Current Free Speech Issues

This lesson explores some of the most popular arguments against free speech and how to respond to them, as well as why it can be important to voice your opinion, even if it’s an unpopular one.

The Philosophy of Free Speech

This unit reviews the unique inheritance of basic rights and freedoms bestowed on all American citizens by our founding documents, which draw from Enlightenment conceptions of liberty and individual human dignity.

Ben Franklin and the First Amendment

Ben Franklin was an influential champion of free speech and freedom of the press during the founding and formation of the United States of America. This lesson takes a look at two of Franklin’s works – Silence Dogood No. 8 and “On the Freedom of the Press” in order to gain insight into his thinking about two of our fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

‘So to Speak’ podcast transcript: Ilya Shapiro on Fox/Dominion and his 'cancel culture nightmare'

Ilya Shapiro joins So to Speak, the free speech podcast, where every other week we take an uncensored look at the world of free expression through personal stories and candid conversations.

Ilya Shapiro on Fox/Dominion and his 'cancel culture nightmare'

joins the show to discuss the fireworks in the Fox/Dominion defamation lawsuit, his recent speaking appearance at the University of Denver, and his "cancel culture nightmare" at Georgetown University. Shapiro is a senior fellow and director of...

‘So to Speak’ podcast transcript: New York Times v. Sullivan and its future

New York Times v. Sullivan was an important First Amendment case that limited the ability of public officials to successfully sue their critics for defamation.

FIRE Letter to University of South Carolina, March 1, 2023

The Academic Mind in 2022: What Faculty Think About Free Expression and Academic Freedom on Campus

Faculty are split evenly on whether DEI statements are a justifiable requirement for a university job or are an ideological litmus test that violates academic freedom.

New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)

This is (1964). Legal Question: To what extent does the First Amendment protections for speech and press limit a state's power to award damages in a libel action brought by a public official against critics of his official conduct? Action: The...

New York Times v. Sullivan and its future

The seminal 1964 Supreme Court decision in New York Times v. Sullivan limited the ability of public officials to silence their critics by successfully suing them for defamation. Sullivan made "American public officials more accountable, the American...

‘So to Speak’ podcast transcript: Artificial intelligence: Is it protected by the First Amendment?

Nico discusses artificial intelligence with Alison Schary, Eugene Volokh, and David Greene.

Student and Administration Equality Act

Campus Free Expression Act

Intellectual Freedom Protection Act Draft

FIRE is introducing model legislation that prohibits the use of political litmus tests in college admissions, hiring, and promotion decisions.

‘So to Speak’ podcast transcript: Super Bowl free speech fumble

In this week's episode of So To Speak, Nico discusses Super Bowl clean zones and free speech with FIRE's Will Creeley and Aaron Terr.