Shows
Tech Policy Podcast414: Beware the Butlerian JihadOur host, Corbin Barthold, heads over to So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. He talks with Nico Perrino and Ari Cohn of FIRE about the death of the AI moratorium, a bogus wrongful death lawsuit against Complexity AI, the FTC’s campaign of censorship against ad agencies, and the absurdities of Europe’s Digital Services Act.Links:Shownotes, courtesy of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
2025-07-211h 05
The Jim Acosta ShowTara Palmeri on big news in the Epstein case plus free speech expert Nico Perrino on the Paramount/Trump settlement.Thank you Randy Scobey, Robin Russell, Madeline Sensibile-Yazzetta, Cathy R. Payne, Marissa Levine, and many others for tuning into my live video with Tara Palmeri and Nico Perrino! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimacosta.substack.com/subscribe2025-07-0757 min
System Update with Glenn GreenwaldWhy are Big Tech Execs Integrating into the US Military? CBS Pays Trump $15 Million: With FIRE's Nico Perrino; Diddy Verdict Locals ExclusiveSilicon Valley's close collaboration with the military reaches a new level as tech executives are now being commissioned as lieutenant colonels in the Army. Plus: FIRE's Nico Perrino breaks down Trump's lawsuit against Paramount and warns of this administration's continued attacks on media outlets and free speech. ---------------------------------------------- Watch full episodes on Rumble, streamed LIVE 7pm ET. Become part of our Locals community Follow System Update: Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn 2025-07-031h 17
The Moynihan ReportTrump & Free Speech - The Moynihan Report LIVE at Village UndergroundWho ever thought a conversation about the Trump administration’s record on free speech could be such fun? We did! That’s why we teamed up with our friends at FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) to put together a panel of exceptionally smart people from across the political spectrum, invited a couple hundred of our closest friends, and pressed record.What transpired was… pretty fascinating! Press play and you’ll meet:Nico Perrino: Executive Vice President at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) https://www.thefire.org/Lee Ro...2025-05-091h 09
Never Close the InquiryThe Indispensability of Free Speech with FIRE’s Nico PerrinoEpisode 19 - The Indispensability of Free Speech with FIRE’s Nico PerrinoNico Perrino, executive director of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, is a busy man. For many of us who came of political age in the 2010s, FIRE first entered the scene as a stalwart opponent of campus speech codes and defender of students subjected to discipline on account of protected speech. With Democrats in the White House, free speech was often viewed as a Republican issue, and FIRE an activist organization dedicated to this conservative cause. But that was never...2025-05-011h 02
The Subjective Professor PodcastEp 369 Strong Opinions Held Loosely and Tecumseh's War LessonsNico Perrino of FIRE was Ron Paul's guest today on the Liberty Report, and he said, "Strong opinions held loosely" is a desirable attitude to have in the US. We are moving further and further away from this mentality in spite of electing a president who was himself heavily censored. Also, today in my 7th grade history class we read about Tecumseh's War. I share my thoughts on that war and its relevance for us today.2025-04-2426 min
Ron Paul Liberty ReportThe War On Speech, With Guest Nico PerrinoToday's Liberty Report is joined by executive vice president of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Nico Perrino, to discuss the threats to the First Amendment on US college campuses and elsewhere.2025-04-2334 min
Mehdi UnfilteredThe Right’s ‘Free Speech Hypocrisy’This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.comIn this segment of Mehdi Unfiltered, free speech advocate Nico Perrino talks to Mehdi about the Trump administration’s attacks on student protestors and the media, and the right’s free-speech hypocrisy. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribeWATCH ‘MEHDI UNFILTERED’ ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/mehdi-unfilteredFIND ZETEO:Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_newsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonewsTikTok...2025-04-1817 min
Where It All StartsTrump’s Law-Bending Attack on MigrantsIn both court and in interviews Monday, the Trump administration doubled down on its decision over the weekend to deport more than 250 migrants, mostly Venezuelans. About half of them were removed under the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old war-time law President Donald Trump has invoked to deport suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua with little to no due process. It's just one of a handful of really scary anti-immigration efforts the White House has undertaken recently, including the push to deport Columbia University grad student Mahmoud Kahlil over his involvement in campus protests against the war in...2025-03-1821 min
What A DayTrump’s Law-Bending Attack on MigrantsIn both court and in interviews Monday, the Trump administration doubled down on its decision over the weekend to deport more than 250 migrants, mostly Venezuelans. About half of them were removed under the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old war-time law President Donald Trump has invoked to deport suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua with little to no due process. It's just one of a handful of really scary anti-immigration efforts the White House has undertaken recently, including the push to deport Columbia University grad student Mahmoud Kahlil over his involvement in campus protests against the war...2025-03-1821 min
The Reason Interview With Nick GillespieNico Perrino: What the Trump-Musk Alliance Means for Free Speech
Today's guest is Nico Perrino, executive vice president at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), director of the 2020 documentary Mighty Ira, which profiles the longtime head of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the author of a forthcoming book on the triumph of civil libertarians.
