There is a recurring debate in the free speech community regarding whether money is speech. 

Bitcoin-focused entrepreneur, writer, and philosopher Robert Breedlove joins us today to help resolve the debate. Describing money as “the language of human action,” Robert makes the case that money, like the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, is information and should be free from government regulation and manipulation. During this longer-than-usual episode, Robert and Nico discuss everything from Keynesian economics and 3D-printed firearms to the Chinese Communist Party. 

Robert is the host of the popular podcast, “The ‘What is Money?’ Show,” which dives into the nature of money by asking guests one simple question: What is money? In 2020, he co-authored the book, “Thank God for Bitcoin: The Creation, Corruption and Redemption of Money.”

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

3:56 Robert’s background 

19:21 What is Austrian economics? 

24:23 Is money speech? 

44:48 Can money express irrational things? 

51:59 Is access to perfect information always a good thing?

1:05:17 Bitcoin and anonymity

1:18:14 Prediction markets 

1:31:49 Is code speech?

1:39:59 Is economic freedom more fundamental than freedom of speech?

1:49:13 Regulating bitcoin

1:55:16 Bitcoin ETFs

1:57:03 Rapid-fire Bitcoin questions

2:03:15 Does more access to information make the world a better place? 

2:06:53 Outro 

Show Notes 

“The ‘What is Money?’ Show”

“The Creature from Jekyll Island” by G Edward Griffin

“The Bitcoin Standard” by Saifedean Ammous

“The Use of Knowledge in Society” by Friedrich Hayek

“The Logic of Scientific Discovery” by Karl Popper

“Areopagitica” by John Milton

Transcript

On today’s episode, we discuss Alexei Navalny’s death, Vladimir Putin, censorship in Russia, and Samizdat Online, an anti-censorship platform that grants users living under authoritarian regimes access to news and other censored content. Yevgeny “Genia” Simkin is the co-founder of Samizdat Online and Stanislav “Stas” Kucher is its chief content officer.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction 

2:25 Alexei Navalny 

8:53 The state of Russian opposition

20:48 The origins of Samizdat Online

28:17 How does Samizdat Online circumvent censorship? 

35:16 Could Yevgeny Prigozhin have overthrown Putin?

41:03 The progression of Putin’s regime 

58:08 How can people help? 

59:56 Outro

Show notes

Statement by Russian prison service on Alexei Navalny’s death

The Anti-Corruption Foundation (nonprofit established by Alexei Navalny)

Samizdat Online

“Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible” by Peter Pomerantsev

Transcript

Past related episodes

Ep. 108: A history of (dis)information wars in the Soviet Union and beyond

Ep. 156: What Russians don’t know about the war in Ukraine

Ep. 157: Former BBC bureau chief Konstantin Eggert and what you need to know about censorship in Russia

On today’s free speech news roundup, we discuss the recent NetChoice oral argument, Taylor Swift, doxxing, October 7 fallout on campus, and Satan in Iowa. 

Joining us on the show are Alex Morey, FIRE director of Campus Rights Advocacy; Aaron Terr, director of Public Advocacy; and Ronnie London, our general counsel.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:44 NetChoice oral arguments

19:39 Taylor Swift cease and desist letter 

29:20 Publishing unlawfully obtained information 

39:28 Harvard and doxxing 

47:44 Princeton no contact orders 

55:52 Columbia law denies recognition to Law Students Against Antisemitism 

1:02:38 Columbia adopts Kalven Report

1:06:06 Indiana University art exhibit canceled, professor suspended

1:14:55 Satan in Iowa

1:21:59 Outro

Show Notes 

“So to Speak” 2023-24 Supreme Court Preview (contains discussion of NetChoice cases)

Correspondence between Taylor Swift and Jack Sweeney’s attorneys 

Bartnicki v. Vopper (2001)

Princeton no contact order 

Columbia university grants recognition to Law Students Against Antisemitism

IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

List of universities that have adopted the Kalven Report

Indiana University art exhibit story

Indiana University professor suspended for improper reservation 

Iowa Satanism bill

Shurtleff v. Boston (2022)

“So to Speak”: Substack

Transcript

J Hopkins is an American playwright, novelist, and political satirist. He moved to Germany in 2004. He publishes a self-titled blog on Substack and is the editor of Consent Factory Publishing. 

CJ’s most recent book, “The Rise of the New Normal Reich,” draws a parallel between Nazi Germany and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2022, it was banned on Amazon in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. In the months that followed, CJ was charged by German authorities with violating a section of the German penal code that prohibits “disseminating information, the intention of which is to further the aims of a former National-Socialist organization [the Nazis].” He was recently acquitted, but the prosecutor chose to appeal the decision. 

