2025 has not been kind to Harvard.

To date, the Trump administration has revoked nearly $3 billion in research funding to the university, demanding violations of free speech, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy in return for restoring the funding. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit, raising First Amendment claims. 

Helping us unpack all things Harvard are:

• Larry Summers, President Emeritus, professor (Harvard) & advisory council member (FIRE)

• Greg Lukianoff, President & CEO (FIRE)

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

02:32 Harvard’s disputes with the Trump administration

08:29 The need for internal reforms at Harvard

42:50 Institutional neutrality debate

46:16 IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

01:01:28 Latest update on potential Harvard-Trump administration settlement

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-fire-reacts-where-does-harvard-go-here-larry-summers

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• The War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech—and Why They Fail by Greg Lukianoff & Nadine Strossen (2025)

Imagine the government forcing you to label your all-natural milk product as “imitation.” 

Florida tried to make one dairy farm do just that, sparking a First Amendment question: Where’s the line between a business’s right to speak and protecting consumers from deception?

In this episode, we explore how far free speech protections go for commercial speech with:

• Justin Pearson, managing attorney (Institute for Justice)

• Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel (FIRE)

• Eugene Volokh, Thomas M. Siebel senior fellow (Hoover Institution, Stanford)

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

05:03 What exactly is commercial speech?

08:25 The evolution of commercial speech law

13:59 Early regulation of commercial speech

23:03 What is false or misleading commercial speech?

26:04 Controversial regulations of non-misleading commercial speech

37:35 Future of commercial speech regulations

Read the transcript: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-state-commercial-speech

Coming up: Live episode of So To Speak 

On Monday, August 11th at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Nico will be speaking with former Treasury Secretary/Harvard University president, Larry Summers, and FIRE President/CEO, Greg Lukianoff. They will discuss the Trump administration's campaign against elite universities, including Harvard, what outcomes we can expect from that campaign, and what those outcomes might mean for free speech, academic freedom, and university independence.

Register for the livestream here: https://thefire-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/5817544039734/WN_AISudjopTvu2Yzk2pXkDYg.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• Commercial speech: Should it still receive unique constitutional treatment? FIRE (2025)

• “In 1995, Pepsi offered a $33 million fighter jet for 7 million Pepsi Points. They thought it was a joke. But this 21-year-old took them seriously, found a loophole, and demanded the fighter jet for his 7 million Pepsi Points.” So to Speak repost via X

Throughout his career, former Congressman Justin Amash has been a strong advocate for freedom of speech, writing that “The value of free speech comes from encountering views that are unorthodox, uncommon, or unaccepted…Free speech is a barren concept if people are limited to expressing views already widely held.”

In this special live episode, filmed in front of 200+ high schoolers attending FIRE’s Free Speech Forum at American University in Washington, D.C., Amash takes questions from the audience and discusses his upbringing, his political career, the state of American politics, and how the Constitution guided his work in Congress.

Earlier this year, Congressman Amash joined FIRE’s Advisory Council.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

03:30 Upbringing

06:21 Law school

13:15 Time in Congress

15:59 Why Amash publicly explained each of his votes

26:30 On being the first libertarian in Congress

30:57 Connection between his principles and free speech

33:10 Trump’s first impeachment

42:48 Dealing with pushback from constituents

46:03 Term limits for members of Congress?

55:25 How high schoolers can pursue a career in politics

59:45 Has there been a regression in First Amendment protections?

01:07:32 What Amash is up to now

01:08:06 Outro

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-justin-amash

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

We’re checking in on the latest news in tech and free speech.

We cover the state AI regulation moratorium that failed in Congress, the ongoing Character A.I. lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission’s consent decree with Omnicom and Interpublic Group, the European Union’s Digital Services Act, and what comes next after the Supreme Court’s Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton decision.

Guests:

Ari Cohn — lead counsel for tech policy, FIRE

Corbin Barthold — internet policy counsel, TechFreedom

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

02:38 State AI regulation moratorium fails in Congress

20:04 Character AI lawsuit

41:10 FTC, Omnicom x IPG merger, and Media Matters

56:09 Digital Services Act

01:02:43 FSC v. Paxton decision

01:10:49 Outro 

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/so-speak-podcast-transcript-tech-check-ai-moratorium-character-ai-lawsuit-ftc

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• “The AI will see you now” Paul Sherman (2025)

• Megan Garcia, plaintiff, v. Character Technologies, Inc. et. al., defendants, United States District Court (2025)

• Proposed amicus brief in support of appeal - Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc. FIRE (2025)

• “Amplification and its discontents: Why regulating the reach of online content is hard” Daphne Kelly (2021)

• “Omnicom Group/The Interpublic Group of Co.” FTC (2025)

FIRE staff responds to the Court's decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton that addresses a Texas law requiring age verification for accessing certain sexual material online.

