The hottest Free speech Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

The Law Clerk Boycott Hits Stanford Law School

Original Jurisdiction • 479 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Education Protest Free speech Judiciary
  1. Federal appellate judges are boycotting Stanford Law School for clerk hiring due to recent disruptive events involving Judge Kyle Duncan.
  2. The boycott is part of a larger pattern of judges withholding clerkship opportunities from law schools due to concerns over free speech issues.
  3. The boycotting judges are advocating for changes in law schools to promote intellectual and ideological diversity as a condition to end the boycott.

Inside the Plot To Kill The Censorship Industrial Complex

Public • 336 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Government Agencies Election interference Free speech Supreme Court
  1. Evidence shows Stanford Internet Observatory demanded censorship of Covid vaccine information and interfered in the 2020 elections
  2. Government agencies like DHS-CISA secretly created the Censorship Industrial Complex, threatening freedom of speech
  3. Efforts are being made to dismantle the Censorship Industrial Complex and turn the tide against censorship advocates

Disinformation - the new cash cow, especially if we get 're-educated' about its' meaning.

A B’Old Woman • 299 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Free speech Policy Government Society
  1. The New Zealand government is looking to understand disinformation better by offering a $450K tender for research. This is to help them recognize and tackle disinformation in society.
  2. There is concern that the definition of disinformation might be changing. Some groups are expanding the meaning to include comments that are considered mean or hateful, which raises questions about free speech.
  3. One project related to disinformation seems to focus on specific groups and narratives, but some critics point out that other important topics, like the experiences of Muslims, are not being addressed.
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URGENT: Free speech wins at Meta

Unreported Truths • 42 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Censorship Social media Fact-checking Political Influence
  1. Meta is stopping its efforts to censor posts about immigration and gender. This change is being framed as a return to free speech on the platform.
  2. The debate around fact-checking is ongoing. It often shows how opinions can differ on what is true, rather than just stating hard facts.
  3. Zuckerberg aims to bring back civic content to Facebook because people want to see all sides of an issue, and just sharing fun content isn't enough.

Northwestern Cancels Former Trustee

Heterodox STEM • 284 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Free speech Due process Diversity Inclusion
  1. Northwestern University cancelled a former trustee without due process over student complaints.
  2. The former trustee believes that NU's 'Safetyism' is harming students by limiting free speech and due process rights.
  3. The former trustee highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the damage caused by 'safetyism' on college campuses.

Curator

Castalia • 239 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Political Ideologies Free speech Economic Policies
  1. Cancel culture is a hot topic, and opinions about it vary widely. Some say it doesn't exist or is blown out of proportion, while others argue it's a real issue affecting free speech.
  2. The left needs to refresh its focus on core economic equality issues instead of getting stuck on cultural fights. People are moving towards the right because the left isn't addressing these important topics.
  3. AI is changing how we work and making jobs more tedious. While it can produce impressive results, it often hides the hard labor of many people who help make it possible.

Canceling the American Mind

Holodoxa • 179 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Cancel Culture Academic Freedom Political Discourse
  1. Issues related to freedom of expression are prominent in American public discourse, especially in the current era.
  2. Cancel Culture has spread widely, impacting discourse and leading to consequences for freedom of expression.
  3. Strategies like defining Cancel Culture, examining rhetorical fortresses, and proposing changes in education can help mitigate the impacts of censorious attitudes.

The Three Musketeers

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 24 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Regulation Legal issues Disinformation Free speech
  1. Tech companies have legal protections that allow them to avoid consequences for harmful content. This has created a chaotic online environment full of hate and misinformation.
  2. The EU has stricter rules for online content, which hold companies accountable. In the US, there's a push to change laws that protect social media from being sued for the things users post.
  3. Upcoming Supreme Court cases could change these protections, leading to more accountability for tech giants. Many believe this is necessary to combat harmful online behavior.

Eugene Debs ran for U.S. president from prison. Here's how that went.

