FIRE Quarterly Summer 2023

Just over a year ago, FIRE expanded our focus from safeguarding free speech on university campuses to protecting free speech everywhere across the country.

Civil liberties and Civil War

In the last episode of the "So to Speak" podcast, we traced the dramatic story of free speech in the United States from colonial America to the abolitionists' campaign to abolish slavery. In this week's episode, we pick up where we left off and...

Artificial intelligence, free speech, and the First Amendment

FIRE offers an analysis of frequently asked questions about artificial intelligence and its possible implications for free speech and the First Amendment.

A Plea For Freedom of Speech in Boston

American abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass delivered "A Plea For Freedom of Speech in Boston" on Dec. 9, 1860 at the Boston Music Hall.

So to Speak Podcast Transcript: Free speech and Abolitionism

Journalist and author Damon Root, FIRE Senior Fellow Jacob Mchangama, and Washington and Lee University professor Lucas Morel join the show this week to explore how free speech and the free press became the essential tools in the abolitionists' campaign for freedom.

Free speech and Abolitionism

Last Constitution Day, we traced the origins of free speech in the United States from colonial America to the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791. In this episode, we jump forward to the antebellum period, where abolitionists such as Frederick...

So to Speak Podcast Transcript: Why should we care about punk rock?

On today's show, Reason magazine's Nick Gillespie and FIRE Vice President of Communications Matt Harwood do their best to explain to Nico why he and other free speech advocates should care about punk.

Why should we care about punk rock?

Nico knows very little about punk rock. On today's show, Reason magazine's Nick Gillespie and FIRE Vice President of Communications Matt Harwood do their best to explain to Nico why he and other free speech advocates should care about punk...

FIRE's New Era: An Inaugural Impact Report

This report details the success of our inaugural year pursuing our expanded mission of defending free speech for all Americans.

So to Speak Podcast Transcript: How to make a winning free speech argument

Call for Proposals: 2023 Free Inquiry Grant program

A total pool of $200,000 will be available in 2023, with a maximum amount of $65,000 per grant and no minimum amount.

Free Speech Grants from FIRE

To help fulfill that aspect of our mission, we periodically offer grants to support free speech research projects.

How to make a winning free speech argument

Winning in the court of public opinion is hard. On today's show, founder Bob Ewing shares communications strategies that anyone -- including free speech advocates -- can use to win in the marketplace of ideas. Prior to founding the Ewing School,...

FIRE Letter to James Madison University, May 22, 2023

Dominion vs. Fox lawyers reflect on historic case

On April 18, Fox News to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The historic settlement came just before the trial was set to begin in a...