Counterspeak

In this episode, Patrick Eddington and host Sydney Jarrard discuss Eddington’s ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project; the project is trying to determine the extent to which FBI domestic surveillance is collecting national security or intelligence records on domestic organizations such as media outlets, organizations dedicated to the Bill of Rights, and immigration policy groups. One such organization is the Campaign for Liberty, a political organization founded by Congressman Ron Paul. In researching this project, Eddington has received 23 “neither confirm nor deny” responses from the Department of Justice. He explains the meaning and history of these so-called “Glomar” responses. Further, Eddington describes the problematic relationship between the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), an independent board charged with reviewing and analyzing actions the executive branch takes regarding terrorism, and the agencies and departments it reviews. PCLOB must submit its reports to those agencies and departments for review, a process that can essentially amount to censorship.

In this episode of Counterspeak, ABA Content Director Sydney Jarrard talks with Daphne Keller, Director of Intermediary Liability at Stanford's Center for Internet and Society. Jarrard and Keller’s conversation focuses on Keller’s work involving legal protections for users’ free expression rights. On online platforms, users’ content is generally evaluated for illegal or harmful activity through the use of Terms of Service and/or algorithms. Keller offers a unique perspective on privacy and free expression, having worked as Associate General Counsel for Google until 2015.

Policing free speech online. Sydney Jarrard speaks with author David Kaye about his book Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet (Columbia Global Reports). In their conversation, Kaye and Jarrard discuss how the internet has transformed into a tool for governments to censor citizens. Big Tech companies are often given tremendous unchecked power to regulate content on their platforms. As the internet continues to grow and change, Kaye discusses such important questions as whether governments and international organizations or social media platforms themselves should be regulating online content.

In this installment, American Booksellers Association Content Director Sydney Jarrard talks with author David Kirby about the status of free speech in America and his book When They Come For You: How Police and Government Are Trampling Our Liberties — and How to Take Them Back (St. Martin’s Press). In their discussion, Jarrard and Kirby explore shocking violations of Americans’ basic constitutional rights. In addition, Jarrard poses the question, “What if we didn’t have the First Amendment?” 

In this episode, ABA Content Director Sydney Jarrard and Director of ABFE, Advocacy, and Public Policy Dave Grogan delve into the free speech positions of the top 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Bernie Sanders, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard.

In this installment, host Dave Grogan offers a wrap-up of this year’s Banned Books Week, and explores the impact of big technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google on free speech.

This special "Banned Books Week" edition of Counterspeak features interviews with Mitchell Kaplan, president of Florida's Books & Books, and Denise Chavez, owner of Casa Camino Real Book Store & Art Gallery in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In this episode, the booksellers share their thoughts on why Banned Books Week (September 22-28) is important and talk about their experiences with attempts at censorship at their bookstores.  

This installment features an interview with American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher, who is retiring from ABA at the end of the year following 30 years at the organization. Teicher had served as the founding president of ABFE's predecessor, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, prior to becoming CEO of ABA in 2009; since then he has been at the forefront of a number of free speech initiatives at the association.

This installment features interviews with Jonathan Hamilt, co-founder of Drag Queen Story Hour, and Media Coalition Executive Director David Horowitz. In this episode, Hamilt discusses the value of the program, and how communities have rallied around DQSH in the face of negativity, and Horowitz delivers an update on Media Coalition’s recent work.

This installment features an interview with Barry Lynn, executive director of the Open Markets Institute in Washington, D.C., and National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) executive director Chris Finan. In this episode, Lynn discusses the mission of the OMI to expose and reverse the political and economic effects of the extreme consolidation of power among American companies, and Finan talks about the NCAC’s response to the recent indictment of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange under the Espionage Act.

This installment features an interview with Joshua Clark Davis, assistant professor of twentieth century United States history at the University of Baltimore and author of From Head Shops to Whole Foods: The Rise and Fall of Activist Entrepreneurs. In this episode, Davis discusses his new book, which focuses on the role of small businesses in political movements in the twentieth century, including feminist businesses, black nationalist bookstores, heads shops, and whole foods stores.

This episode of Counterspeak features and interview with deputy general counsel for The New York Times, David E. McCraw. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.  

This installment features interviews with Columbia University President and first amendment lawyer Lee Bollinger, and Will Creeley, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s (FIRE) Director of Legal and Public Advocacy. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

In this episode, Katherine Young discusses translating the banned book Farewell, Aylis by Akram Aylisli. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

A panel of booksellers, moderated by NCAC's Chris Finan, share their experiences with the Open Discussion Project and bringing together readers with diverse political views. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

Maggie Mayhem, queer former sex worker, former board member of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, doula and reproductive justice advocate, and founder of HarmRedux joins ABFE on this month's episode. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

The National Coalition Against Censorship's Chris Finan and Media Coalition's David Horowitz join ABFE on this month's episode. Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. In this episode, ABFE talks to Nadine Strossen, former president of the ACLU and author of Hate: Why We Should Resist It With Free Speech, Not Censorship, about her book and experiences as a defender of free speech. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.

Counterspeak is a free speech podcast hosted by Sydney Jarrard, ABA's Content Director; Dave Grogan, ABA's Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy; and Maria Peroni, ABA's Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator. In this introductory episode, Dave explains what Counterspeak is all about. The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of the American Booksellers Association or the American Booksellers for Free Expression.