He's also the host of the popular podcast So to Speak, which takes an "uncensored look at the world of free expression through the law, philosophy, and stories that define your right to free speech." Reason's Nick Gillespie talks wi2025-02-051h 03
The Great AntidoteDavid Beito on Rose Lane Says: Thoughts on Race, Liberty, and EqualitySend us a textNot often do we find people who make the case for how race, liberty, and equality belong together. Even less often do we find them making arguments in the height of racially and economically troubled times. And EVEN LESS do we find audio clips of them doing so. These people are inspiring. They stand up against the currents of the time to speak their minds, for the benefit of everyone. In doing so, they garner respect and build coalitions across ideological lines, because they have to. We can learn from them a...2024-11-2245 min
DjupetPalestinarörelsen: Radikaliserad eller rättfärdig?Efter Hamas terrorattack den 7 oktober och Israels intåg i Gaza har en global Palestinarörelse vuxit fram med demonstrationer, tältläger och krav på att Israel upphör med det kritikerna kallar ett folkmord. Vilka är aktivisternas politiska mål? Varför uppfattas rörelsen av många som antisemitisk och konspiratorisk? Och finns det skäl för politiker och oss andra att lyssna på demonstranterna mer noggrant? Med Taher Al Naasan, Inas Hamdan, Sofie Löwenmark och Nico Perrino. Programledare: Magnus Thorén.2024-11-1030 minDjupetPalestinarörelsen: Radikaliserad eller rättfärdig?Efter Hamas terrorattack den 7 oktober och Israels intåg i Gaza har en global Palestinarörelse vuxit fram med demonstrationer, tältläger och krav på att Israel upphör med det kritikerna kallar ett folkmord. Vilka är aktivisternas politiska mål? Varför uppfattas rörelsen av många som antisemitisk och konspiratorisk? Och finns det skäl för politiker och oss andra att lyssna på demonstranterna mer noggrant? Med Taher Al Naasan, Inas Hamdan, Sofie Löwenmark och Nico Perrino. Programledare: Magnus Thorén.2024-11-1030 min
KvartalDjupet: Palestinarörelsen: Radikaliserad eller rättfärdig?Efter Hamas terrorattack den 7 oktober och Israels intåg i Gaza har en global Palestinarörelse vuxit fram med demonstrationer, tältläger och krav på att Israel upphör med det kritikerna kallar ett folkmord. Vilka är aktivisternas politiska mål? Varför uppfattas rörelsen av många som antisemitisk och konspiratorisk? Och finns det skäl för politiker och oss andra att lyssna på demonstranterna mer noggrant? Med Taher Al Naasan, Inas Hamdan, Sofie Löwenmark och Nico Perrino. Programledare: Magnus Thorén.2024-11-1030 minKvartalDjupet: Palestinarörelsen: Radikaliserad eller rättfärdig?Efter Hamas terrorattack den 7 oktober och Israels intåg i Gaza har en global Palestinarörelse vuxit fram med demonstrationer, tältläger och krav på att Israel upphör med det kritikerna kallar ett folkmord. Vilka är aktivisternas politiska mål? Varför uppfattas rörelsen av många som antisemitisk och konspiratorisk? Och finns det skäl för politiker och oss andra att lyssna på demonstranterna mer noggrant? Med Taher Al Naasan, Inas Hamdan, Sofie Löwenmark och Nico Perrino. Programledare: Magnus Thorén.2024-11-1030 min
Live From America PodcastEpisode 336: Free SpeechThis Week's Guests:
Nico Perrino - Fire VP
Boris Khaykin - Comeidan
Episode #336
"Rethink Production presents "Live From America Podcast" - a weekly show that combines political commentary with humor. Hosted by the comedy cellar owner Noam Dworman and producer Hatem Gabr, the show features expert guests discussing news, culture, and politics with a blend of knowledge and laughter.