Will Creeley — Legal director

Bob Corn-Revere — Chief counsel

Ronnie London — General counsel

01:21 How the case wound up at the Supreme Court

06:57 Bob’s experience with arguing strict scrutiny in the courts

09:32 Ronnie’s perspective on the ruling

10:22 Brick + mortar stores vs. online sites

12:07 Has the Court established a new category of partially protected speech?

13:36 What speech is still subject to strict scrutiny after the ruling?

15:55 What does it mean to address the “work as a whole” in the internet context?

17:24 What modifications to the ruling, if any, would have satisfied FIRE?

18:06 What are the alternatives to address the internet’s risks toward minors?

20:16 For non-lawyer Americans, what is the best normative argument against the ruling?

22:38 Why is this ruling a “canary in the coal mine?”

23:36 How is age verification really about identity verification?

24:42 Why did the Court assume the need to protect children without citing any scientific findings in its ruling?

26:17 Does the ruling allow for more identity-based access barriers to lawful online speech?

28:04 Will Americans have to show ID to get into a public library?

29:30 Why does stare decisis seem to mean little to nothing to the Court?

32:08 Will there be a problem with selective enforcement of content-based restrictions on speech?

34:12 Could the ruling spark a patchwork of state laws that create digital borders?

36:26 Is there any other instance where the Court has used intermediate scrutiny in a First Amendment case?

37:29 Is the Court going to keep sweeping content-based statutes in the “incidental effect on speech” bucket?

38:14 Is sexual speech considered obscene?

40:33 How does the ruling affect adult content on mainstream social media platforms like Reddit and X?

43:27 Where does the ruling leave us on age verification laws?

Read the transcript here: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-reacts-supreme-courts-decision-free-speech-coalition-v-paxton

- Supreme Court ruling: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-1122_3e04.pdf

- FIRE statement on FSC v. Paxton ruling: https://www.thefire.org/news/fire-statement-free-speech-coalition-v-paxton-upholding-age-verification-adult-content

- FIRE’s brief for the Fifth Circuit: https://www.thefire.org/news/supreme-court-agrees-review-fifth-circuit-decision-upholding-texas-adult-content-age

- FIRE’s amicus brief in support of petitioners and reversal: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/amicus-brief-support-petitioners-and-reversal-free-speech-coalition-v-paxton

We discuss the Supreme Court backing Maine lawmaker Laurel Libby, NPR filing suit against Trump, a years-long dispute over a student wearing a “there are only two genders” shirt, the Secret Service investigation into James Comey, the latest on Harvard vs. Trump, and more.

Guests:

Bob Corn-Revere — chief counsel, FIRE

Lee Levine — former senior counsel, Ballard Spahr

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

03:34 Censure of Rep. Libby

07:02 Supreme Court shadow docket

13:53 NPR lawsuit against Trump admin

19:07 Differences between NPR and Voice of America cases

30:50 Middle school student wearing “there are only two genders” shirt

48:54 Recent investigation into former FBI Director James Comey

55:46 Latest updates with Harvard and Trump

01:05:27 Outro

Read the transcript here.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• “Ep. 56 have you been defamed?” Lee Levine’s previous appearance on the show (2018)

• “Supreme Court backs Republican lawmaker in Maine who was punished for transgender athlete remarks” NBC (2025)

• “NPR and Colorado public radio stations lawsuit against Trump administration” NPR (2025)

• “Ending taxpayer subsidization of biased media” The White House (2025)

• L. M. v. Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts Justia (2024)

• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District FIRE (1969)

• “Secret Service is asking Comey about a photo of seashells spelling ‘86 47’” The New York Times (2025)

• “The promise of American higher education” Alan Garber (2025)

• Harvard's lawsuit (complaint) (2025)

Heather Mac Donald discusses the Trump administration’s free speech record amidst its battles with higher ed, mainstream media, law firms, and more.

Mac Donald is Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Her most recent book is “When race trumps merit: How the pursuit of equity sacrifices excellence, destroys beauty, and threatens lives.”

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

01:54 Mac Donald’s personal experience with being shouted down

05:34 Amy Wax, Carole Hooven, and other cancelled professors

11:04 Mac Donald’s support and concern on Trump’s free speech approach

23:41 Rümeysa Öztürk situation

32:08 The problems of campus bureaucracy

36:40 Trump’s executive orders on law firms

43:14 Trump’s attacks on AP News, CBS, ABC, Paramount, and other media companies

59:54 Outro

Read the transcript.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• “The White House’s clumsy attack on Harvard” (2025) Heather Mac Donald

• “Everyone knows that Harvard has “lost its way…” (2025) President Trump via Truth Social

• “Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Mike Benz” (2025) U.S. Department of State 

• “Tufts student returns to Massachusetts after 6 weeks in immigration detention” (2025) The New York Times

• “Headlines compared: Kamala Harris’ multiple answers to ‘60 Minutes’ question” (2024) Straight Arrow News

The co-authors of “The Canceling of the American Mind” discuss its new paperback release and where cancel culture stands a year and a half after the book’s original publication.

