Free Speech
48 episodes · Page 2 of 2
#2909: The Reassurance Mirage: When Moderation Fails
How the EU Digital Services Act exposes a 30-to-1 gap in appeal success rates between platforms.
#2878: How China Controls Foreign Critics and Domestic Media
China blocks foreign critics at the border while running a sophisticated domestic media control system. Here's how both work.
#2868: Measuring Hidden Opinions in Iran and China
How researchers use digital snowball sampling and list experiments to gauge real public sentiment under authoritarian rule.
#2770: Who Gets Denied at the Border for Speech?
Why Israel names its red lines while most democracies keep their political exclusion criteria hidden.
#2616: Is Democracy Actually What People Want?
A deep look at whether democracy is truly valued or just the socially acceptable position.
#2611: Saturday Drums vs Quiet Homes: Protest Rights in Residential Areas
When weekly protests become a permanent neighborhood soundscape, how do democracies balance assembly rights with residents' quiet enjoyment?
#2532: When the Internet Goes Dark: Censorship's Unseen Consequences
From Iran’s historic blackout to UK age verification laws — the global picture on pornography regulation is more complex than you think.
#2502: Who Enforces the Law, Who Defies It
From immigration politics to ICE raids, Jan 6 prosecutions, and the legal line on private militias in the US.
#2424: What Feminists Actually Mean by "The Patriarchy
Unpacking the structural concept, the popular shorthand, and where the line gets blurry between critiquing systems and demonizing individuals.
#1996: Why Leaders Broadcast Victory While Citizens Hear Sirens
A gap opens between official statements and reality, as curated videos clash with live data streams.
#1911: Crowdfunding Open Source: Savior or Trap?
The web is built on code funded by tips. Can platforms like Patreon stop extremists from hijacking the money?
#1775: Why Some Cultures Guard Privacy and Others Share Everything
We explore why privacy feels like a human right to some cultures but a modern luxury to others.
#1452: Art or Incitement? The New Legal War on Radical Speech
Explore the thinning line between artistic expression and criminal incitement through the cases of Bob Vylan, Tadhg Hickey, and Kneecap.
#1352: Beyond the Sneer: The Resilience of Modern Conservatism
Explore the shift from political debate to moral exclusion and the rising counter-cultural resilience of modern conservative identity.
#1292: The Visibility Trap: Dissent in the Digital Age
In the digital age, we have the right to speak but not the right to be heard. Discover the new architecture of algorithmic censorship.
#1185: When Positive Media Coverage Becomes a Bribe
Can a leader face existential threats while on trial for bribery? We explore the intersection of law and politics in Israel's longest trial.
#998: The Evolution of Woke: From Survival to Slur
Trace the journey of "woke" from its AAVE roots to a global political shorthand and learn why its meaning is so contested today.
#876: Words That Wound: The Global Battle Over Free Speech
Explore the high-stakes tension between the right to speak and the right to safety in an era of digital vitriol and real-world violence.
#743: The IHRA Definition: Yardstick or Weapon?
Where does political critique end and hatred begin? Explore the IHRA definition and the "Three Ds" in today's complex global landscape.
#686: Beyond the Binary: The Tech and Politics of Pronouns
Herman and Corn explore why pronouns became a global debate and the hidden technical chaos of moving beyond binary data.
#315: The $5,000 "Yuck": Navigating Israel’s Defamation Laws
In Israel, a one-word review can cost thousands. Herman and Corn explore why reputation often outweighs truth in the Israeli legal system.
#314: Caught on Tape: The Global Maze of Recording Consent Laws
Can you legally record a private conversation? Explore the complex global landscape of one-party versus two-party consent laws.
#273: How AI Stylometry Lets Authors Vanish
Can you truly hide behind a pen name? Herman and Corn explore the history of pseudonyms and how AI is revolutionizing the art of staying anonymous.
#146: The Feedback Loop of Inequality and Polarization
Herman and Corn explore why rising income inequality is fueling political polarization and how we can rebuild the social contract in 2026.