Nico Perrino is executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, host of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, and co-director and senior producer of “Mighty Ira,” a documentary about the life and career of former ACLU Exec...2024-10-111h 26
BanklessThe Very Serious Impact of Misinformation | Nico PerrinoIn this episode, we sit down with Nico Perrino, a leading advocate for free speech and individual rights, currently serving at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Nico shares his views on the increasing government control over digital speech, the role of social media, and how misinformation and disinformation are shaping our society. We dive deep into the debate around censorship, the dangers of having a "Ministry of Truth," and the future implications of AI on free speech. Whether it’s the growing concerns about misinformation or the battle between government intervention and freedom of ex...2024-10-071h 22
Cato PodcastThese Candidates Have Terrible Views on Freedom of SpeechDemocratic VP nominee Tim Walz seems to have a poor understanding of what the First Amendment protects. Donald Trump pledges to use the Department of Justice to punish Google over the presentation of negative news stories about him. Cato's Brent Skorup and Nico Perrino of FIRE detail the candidates' troubling views. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-0436 min
Cato PodcastThese Candidates Have Terrible Views on Freedom of SpeechDemocratic VP nominee Tim Walz seems to have a poor understanding of what the First Amendment protects. Donald Trump pledges to use the Department of Justice to punish Google over the presentation of negative news stories about him. Cato's Brent Skorup and Nico Perrino of FIRE detail the candidates' troubling views. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-0436 min
JUSTUS with Jack & Gonzo92. The First Amendment and FIREDoes the First Amendment give us the right to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater? No, and this is one of the very few restrictions on free speech in America. Jack and Gonzo discuss the importance of free speech with Nico Perrino, Executive Vice President of FIRE. Founded in 1999 as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, FIRE has worked to advance the cause of free speech and the values of the First Amendment at our nation’s colleges and universities. In 2022, FIRE changed its name to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression to reflect its br...2024-09-2641 minSystem Update with Glenn GreenwaldIsrael's War on Terror; Fighting Campus and Government Censorship with FIRE's Nico PerrinoTIMESTAMPS: Intro (0:00) War on Terror 2.0 (5:49) Interview with Nico Perrino (30:58) - - - Watch full episodes on Rumble, streamed LIVE 7pm ET. Become part of our Locals community - - - Follow Glenn: Twitter Instagram Follow System Update: Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...2024-09-191h 06
Trish Wood is CriticalProtecting Free Speech is HardNico Perrino joins Trish to honour two great men who risked it all to save free speech by defending the indefensible. What we need to learn from the notorious Skokie, Illinois case the argued for Nazis to be able to parade and speak in a Jewish neighbourhood. It was a game changer and a story we must never forget. Check out Trish on Substack and stay critical. Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: www.trishwoodpodcast.com Shop: https://www.trishwoodpodcast.com/shop 2024-08-311h 48
Hollywood in Toto with Christian TotoHiT 256: Free Speech Champion Shares Big Wins, Brutal LossesConservatives scream, 'Shut Up and Sing!' every Election Year while cheering on #kidrock and #jonvoight. Hypocrisy? It's ... complicated.Nico Perrino, host of the "So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast," is the First Amendment's best friend. And it needs one given the constant attacks on free expression. He shares the recent wins, and losses, in the ongoing fight for speech."So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast" https://www.thefire.org/news/podcasts... FIRE: https://www.thefire.orgSubscribe to HiT's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollywoodintotoRead Hollywood in...2024-08-0835 minCato PodcastCongress Should Make No Law Setting Speech Rules for UniversitiesIn the wake of protests at many universities over the Israeli war in Gaza, what's the role for Congress to regulate? Unsurprisingly, it's not much. Cato's Neal McCluskey and Nico Perrino of FIRE comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-05-1815 minCato PodcastCongress Should Make No Law Setting Speech Rules for UniversitiesIn the wake of protests at many universities over the Israeli war in Gaza, what's the role for Congress to regulate? Unsurprisingly, it's not much. Cato's Neal McCluskey and Nico Perrino of FIRE comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-05-1815 min
Just Asking QuestionsNico Perrino: When Does Protesting Become a Crime?What should colleges do about pro-Palestinian encampments?
College students across America are camping out to demand their universities divest all investments with Israeli-linked companies that they claim profit from the occupation and oppression of Palestine. It's gone on for weeks, and even administrators at schools known as bastions of progressive activism are finally getting fed up. Harvard's president is threatening "involuntary leave" for protesters. Columbia announced on Monday that it canceled its main commencement ceremony for safety reasons. The University of Southern California has, too.
