Free Speech

The Deeper Lessons of the Incident at Middlebury

The Deeper Lessons of the Incident at Middlebury The Deeper Lessons of the Incident at Middlebury

The Manichean model of framing political conflicts polarizes public life, unravels the bonds of common citizenship, and doesn’t create a broad majority base for significa...

Mar 17, 2017 / StudentNation / Harry C. Boyte

Middlebury: Who Pays for Free Speech?

Middlebury: Who Pays for Free Speech? Middlebury: Who Pays for Free Speech?

By offering Charles Murray not just a platform but also departmental sanction and a presidential introduction, Middlebury let down those students denigrated by his work.

Mar 14, 2017 / D.D. Guttenplan

Nat Hentoff

A Memorial for Nat Hentoff A Memorial for Nat Hentoff

The journalist’s spirit of freewheeling dispute was very much in evidence.

Mar 3, 2017 / Leslie Savan

Mario Savio

What Might Mario Savio Have Said About the Milo Protest at Berkeley? What Might Mario Savio Have Said About the Milo Protest at Berkeley?

The 1960s Berkeley Free Speech Movement leader warned that freedom exercised irresponsibly or freedom repressed could “bring disgrace upon our university.”

Feb 7, 2017 / Robert Cohen

Your Guide to the Sprawling New Anti-Trump Resistance Movement

Your Guide to the Sprawling New Anti-Trump Resistance Movement Your Guide to the Sprawling New Anti-Trump Resistance Movement

An explosion of new activism offers a ray of hope in these dark political times. 

Feb 6, 2017 / Feature / Joshua Holland

We Can’t Just Protest Trump. We Must Defy Him.

We Can’t Just Protest Trump. We Must Defy Him. We Can’t Just Protest Trump. We Must Defy Him.

Frances Fox Piven on strategies of protest, David Cole on freedom of speech, and Katha Pollitt on the Women’s March.

Jan 19, 2017 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

University of WIsconsin budget cut protest

Who’s Behind the Right-Wing Assault on Public Universities? Who’s Behind the Right-Wing Assault on Public Universities?

A new documentary explores the hidden campaign to undermine state schools across America.

Sep 1, 2016 / Eric Alterman

MTA Ads

The MTA’s Ban on ‘Political’ Ads Has Turned It Into the Free-Speech Police The MTA’s Ban on ‘Political’ Ads Has Turned It Into the Free-Speech Police

Should the New York City transportation agency, and others across the nation, be in the business of deciding what riders are allowed to see?

Jun 21, 2016 / Allegra Kirkland

Magnitsky Documentary

By Screening ‘The Magnitsky Act,’ the Newseum Stood Up for the First Amendment By Screening ‘The Magnitsky Act,’ the Newseum Stood Up for the First Amendment

Should ultra-wealthy foreign nationals be able to transform their personal vendettas against foreign governments into law?

Jun 20, 2016 / James Carden

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