org
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So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
Ep. 163 The new FIRE
Jun 06, 2022
Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights *in Education* becomes the Foundation for Individual Rights *and Expression*.
Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights *in Education* becomes the Foundation for Individual Rights *and Expression*.
America’s leading defender of free speech, due process, and academic freedom in higher education announced it is taking its free speech mission beyond college campuses with a $75 million expansion initiative.
FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff and FIRE COO Alisha Glennon join the show to discuss how the organization is changing and why.
Transcript:
https://www.thefire.org/so-to-speak-podcast-transcript-the-new-fire/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SotoSpeakTheFreeSpeechPodcast
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk
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Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org
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