UCLA called in the cops to clear its encampment, and...2024-05-091h 34
Due SouthThe line between free speech and 'disruption' on college campusesFrom Texas, to New York City, to Chapel Hill, students protesting university and U.S. support of Israel during its ongoing military effort in Gaza are being arrested, suspended and threatened with expulsion. A conversation about the line between protected free speech, unwelcoming speech, and unacceptable disruption to campus life, and who gets to decide what is allowed.Guests:-Sarah Brown, News Editor for the Chronicle of Higher Education-Sarah Ludington, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the First Amendment Clinic at Duke Law School- Dr. Irene M...2024-05-0849 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 213: Campus unrest - live webinarHost Nico Perrino joins his FIRE colleagues Will Creeley and Alex Morey to answer questions about the recent campus unrest and its First Amendment implications. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:41 What is FIRE?/campus unrest 5:44 What are the basic First Amendment principles for campus protest? 11:30 Student encampments 18:09 Exceptions to the First Amendment 29:01 Can administrators limit access to non-students/faculty? 34:13 Denying recognition to Students for Justice in Palestine 36:26 Were protesters at UT Austin doing anything illegal? 40:54 The USC valedictorian 2024-04-301h 06
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 211: Generational differences and civil liberties with Neil HoweIn late 2013, some of us at FIRE started noticing a change on college campuses. Students, who were previously the strongest constituency for free speech on campus, were turning against free speech. They began appealing to administrators more frequently for protection from different speakers and using the language of trauma and safety to justify censorship. What changed? Neil Howe may have an answer. He is a historian, economist, and demographer who speaks frequently on generational change. His most recent book, “The Fourth Turning is Here,” was published last year. Howe argues that history has seasonal rhythms of gr...2024-04-111h 21
The "What is Money?" ShowThe Meaning of True Freedom with Nico Perrino (WIM453)Nico Perrino of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast interviews Robert Breedlove about the 80-20 rule (aka Pareto principle), the violation of private property, Bitcoin and anonymity, and whether money is speech.Nico Perrino is FIRE's Executive Vice President, creator, and host of FIRE's So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. // GUEST //YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freespeechtalkTwitter: https://twitter.com/NicoPerrinoWebsite: https://www.thefire.org/ // SPONSORS //In Wolf's Clothing: https://wolfnyc.com/NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/whatismoney2024-04-022h 04
History As It HappensSkokieThe uproar over free expression and antisemitism on college campuses evokes a controversy from the late 1970s that left a lasting mark on First Amendment case law and provided an enduring lesson on the importance of free speech in a democratic society. In 1977, American Nazis led by Frank Collin sought permission to hold a rally in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, Illinois, the home of thousands of Holocaust survivors. Outraged by the group's racist rhetoric and pamphleteering, the town won a preliminary injunction in court barring the Nazis from assembling. Realizing correctly that the First Amendment protects unpopular and...2024-02-0147 minHistory As It HappensSkokieThe uproar over free expression and antisemitism on college campuses evokes a controversy from the late 1970s that left a lasting mark on First Amendment case law and provided an enduring lesson on the importance of free speech in a democratic society. In 1977, American Nazis led by Frank Collin sought permission to hold a rally in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, Illinois, the home of thousands of Holocaust survivors. Outraged by the group's racist rhetoric and pamphleteering, the town won a preliminary injunction in court barring the Nazis from assembling. Realizing correctly that the First Amendment protects unpopular and...2024-02-0147 min
The RadicalistFIRE's Nico Perrino wants to hear what you have to sayIn this episode, I spoke with Nico Perrino, the executive vice president at FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which was founded in 1999 to protect free speech on college campuses in the United States and has since expanded its efforts beyond campuses to American society in general. As I wrote in my previous post, Fire in the Belly, his organization is “one of the greatest institutions of American democracy.”Nico is also the creator and host of FIRE’s So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, co-director and senior producer of the 2020 documentary “Mighty Ira: A Civil L...2023-12-081h 04
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 199: Israel, Hamas, and censorship at homeThe FIRE team gets together to discuss the October 7 attacks in Israel and the resulting censorship on college campuses in the United States. FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff, Director of Campus Rights Advocacy Alex Morey, and General Counsel Ronnie London join host Nico Perrino for the conversation. ** We will conduct a listener survey starting Monday, Nov. 13. “So to Speak” listeners who subscribe to the show’s email list will receive an email with a link to the survey. If you are not an email subscriber, you can subscribe at the bottom of sotospeakpodcast.com or by s...2023-11-091h 05
Lost DebateGOP Debate, SF U-Turn, Who is Chris Rufo?The GOP presidential candidates took to the debate stage for a second time last night. Were any of them able to escape former president Donald Trump’s shadow? Rikki and Ravi sort through the substance of the discussion and take stock of the night’s winners and losers.San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a new proposal to combat the city’s fentanyl epidemic: mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients to participate in mandatory drug testing. Why is the Democratic mayor, who’s running for reelection next year, taking a step to the right?Finally, Ravi and...2023-09-2852 min
Hubbard Helps: ChicagoFIRE (The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)Since its founding more than two decades ago as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, FIRE has become the nation’s leading defender of fundamental rights on college campuses through a unique mix of programming, including student and faculty outreach, public education campaigns, individual case advocacy, and policy reform efforts. In 2022, FIRE changed its name to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and announced an expansion initiative into off-campus free speech advocacy and legal defense. With us this morning to talk more about FIRE and the work they are doing to protect Freedom of Expression is Nico Pe...2023-07-1615 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 188 How to make a winning free speech argumentWinning in the court of public opinion is hard. On today’s show, Ewing School 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, Bob was director of communications for the Institute for Justice and pioneered a communications training program for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Bob is also the author of the Talking Big Ideas Substack, which Nico highly recommends. Bob first shared his ideas on effective communication with host Nico Perrino over lunch in May...2023-06-011h 21
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastKiller Mike on free speech, racial justice, and Rap on TrialRocking their tuxedos in preparation for the 2023 FIRE gala in New York City, Host Nico Perrino speaks with rapper and free speech advocate Killer Mike about his journey toward learning the value of free expression. They also discuss the importance of free speech in American history, the value of engaging and arguing with those who disagree with us, why free speech was critical to gaining racial equality, defending rappers and artists being prosecuted for their lyrics, and why polarization is more dangerous than anything anybody can say. The interview is followed by Killer Mike’s ke...2023-04-2744 min
Speak N' Destroy - METALLICA PodcastNico Perrino (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)Nico Perrino is the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Executive Vice President and host of FIRE’s So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast.