What's Left • 176 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Socialism Presidential Campaigns Prison Reform Free speech Political History
  1. Eugene Debs ran for U.S. president from prison and got nearly a million votes.
  2. Debs' campaign embraced his prisoner status, parallel to Trump's situation, but their motives and supporters differed.
  3. Debs' imprisonment stemmed from anti-war rhetoric, highlighting free speech issues of the time.

The AI Trident

From the New World • 21 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Free speech Philosophy Religion Sociology
  1. AI is becoming clearer for everyone, especially as real-world events show its impact, like AI-related discoveries winning the Nobel Prize. It's important for normal people to engage in discussions about AI, as their voices can shape understanding.
  2. Mill's Trident helps clarify opinions about free speech and can also apply to how we think about AI. It's crucial to consider differing perspectives, whether people see AI as significant spiritually or want to focus purely on the evidence.
  3. The debate on AI's importance varies widely, from those who see it as having no spiritual significance to those who view it as world-changing. It's essential to have open discussions and gradually create informed policies based on evidence while respecting different viewpoints.

The surveilled campus

Can We Still Govern? • 239 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Higher education
  1. Story highlights how the professional outrage machine targets faculty and students on American campuses.
  2. Conservative campus groups use tactics like building plywood walls to provoke and surveil, leading to media scrutiny and consequences for individuals.
  3. Incidents like these reveal a trend of surveillance, recording, and media pressure for punishment that undermines trust and community on college campuses.

The Work of Free Speech on Social Media

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 98 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Social media Content Moderation Public Relations
  1. The banning of certain figures on social media is often driven by public relations considerations rather than purely moral or ethical standards.
  2. Social media platforms prioritize maintaining a certain inoffensive public image to attract ad revenue and align with mainstream media-approved trends.
  3. The dynamics of speech regulation on social media platforms spark debates about freedom of speech, corporate interests, and user empowerment in the digital age.

Announcing the Symposium Foundation for the Study of Liberalism

Symposium • 137 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Liberalism Free speech Institutions Partisanship Education
  1. The Symposium Foundation for the Study of Liberalism has been created to support intellectual defense of a free society.
  2. Current threats to liberalism come from corruption in established institutions on both the left and the right.
  3. New explicitly liberal institutions are needed to rebuild the case for a free society and bridge ideological divides.

HELP us stand up for kids!

Disaffected Newsletter • 459 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Activism Social Issues LGBTQ Rights Children's rights Free speech
  1. There's a big protest happening about children's rights regarding gender identity. People are concerned about how kids can be harmed by medical transitions.
  2. The protest is supported by a group that wants to separate the LGB community from transgender activism. They believe there are different interests and issues at stake.
  3. If you can't attend the protest, you can support it by watching it online and spreading the word. It's important to many who feel strongly about these topics.

Censorship and the Criminalization of Election Integrity

Who is Robert Malone • 17 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Integrity Free speech Government Accountability
  1. Censorship is becoming a serious issue, affecting free speech and the ability to criticize powerful leaders. Many are concerned that this could lead to serious consequences for democracy.
  2. The use of mail-in ballots and absentee voting raises concerns about potential voter fraud. Historical examples suggest that these methods can lead to issues during elections.
  3. Politicians are pushing back against anyone who questions their electoral methods. This has led to calls for disbarment of lawyers who challenge election processes, creating a fear of speaking out.

The Democratic Party’s Crucifixion of Matt Taibbi

The Chris Hedges Report • 358 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Censorship Media Corruption Free speech
  1. Extensive government blacklists are used to censor critics on both sides and have targeted reporters like Matt Taibbi.
  2. Taibbi faced character assassination and persecution after exposing censorship by FBI, CIA, and other agencies.
  3. The ruling class fears those who expose their corruption, leading to crackdowns on free speech and dissent.

Reasons to celebrate Trump's return to Facebook

The Exformation Newsletter • 117 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tech governance Free speech
  1. Meta's reinstatement of Trump's accounts highlights the power of self-regulatory organizations.
  2. The Oversight Board played a key role in Trump's return to Facebook, showing the effectiveness of this pathway for social media regulation.
  3. Meta's response to the Oversight Board's review showcases the influence and potential of non-governmental self-regulatory organizations in shaping industry standards.