- Greg Lukianoff — 

• President and CEO of FIRE

• Co-author of "The Canceling of the American Mind"

- Rikki Schlott — 

• New York Post columnist 

• Co-author of "The Canceling of the American Mind"

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

04:35 Origin of book

07:56 Definition of cancel culture

17:55 Mike Adams, canceled professor

23:51 Alexi McCammond, former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief

31:57 Echo chambers on social media

35:09 Trump administration ‘canceling’ law firms and higher ed institutions

44:02 Rikki’s libertarian political identity 

51:02 Is cancel culture dead?

54:26 Outro

Read the transcript.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• “Canceling of the American Mind” (paperback, 2025) by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

• “We have never been woke: The cultural contradictions of a new elite” (2024) by Musa al-Gharbi

Our guests today signed onto a statement by a group of 18 law professors who opposed the Trump administration’s funding threats at Columbia on free speech and academic freedom grounds. 

Since then, Northwestern, Cornell, Princeton, Harvard, and nearly 60 other colleges and universities are under investigation with their funding hanging in the balance, allegedly for violations of civil rights law. 

To help us understand the funding threats, Harvard’s recent lawsuit against the federal government, and where universities go from here are:

- David Rabban — distinguished teaching professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law

- Erwin Chemerinsky — distinguished professor of law and dean at UC Berkeley Law

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

02:50 Govt’s approach with Harvard and Columbia

05:39 Title VI violations

11:30 Anti-Semitism on campuses

23:02 Viewpoint diversity in higher education

27:12 Affirmative action and the Supreme Court

35:52 Title IX under the Obama and Biden administrations

42:32 Bob Jones University and tax-exempt status

45:53 Future of federal funding in higher education

54:08 Outro

Read the transcript.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

• Academic freedom: from professional norm to first amendment right David Rabban (2024)

• Worse than nothing: the dangerous fallacy of originalism Erwin Chemerinsky (2022)

• “A statement from constitutional law scholars on Columbia” The New York Review (2025)

• Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957)

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1967)

• Federal government letter to Harvard (2025)

• “The promise of American higher education” Alan Garber (2025)

• Harvard's lawsuit (complaint) (2025)

• “Columbia agrees to Trump’s demands after federal funds are stripped” The New York Times (2025)

• “Sustaining Columbia’s vital mission” Claire Shipman (2025)

• Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (2023)

• “What is Title IX? Its history & implications” FIRE (2025)

• Bridges v. Wixon (1945)

We travel from America to Europe, Russia, China, and more places to answer the question: Is there a global free speech recession? 

Guests:

- Sarah McLaughlin: FIRE senior scholar, global expression

- James Kirchick: FIRE senior fellow

- Jacob Mchangama: FIRE senior fellow

Timestamps: 

00:00 Intro

03:52 Free speech global surveys

07:49 Freedom of expression deteriorating

11:43 Misinformation and disinformation

18:05 Russian state-sponsored media

24:55 Europe’s Digital Services Act

29:26 Chinese censorship

34:33 Radio Free Europe

54:57 Mohammad cartoons

01:04:14 Outro

Read the transcript here.

Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack’s paid subscriber podcast feed, please email [email protected].

Show notes:

- Authoritarians in the academy: How the internationalization of higher education and borderless censorship threaten free speech Sarah McLaughlin (2025) 

- “The First Amendment created gay America” So to Speak (2022)

- “Secret city: The hidden history of gay Washington” James Kirchick (2022)

- “Who in the world supports free speech?” The Future of Free Speech (2025)

- “V-DEM democracy report 2025: 25 years of autocratization — democracy trumped?” V-Dem Institute (2025)

- Global risks report 2024 World Economic Forum (2025)

- “Gay reporter kicked off Kremlin network after protesting anti-gay law” Washington Free Beacon (2013)

- Free speech: A history from Socrates to social media (paperback) Jacob Mchangama (2025)

- Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA) (2022)

- Careless people: A cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025)

- “The Voice of America falls silent” The New York Times (2025)

- Text of Havel’s speech to Congress The Washington Post (1990)

- Voice of America wins in court, for now, as judge blocks Trump administration from firing staff AP News (2025)