In the coming months, CJ will stand trial — again — for a crime he claims he didn’t commit and for which he has already been acquitted.

**We are launching on Substack this week! Nothing will change for our listeners. It’s just another way to support the podcast and FIRE. Premium subscribers will receive a FIRE membership and access to our new monthly “Members Only” Zoom chats, where we will discuss free speech news and happenings at FIRE. Members will also be able to ask Nico and other FIRE staffers questions.**

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

2:58 Who is CJ Hopkins?

9:35 CJ moves to Germany

15:02 CJ’s work since 2004

18:23 Berlin in 2020

27:18 “The Rise of the New Normal Reich”

34:01 CJ’s book banned in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands

37:05 German investigation

47:26 German sensitivities to Nazism 

50:17 Why didn’t CJ just pay the fine? 

54:03 CJ goes to trial

1:03:29 Double-jeopardy / prosecutorial appeal

1:08:49 Does CJ have regrets?

1:12:50 Conclusion

Show Notes 

Atlantic profile by Jamie Kirchick 

“Berlin Diary” by William L. Shirer 

“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer

“The Rise of the New Normal Reich” by CJ Hopkins

Consent Factory 

“The Verdict” by CJ Hopkins, a Substack article about the conclusion of his first trial

“The Rise of the New Normal Reich: Consent Factory Essays, Vol. III, banned in Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands!” by CJ Hopkins, a Substack article about his book being banned on Amazon

Transcript

Michael Malice is a self-described “anarchist without adjectives” and is the author of several books, including most recently “The White Pill: A Tale of Good and Evil.” He is also the host of the podcast, “YOUR WELCOME,” and the subject of the biographical comic book, “Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story.”

Michael joins us today to explain why he hates the term “free speech,” and gives his thoughts on McCarthyism, anarchism, Twitter, and more.  

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:46 Who is Michael Malice?

6:45 What is an anarchist without adjectives?

7:26 The definition of anarchism/prominent anarchists 

8:01 How do we have free speech in an anarchist society?

16:54 The McCarthy Era

20:38 Students for Justice in Palestine

24:57 Should we advocate for a culture of free speech?

30:44 “Hitman” 

34:01 What is the core right under an anarchist system?

36:26 Elon, Twitter, and free speech

44:38 Emma Goldman and McCarthyism

55:27 Cancel culture  

1:01:37 From Emma Goldman to Solzhenitsyn

1:05:31 What is it like to live under an authoritarian regime?

1:12:23 The war in Ukraine

1:15:24 Outro

Show Notes 

“Dear Reader: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il” by Michael Malice 

“Hitman: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors” by Rex Feral (pseud.)

“Khrushchev's Secret Speech” (Encyclopedia Britannica entry)

“My Disillusionment in Russia” by Emma Goldman

“Schenck v United States” (1919)

“The Anarchist Handbook” by Michael Malice

“The Gulag Archipelago” by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn  

“The New Right: A Journey to the Fringe of American Politics” by Michael Malice

Episode Transcript

Jeff Kosseff is an associate professor of cybersecurity law in the United States Naval Academy’s Cyber Science Department. He is the author of four books including his most recent, “Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation.” He has also written books about anonymous speech and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

2:30 Jeff’s focus on the First Amendment 

4:27 What is Section 230?

9:30 “Liar in a Crowded Theater”

16:27 What does the First Amendment say about lies?

19:35 What speech isn’t protected? 

21:27 The Eminem case 

27:33 The Dominion lawsuit 

38:44 “The United States of Anonymous”

46:39 The impact of age verification laws 

49:43 “The Twenty-Six Words that Created the Internet”

58:40 What’s next for Jeff? 

1:01:35 Outro 

Show Notes 

Podcast Transcript 

Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011)

FIRE’s guide to Section 230

Nikki Haley on social media anonymity

Schenck v. United States (1917)

“The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet” by Jeff Kosseff

NBC News: “Judge allows lawsuit against Snap from relatives of dead children to move forward”

“The United States of Anonymous: How the First Amendment Shaped Online Speech” by Jeff Kosseff

United States v. Alvarez (2012)

Transcript

Bill Courtney is an American football coach, entrepreneur, author, and the subject of the academy award winning 2011 documentary “Undefeated,” which tells the story of Courtney leading a high school football team in an economically depressed area of Memphis, Tenn. to the playoffs.

Courtney is the host of the An Army of Normal Folks podcast, in which he shares stories of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things in and around their communities.” His book “Against the Grain: A Coach's Wisdom on Character, Faith, Family, and Love” was released in 2014.