Before his writing appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Politico, and The Guardian, Nico's first byline was in So What!, the Metallica fan club magazine. He discovered Metallica at age 10, spent his teenage years playing guitar in a Chicago metal band, and now devotes his life to fighting for the same issues addressed in Metallica songs like "Eye of the Beholder."
Nico co-directed “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story” (2020), a feature...2023-04-191h 06
The Great AntidoteNico Perrino on Individual Rights and Free ExpressionSend us a textNico Perrino is FIRE's Executive Vice President and the creator and host of FIRE’s So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. He is also the codirector of the 2020 documentary Mighty Ira, which is about the life and career of former ACLU executive director Ira Glasser.Today, he talks to us about FIRE’s name change and mission expansion. What changed and why? What is going on with civil liberties today? He responds to some criticisms of free speech, we explore social media and censorship. We also talk about his optimism for...2023-03-3148 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 184 What’s going on in Florida?What’s going on in Florida? Host Nico Perrino and his FIRE colleagues break down the latest efforts to censor speech in the Sunshine State. Show notes: Transcript “VICTORY: After FIRE lawsuit, court halts enforcement of key provisions of the Stop WOKE Act limiting how Florida professors can teach about race, sex” “Thought the ‘Stop WOKE Act’ was bad? A new Florida bill is worse” “Unconstitutional and un-American, Senate Bill 1316 would force bloggers who criticize the government to register with the state” “Florida bill attacking NYT v...2023-03-281h 04
Giving VenturesA FIRE for Free SpeechOn the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with three experts dedicated to preserving First Amendment rights for all Americans. His guests include Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) President Greg Lukianoff; FIRE Chief Operating Officer Alisha Glennon; and FIRE Executive Vice President Nico Perrino.2022-12-2733 min
Honest Offense93: The World's Greatest Free Speech Champions with FIRE's Nico PerrinoIf you've listened to this podcast at all, you know how big a fan I am of FIRE. Until recently, FIRE stood for the "Foundation for Individual Rights in Education," but as of last week, they have expanded their mission and are now the "Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression." To me, FIRE is easily the premiere defender of free speech in America today. Nico Perrino serves as the Vice President of FIRE’s Communications department. He is also the creator and host of FIRE’s So to Speak Podcast, which takes an uncensored look at the world of free...2022-06-1557 min
Academia UncensoredNico Perrino: The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE - Formerly "The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education")This episode was recorded February 6, 2022. In this episode, I interview Nico Perrino, the vice president of communications at FIRE. We discuss what FIRE is, its mission and history, and its role in protecting free speech on university campuses.