Cancel Culture Datapalooza

Dreams in the Which House • 117 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Free speech Academic Freedom Political Narrative Statistics
  1. The numbers around 'Cancel Culture' incidents are a topic of debate, especially in academia.
  2. In evaluating these numbers, it's crucial to consider the context of the data and how it's presented.
  3. Comparing modern 'Cancel Culture' scenarios with historical events like McCarthyism reveals nuances and complexities.

Dear Sarah Lawrence College

Disaffected Newsletter • 419 implied HN points • 01 Sep 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Culture Free speech Activism Ideology
  1. The author feels ashamed of their degree from Sarah Lawrence College, seeing it as linked to negative aspects of modern education. They believe the school promotes a 'woke' ideology that they find problematic.
  2. While they had a good personal experience at the college, they now see the education they received as potentially leading to a closed-minded worldview.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of questioning authoritarian thinking and being aware of different perspectives outside their college education.

Free Speech To The Supreme Court — And Beyond!

Public • 234 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Harm Reduction Democratic Party Censorship
  1. The Fifth Circuit court heard oral arguments in the Missouri v. Biden case revealing government coercion of social media companies.
  2. US Attorney announced a crackdown on illegal supervised drug consumption sites in Harlem and San Francisco.
  3. Michael Shellenberger will be joining Ireland's free speech advocates in Dublin to fight against the hate censorship bill.

The Truth Factories

Antimaterie • 98 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Reality Truth Free speech Credibility
  1. Dictatorships rely on fabricating new realities through 'truth factories' rather than just repression.
  2. Reality is shaped by invisible 'Reality Validation Institutions' that validate what we consider real and true.
  3. To safeguard against fabricated realities and maintain truth, protect free speech and uphold personal credibility values.

We Brought Down the House

Unsafe Science • 134 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Free speech Corruption Antisemitism
  1. Reported on how foreign funding impacts political corruption in American institutions of higher education
  2. Highlighted how speech intolerance and antisemitism are associated with funding from foreign regimes in universities
  3. Influence from external actors on university campuses led to a lack of accountability in protecting free speech and academic freedom

Twitter Poster Railroaded for Free Speech by Biden’s DOJ

Karlstack • 293 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech First Amendment Legal system Political Influence Court Proceedings
  1. The trial of Douglass Mackey highlights procedural abuses reminiscent of colonial courts
  2. Key evidence was withheld by the prosecution, impacting the defense's ability to present a full case
  3. The interpretation of the law expanded by the judge raises concerns about government power to regulate speech

I need your help

Unreported Truths • 40 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Legal issues Government Accountability Censorship
  1. The lawsuit Berenson v Biden is an important case about free speech, and it’s now at a critical point. The author is asking for help as they prepare to respond to the defendants' motions.
  2. The author has evidence on their side but the defendants are trying to avoid the discovery process, which could reveal more information. They are seeking to have the case dismissed instead.
  3. There may be fewer articles coming from the author in the near future while they focus on the lawsuit. They are encouraging supporters to subscribe to continue the fight for free speech.

The Inauguration of Laura Rosenbury

Imperfect Information • 39 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Free speech Higher Ed Protests Free speech Leadership Education
  1. Laura Rosenbury was inaugurated as the ninth president of Barnard College after already being on the job for seven months.
  2. The past few months on campus have been tumultuous with protests, changes in policies, and reactions from various organizations.
  3. President Rosenbury faces challenges in leading the institution due to pressures from different groups, but her commitment to her role and the community is evident.

Denmark Moves to Ban Quran Burnings

Pen>Sword • 59 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Islamophobia Free speech Foreign Policy
  1. Denmark is taking steps to ban Quran burnings in response to widespread anti-Muslim protests and hate crimes.
  2. Free speech has been misused as an excuse for Islamophobic actions, such as Quran burnings, in Denmark and other Western democracies.
  3. Pressure from Muslim-majority nations and organizations is pushing Denmark to address Islamophobia, showing the impact of external pressure on the treatment of Muslim minorities in Western nations.