In this episode, we discuss coaching, the surprise success of “Undefeated,” and how talking across lines of difference can heal a polarized America.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:25 Courtney’s background

5:41 The influence of coaches

16:50 How Courtney ended up at Manassas High School

18:50 Coaching in difficult environments

24:30 Bridging divides

30:12 Forgiveness and grace

35:57 Daryl Davis

42:45 The “death spiral” of division and polarization

53:15 What happened to Manassas after Courtney left?

54:00 How did the filmmakers find Manassas?

59:21 Was the documentary good for the school and the kids?

Show Transcript

We’re joined today by Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Robert Corn-Revere, and Ronnie London to discuss the history and verdict of the Backpage trial. 

Backpage.com was an online classified advertising service founded in 2004. As a chief competitor to Craigslist, Backpage allowed users to post ads to categories such as personals, automotive, rentals, jobs and — most notably — adult services. In 2018, the website domain was seized by the FBI and its executives were prosecuted under federal prostitution and money laundering statutes. The trial concluded this year, resulting in the acquittal and convictions of several key executives. 

Some First Amendment advocates are concerned that the Backpage case represents a “slippery slope” for the prosecution of protected speech and the rights of websites that host user-generated content.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown is a senior editor at Reason Magazine, where she has written about the Backpage case in detail. 

Robert Corn-Revere is FIRE’s chief counsel and a frequent guest of the show. Prior to joining FIRE, he represented Backpage in private practice.

Ronnie London is FIRE’s general counsel and another frequent guest of the show. He also represented Backpage when he was in private practice prior to joining FIRE.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 

06:55 The origins of Backpage 

10:40 The significance of classified ads 

14:52 Are escort ads protected? 

19:07 Federal memos indicating Backpage fought child sex trafficking

23:19 Backpage content moderation

34:44 Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

42:59 “De-banking” and NRA v. Vullo

52:24 The verdict 

1:00:34 Could these convictions be overturned? 

1:02:49 Outro

Show notes 

Backpage.com url

2018 Backpage indictment

Elizabeth Nolan Brown’s 2018 Backpage profile

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

NRA v. Vullo

The Travel Act

Nico and FIRE President & CEO Greg Lukianoff appeared on an X Space to discuss the fallout from the recent congressional hearing on anti-Semitism involving Harvard President Claudine Gay, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, and former Penn President Liz Magill, who resigned last week following backlash over her testimony.

Timestamps

0:00- Introduction 

1:53 - History of FIRE

5:40 - MIT/Harvard/Penn presidents’ testimony 

11:35 - How speech codes are abused and conflict over the definition of genocide 

14:05 - Penn “water buffalo” incident 

16:20 - Will universities take the wrong lesson from these hearings?

21:25 - Double standards on campus 

23:41 - Standards for hostile environment harassment, Title VI

26:43 - Is there a university that is currently handling the situation well?

31:19 - Institutional neutrality 

38:29 - Guidance for donors  

41:51 - The mission of the university

47:35 - College admissions and political litmus tests 

51:20 - Faculty viewpoint diversity 

57:17 - The path forward 

Show notes

Show Transcript

The Canceling of the American Mind

Congressional hearing

FIRE’s College Free Speech Rankings

Kalven Report

“Mighty Ira”

Richard Berthold (“anyone who can blow up the pentagon has my vote”)

Student arrested for true threats at Cornell

Skokie case (neo Nazi protest in Illinois) 

The Eternally Radical Idea (Greg’s Substack)

 Penn “water buffalo” case

We’re joined by First Amendment attorney Marc Randazza and British journalist Brendan O’Neill to discuss the state of free speech in the United States and Europe. 

Randazza is a First Amendment attorney and the managing partner at Randazza Legal Group. He has represented controversial figures throughout his career, including Alex Jones, Mike Cernovich, Chuck Johnson, and founder of the neo-nazi website the Daily Stormer, Andrew Anglin.

O’Neill is a British author and journalist who served as editor of Spiked from 2007 to September 2021 and is currently its chief political writer. His book, “Heretic’s Manifesto,” was released in June. He last appeared on the podcast on October 20, 2016.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

6:35 Do lawyers want to defend their enemies any more?

13:00 The oldest form of intolerance 

17:19 Israel/Hamas and double standards 

32:28 Hate speech laws in Ireland 

51:35 Censorship from internet intermediaries

52:33 Debanking and corporate censorship

55:36 PruneYard case 

1:01:44 Social media and the internet 

1:05:18 The Digital Services Act

Show Notes

Show Transcript

Brendan O’Neill at Oxford Union 

EU Digital Services Act

Proposed Irish hate speech bill

PruneYard Shopping Center v. Robins (1980)