Find show notes and more episodes on our website, https://saywhatneedssaying.com/, and find links to all our listening platforms and our other podcasts at https://linktr.ee/saywhatneedssaying2022-02-2835 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 153 Elitist vs. egalitarian free speech (live recording, Q&A)On today’s episode, we feature a live recording of “So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast” with Jacob Mchangama, author of “Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media,” in conversation with FIRE’s Greg Lukianoff, Sarah McLaughlin, host Nico Perrino, and NYU professor Stephen D. Solomon. The panelists discuss how lessons from free speech movements throughout world history can help explain today’s divisions over the value of free speech, and how conflicts between egalitarian and elitist schools of free speech thought are still with us in the digital age. This recording was a co-sponsored e...2022-02-041h 08
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 145 First Amendment history with Yale Professor Akhil AmarSeptember 25 was First Amendment Day in America — the anniversary of the date in 1789 when Congress approved 12 amendments to our Constitution, including what we today call the Bill of Rights. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we discuss the origin story and history of America’s First Amendment and its five freedoms. To do so, host Nico Perrino is joined by Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University Akhil Reed Amar. Amar is the author of “The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840” and the host of t...2021-09-301h 36
Servant Leadership TodayNico Perrino – Defending Free Speech in EducationIn today’s episode, Rick and Sam are joined by Nico Perrino, VP of Communications with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), to discuss the state of free speech on college and university campuses. We consider challenges to free speech, such as cancel-culture and social media wars. Additionally we discuss essential practices of free speech, such as debate and discussion, listening, and creating opportunities for consensus building and change.Nico Perrino is Vice President of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)’s Communications department, including FIRE's award-winning Newsdesk. He is also the creator and host of FIRE...2021-05-2057 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 125 National Review’s Charles C.W. CookeOn today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by the editor of NationalReview.com, Charles C.W. Cooke, to discuss free speech philosophy, Christopher Hitchens, the October murder of a school teacher in France, and recent attacks on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Show notes: Transcript “Hate Speech and the Limits of Free Expression,” a Kenyon College panel (video) “What ‘Snowflakes’ Get Right About Free Speech” by Ulrich Baer Christopher Hitchens - Free Speech (video) “Free Speech Without Apologies” by Charles C.W. Cooke www.sotospeakpodcast.c...2020-12-101h 06
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 124 ‘Burning the Books’ with Richard OvendenOn today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by Richard Ovenden to discuss his new book, “Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge.”Ovenden is the Director of the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Balliol College. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. Show notes: Transcript www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: so...2020-12-0149 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 120.1 Mighty Ira documentary watch-alongWatch-along as Co-Director Nico Perrino narrates the new documentary film about the life and career of former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story.” Show notes: MightyIra.com Watch Mighty Ira in virtual cinema through Angelika Film Center www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org2020-10-131h 42
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 120 ‘Mighty Ira’ GlasserFormer ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser discusses the new film about his life and career, “Mighty Ira: A Civil Liberties Story.”The film, now in “virtual cinema,” makes the case for robust free speech protections amidst the “tough” cases, including the 1978 Skokie case and Charlottesville. Along the way, viewers will also learn about Glasser’s growing up in Brooklyn, his friendship with William F. Buckley Jr., his path to the ACLU, which led through Senator Bobby Kennedy’s office, and more.A May 2017 So to Speak interview with Glasser was the inspiration for the Mighty Ira documentary...2020-10-131h 05
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 112 College social media censorshipA new FIRE report finds that 77% of public colleges and universities use a blacklist of secret words to censor comments on their Facebook pages. What’s more, 87% of them block particular users on Facebook or Twitter. How do these blacklists work? How were they discovered? And do they violate the First Amendment? On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by the director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program, Adam Steinbaugh. He is the author of “No Comment: Public Universities’ Social Media Use and the First Amend...2020-05-2136 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 111 “Dear Colleague,” it’s over. Title IX regulations analysis.On Wednesday, the Department of Education published its long-awaited new Title IX regulations. Over the years — and with the federal government’s prodding — Title IX has been twisted and used to justify censorship and the denial of core due process rights for those accused of sexual misconduct on America’s college campus. The new regulations will better protect certain free speech and due process rights long denied to students. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by FIRE Executive Director Robert Shibley and FIRE Senior Fellow Sam...2020-05-081h 00
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 110 The Constitution in the age of coronavirus w/ Prof. Josh BlackmanWith much of the country under stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, what do these orders mean for the five freedoms of the First Amendment? On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino and constitutional law expert Josh Blackman will break it all down. Blackman is a professor of law at the South Texas College of Law in Houston and the author of three books, including his recently co-authored book with Professor Randy E. Barnett, “An Introduction to Constitutional Law: 100 Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know.” Show notes: Podcas...2020-04-2836 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 109 Censorship pandemicFor authoritarian leaders across the globe, the coronavirus emergency presents an opportunity to silence critics and consolidate power. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by international free expression experts Jacob Mchangama and Sarah McLaughlin to discuss how countries like Turkey, Hungary, Egypt, and Thailand are banning “fake news” amidst the pandemic — but, in doing so, are making the crisis worse. Mchangama is the executive director of Justitia, a Copenhagen-based think tank focused on human rights and the rule of law. He is also the host and...2020-04-1649 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 108 A history of (dis)information wars in the Soviet Union and beyondHow and why do authoritarian regimes seek to control information? On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by University of Maryland Associate Professor Cynthia L. Martin to explore how one country, the former Soviet Union, restricted access to information and stifled dissent — and what changed when that regime collapsed in 1991. Show notes: Podcast transcript Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia Cato Institute lecture: Stalin’s Propaganda and Putin’s Information Wars, featuring Princeton University Professor Stephen Kotkin Call for Prop...2020-04-021h 02
