How far can the government go when a president doesn’t like what a broadcaster says? Host Ari Cohn is joined by Berin Szóka (TechFreedom) and Bob Corn-Revere (FIRE) to unpack the escalating fight between ABC and the FCC. From The View and Jimmy Kimmel to ABC’s broadcast licenses, they examine what happens when political pressure collides with the government’s regulatory power—and what it could mean for free speech, the free press, and beyond.Links:<a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Amicus-Brief-ABC-v-FCC-Sep-2026.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom and Protect Democracy’s amicus brief in ABC v FCC</a> <a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Response-to-FCC-Chair-Brendan-Carr-March-2026.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom coalition letter joined by 80+ scholars and organization on FCC abuse of the “public interest” standard</a><a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TF-Opposition-to-Petitions-to-Deny-ABC-Renewal-.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom’s Opposition to Petitions to Deny ABC License Renewals</a><a href="https://expression.fire.org/p/thank-you-brendan-carr" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bob Corn-Revere - Thank You Brendan Carr</a><a href="https://www.mindofthecensor.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bob Corn-Revere - The Mind of the Censor and the Eye of the Beholder</a><a href="https://thedispatch.com/article/fcc-brendan-carr-donald-trump-first-amendment/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berin Szóka - This Isn’t Ronald Reagan’s FCC</a> <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5534248-brendan-carr-threatens-disney-abc/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berin Szóka - Brendan Carr-leone’s war on the First Amendment</a><a href="https://www.fire.org/news/commissioner-regulate-thyself-incoming-fcc-chair-threatening-censor-views-he-doesnt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ari Cohn - Commissioner, regulate thyself: The incoming FCC chair is threatening to censor views he doesn't like</a><a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/s4749" rel="noopener noreferrer">JAWBONE Act (S. 4749)</a>

How far can the government go when a president doesn’t like what a broadcaster says? Host Ari Cohn is joined by Berin Szóka (TechFreedom) and Bob Corn-Revere (FIRE) to unpack the escalating fight between ABC and the FCC. From The View and Jimmy Kimmel to ABC’s broadcast licenses, they examine what happens when political pressure collides with the government’s regulatory power—and what it could mean for free speech, the free press, and beyond. Links: TechFreedom and Protect Democracy’s amicus brief in ABC v FCC TechFreedom coalition letter joined by 80+ scholars and organization on FCC abuse of the “public interest” standard TechFreedom’s Opposition to Petitions to Deny ABC License Renewals Bob Corn-Revere - Thank You Brendan Carr Bob Corn-Revere - The Mind of the Censor and the Eye of the Beholder Berin Szóka - This Isn’t Ronald Reagan’s FCC Berin Szóka - Brendan Carr-leone’s war on the First Amendment Ari Cohn - Commissioner, regulate thyself: The incoming FCC chair is threatening to censor views he doesn't like JAWBONE Act (S. 4749)

How far can the government go when a president doesn’t like what a broadcaster says? Host Ari Cohn is joined by Berin Szóka (TechFreedom) and Bob Corn-Revere (FIRE) to unpack the escalating fight between ABC and the FCC. From The View and Jimmy Kimmel to ABC’s broadcast licenses, they examine what happens when political pressure collides with the government’s regulatory power—and what it could mean for free speech, the free press, and beyond.Links:<a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Amicus-Brief-ABC-v-FCC-Sep-2026.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom and Protect Democracy’s amicus brief in ABC v FCC</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Response-to-FCC-Chair-Brendan-Carr-March-2026.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom coalition letter joined by 80+ scholars and organization on FCC abuse of the “public interest” standard</a><a href="https://techfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/TF-Opposition-to-Petitions-to-Deny-ABC-Renewal-.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer">TechFreedom’s Opposition to Petitions to Deny ABC License Renewals</a><a href="https://expression.fire.org/p/thank-you-brendan-carr" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bob Corn-Revere - Thank You Brendan Carr</a><a href="https://www.mindofthecensor.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bob Corn-Revere - The Mind of the Censor and the Eye of the Beholder</a><a href="https://thedispatch.com/article/fcc-brendan-carr-donald-trump-first-amendment/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berin Szóka - This Isn’t Ronald Reagan’s FCC</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5534248-brendan-carr-threatens-disney-abc/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berin Szóka - Brendan Carr-leone’s war on the First Amendment</a><a href="https://www.fire.org/news/commissioner-regulate-thyself-incoming-fcc-chair-threatening-censor-views-he-doesnt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ari Cohn - Commissioner, regulate thyself: The incoming FCC chair is threatening to censor views he doesn't like</a><a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/s4749" rel="noopener noreferrer">JAWBONE Act (S. 4749)</a>

440: The Fellas at the Freaking FCC

What SHOULD President Obama say tonight in his final State of the Union address? And what is he likely to say instead? Berin Szoka offers TechFreedom’s take. 
 
He and Evan discuss encryption, the rise of tech policy in the presidential campaign, the good and bad news on surveillance reform, a coming clash with Europe over data flows, the first amendment, fourth amendment, and mass surveillance, making broadband deployment easier, the perils of regulating the Internet, and big data.
 
Along the way, Berin casually compares Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

What SHOULD President Obama say tonight in his final State of the Union address? And what is he likely to say instead? Berin Szoka offers TechFreedom’s take. He and Evan discuss encryption, the rise of tech policy in the presidential campaign, the good and bad news on surveillance reform, a coming clash with Europe over data flows, the first amendment, fourth amendment, and mass surveillance, making broadband deployment easier, the perils of regulating the Internet, and big data. Along the way, Berin casually compares Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

What SHOULD President Obama say tonight in his final State of the Union address? And what is he likely to say instead? Berin Szoka offers TechFreedom’s take. 
 
He and Evan discuss encryption, the rise of tech policy in the presidential campaign, the good and bad news on surveillance reform, a coming clash with Europe over data flows, the first amendment, fourth amendment, and mass surveillance, making broadband deployment easier, the perils of regulating the Internet, and big data.
 
Along the way, Berin casually compares Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

#2: State of the Union

Who is TechFreedom? What do they do? Why should anyone care? In Tech Policy Podcast’s inaugural episode, host Evan Swarztrauber interviews President of TechFreedom, Berin Szoka. They discuss TechFreedom’s accomplishments, its history, and why TechFreedom is launching the only podcast focused on tech policy.

Who is TechFreedom? What do they do? Why should anyone care? In Tech Policy Podcast’s inaugural episode, host Evan Swarztrauber interviews President of TechFreedom, Berin Szoka. They discuss TechFreedom’s accomplishments, its history, and why TechFreedom is launching the only podcast focused on tech policy.

#1: Introduction

Tech policy is at the center of the hottest debates in American law and politics. On the Tech Policy Podcast, host Corbin Barthold discusses the latest developments with some of the tech world's best journalists, lawyers, academics, and more.

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