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 107 FIRE, the coronavirus, and the failure of the ‘Marketplace of Ideas’On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino sits down with FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff to discuss how FIRE is adapting to the coronavirus outbreak. We also explore the ideas behind Greg’s new, widely discussed article, “Coronavirus and the failure of the ‘Marketplace of Ideas’.” Show notes: Transcript Greg’s “The Eternally Radical Idea” blog Abrams v. United States (1919) FIRE’s free speech high school curricula Yale’s “Woodward” report” on freedom of expression www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us...2020-03-2051 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 106 ‘Free speech and justified true belief’ w/ prof. Joseph BlocherWhy is it important that we protect freedom of speech? On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino speaks with Duke University School of Law professor Joseph Blocher, who argues that one of the most common justifications for free speech — creating a “marketplace of ideas” in our search for truth — rests on unstable ground in our “post-truth” era. In his article, “Free Speech and Justified True Belief,” Blocher argues for a reframing of this epistemic theory of free speech around knowledge, rather than truth. Nico and Blocher are joined in their di...2020-03-191h 13
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 105 ‘Rap on Trial’At a time when artistic expression has never enjoyed greater First Amendment protection, rap music has seemingly been left behind. Rap lyrics are routinely used as evidence by police and prosecutors to justify arresting and charging suspects for all manner of alleged crimes. In their new book, “Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America,” authors Erik Nielson and Andrea L. Dennis identify approximately 500 cases where the violent and aggressive themes within rap lyrics were used against defendants in court. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrin...2020-03-0555 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 104 Violent video games with Villanova Professor Patrick M. MarkeyDo violent video games make people more violent? Amid calls to censor or restrict access to violent video games because of their perceived contributions to violent events (such as school shootings), the question is as important as ever. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino explores this question. He is joined by FIRE’s resident video game expert (and FIRE staffer) Ryne Weiss and Villanova University professor Patrick M. Markey. Markey is the co-author with Christopher J. Ferguson of Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Game...2020-02-2054 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastEp. 102 Cultural sites, slurs, antisemitism, and Title IXOn today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, host Nico Perrino is joined by his FIRE colleagues Robert Shibley, Samantha Harris, and Will Creeley to discuss: the firing of a faculty member at Babson College for a satirical Facebook post; the punishment of two students at the University of Connecticut for the use of a racial epithet; an executive order on antisemitism; and upcoming regulations on Title IX. Recorded on Jan. 15. www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: https://www.fa...2020-01-2257 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2019On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, FIRE staffers discuss our 2019 list of the 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech. Participants in this show are: Nico Perrino, host of So to Speak, director of communications Will Creeley, senior vice president of legal and public advocacy Adam Steinbaugh, director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program Sarah McLaughlin, senior program officer for legal and public advocacy www.sotospeakpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Email us: sotosp...2019-03-0752 min
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastCampus speech roundup: Art censorship, porn filters, speech restrictions abroad, and litigation victoriesOn today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by four members of FIRE’s staff to discuss the latest campus free speech news, including two new FIRE initiatives to tackle art censorship and restrictions on free speech and academic freedom abroad. Participants in this show are: Nico Perrino, host of So to Speak, director of communications Will Creeley, senior vice president of legal and public advocacy Adam Steinbaugh, director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program Marieke Tuthill Beck-Coon, director of litigation ...2019-01-241h 01
Live From America Podcast071: Identity politics With Lee Rowland and Nico PerrinoLee Rowland was a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Lee has extensive experience as a litigator, lobbyist, and public speaker. She has served as lead counsel in federal First Amendment cases involving public employee speech rights, the First Amendment rights of community advocates, government regulation of digital speech, and state secrecy surrounding the lethal injection process. She also authors amicus briefs and blogs on topics including the intersection of speech and privacy, student and public employee speech, obscenity, and the Communications Decency Act.
Nico graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington (IU) with a bachelor’s degr...2018-09-191h 37
Live From America Podcast071: Identity politics With Lee Rowland and Nico PerrinoLee Rowland was a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Lee has extensive experience as a litigator, lobbyist, and public speaker. She has served as lead counsel in federal First Amendment cases involving public employee speech rights, the First Amendment rights of community advocates, government regulation of digital speech, and state secrecy surrounding the lethal injection process. She also authors amicus briefs and blogs on topics including the intersection of speech and privacy, student and public employee speech, obscenity, and the Communications Decency Act.
Nico graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington (IU) with a bachelor’s degr...2018-09-101h 39
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastOutrage mobs in comedyMuch has been written in recent months about online campaigns to get certain journalists, movie directors, and professors fired from their jobs because of things they said or wrote. Some campaigns have been successful. Some have not. On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we talk about how these outrage mobs affect the world of comedy — in particular, one comedy club in Long Island City, New York. How should free speech advocates think about outrage mobs? Do they represent more speech, or a form of private censorship? Or is it more...2018-08-231h 09
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastIs there a campus free speech crisis?Is there a campus free speech crisis? On this episode of So to Speak, Nico Perrino is joined by FIRE’s Will Creeley and Samantha Harris to discuss this simmering question. Watch the video of this podcast recording: youtu.be/uoO6TCAQpaE Additional reading: “The ‘campus free speech crisis’ is a myth. Here are the facts.” by Jeffrey Adam Sachs “Everything we think about the political correctness debate is wrong” by Matthew Yglesias “The skeptics are wrong: Attitudes about free speech on campus are changing” by Sean Stevens and Jonathan Haidt...2018-03-2749 min
The Hollywood in Toto PodcastHiT Episode 56 Nico PerrinoHiT breaks down Hollywood's latest Trump obsession, shares why one found footage horror film is actually worth your time and speaks with Nico Perrino, the podcaster on the front lines of the free speech battle.2018-01-1230 min
The Hollywood in Toto PodcastHiT Episode 56 Nico PerrinoHiT breaks down Hollywood's latest Trump obsession, shares why one found footage horror film is actually worth your time and speaks with Nico Perrino, the podcaster on the front lines of the free speech battle.2018-01-1230 min
Hollywood in Toto with Christian TotoHiT Episode 56 Nico PerrinoHiT breaks down Hollywood's latest Trump obsession, shares why one found footage horror film is actually worth your time and speaks with Nico Perrino, the podcaster on the front lines of the free speech battle.2018-01-1229 min
The spiked podcast'Calling a woman a "terf" is just a new way of calling her a "witch"'On this week’s spiked podcast: Brendan O’Neill on the problem with labelling women ‘terfs’, Rob Lyons on Hammond’s safety-first budget, and Nico Perrino on the problem of campus censorship in the US. spiked-online.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2017-11-2442 min
The Comedy Cellar: Live from the TableNico Perrino, Ryan Reiss, and Andrew SchulzNico is the director of communications at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and host of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Nico lives and works in New York City. Ryan Reiss and Andrew Schulz are both New York City-based stand-up comedians. They can be seen regularly performing at the Comedy Cellar.2017-10-201h 14
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastLIVE EVENT: Viewpoint diversity on campusIs the modern college campus suffering from a decline in viewpoint diversity? Do American universities prepare students for life in a politically divided democracy, or might they be teaching habits of thought that will add to America's political divisions? Does political orthodoxy reduce the quality of research, scholarship, and education? Heterodox Academy and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education conducted a live panel discussion at New York University in New York City on Tuesday, October 10 to explore these and other pressing questions. The panelists included: • Mark Lilla, professor, Columbia University • Nadi...2017-10-191h 25
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastTyler Cowen on the complacent campusGeorge Mason University Professor Tyler Cowen has spent the better part of the last 40 years on college campuses. That’s why when he wrote in his new book “The Complacent Class: The Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream” that college campuses are “among the segments of American society where the complacent class exercises its strongest influence,” we wanted to learn more. On today’s episode of So to Speak, we ask professor Cowen why he believes college campuses are complacent and what impact, if any, this has on recent campus debates about freedom of speech. Joining host...2017-06-151h 03
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastCampus free speech round table: spring 2017 semester in reviewFIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff once declared 2014 the year of the heckler. But after high profile examples of mob censorship at the University of California, Berkeley, Middlebury College, and Claremont McKenna College, has 2017 become the new year of the heckler — at least on college campuses? On this week’s episode of So to Speak, host Nico Perrino is joined by his FIRE colleagues Will Creeley, Samantha Harris, and Joe Cohn to help answer this and other questions about free speech on campus during the spring 2017 semester. www.sotospeakpodcast.com Podcast video: YouTube.com...2017-06-011h 03
So to Speak: The Free Speech PodcastJonathan Rauch’s “Kindly Inquisitors”In 1993, a young Jonathan Rauch published “Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought.” It was his response to what he saw as the West’s lackluster and apologetic defense of the novelist Salman Rushdie’s free speech rights. Since its publication, “Kindly Inquisitors” has never gone out of print and has been described by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education President & CEO Greg Lukianoff as the best modern defense of free speech and by “The Washington Post” columnist George Will as “slender and sharp as a stiletto.” In this episode, Nico Perrino sits down with Jonathan, a sen...2016-05-0548 min