Free Speech Coalition's Podcast

Revisit Dr. James Lindsays talk from the Wellington event of his New Zealand tour with the Free Speech Union. Dr. Lindsay shares his thoughts, fears and concerns about the rising treats of “woke” on the right and the communist and socialist undertones driving woeness, cancel culture and various attacks on western liberal democracy. Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Jacob Mchangama is the Founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, a research professor at Vanderbilt University, and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). A valued friend of the FSU, he joins Nick in this episode to discuss his recent global survey on the state of free speech.Learn more about Jacob's work at futurefreespeech.orgThe Global Survey can be found here: futurefreespeech.org/who-supports-free-speech-findings-from-a-global-surveySupport the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

In this episode of the Free Speech Union podcast, Nathan and Nick discuss free speech challenges. They unpack media coverage, police conduct around protest, and the role of churches in protests, while calling for balanced law enforcement and peaceful discourse amid rising tensions.Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

‘Hate crime' laws? Without a clear, shared definition of ‘hate,' we're treading on shaky ground. Who decides what's ‘hateful'? Tell the Law Commission that legislating against ‘hate' is a fool's errand. Submit now - https://www.freespeechsubmission.nz/Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Nathan, Jonathan, Nick, Steph look back on a big year of wins, challenges, and everything in between. From legal battles to media advocacy and educational tours, they share highlights, lessons, and hopes for 2025. A huge thanks to the community that makes it all possible!Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Join Nick Hanne, Jillian Heather, and Alex Penk for an FSU Talk on the recent Law Commission's discussion paper which examined the question of amending the Human Rights Act to include trans gender and intersex individuals as a protected class. These potential changes have significant implications for free speech and the weaponisation of a subjective definition of identity and also harm.Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

In this episode of the Free Speech Union podcast, Jonathan Ayling is joined by Simon O'Connor, former MP for Tamaki, and Nick Hanne, education partnership manager at FSU. The discussion revolves around a controversial letter signed by 400 church leaders denouncing the Act Party's Treaty Principles Bill. The episode delves into themes of free speech, democracy, and the historical and contemporary role of the church in public discourse. The conversation explores differing views on whether the push to stop the bill from going to select committee stifles public debate and the broader implications for free speech in New Zealand.Support the showhttps://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

 In this episode Jonathan sits down with Major Grant Fletcher, a barrister based in Christchurch, and Graham Edgler, lawyer and political and legal. They delve into the pressing issue of new hate training for police officers, the implications of hate speech and hate crime laws in New Zealand, and how these affect free speech. Tune in for a stimulating discussion on the balance between regulation and freedom, and the societal implications of these contentious issues.Support the Show.https://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Join Nathan, Jonathan, and Hannah for this episode for the Free Speech Union podcast to dive into the pressing issues surrounding free speech in New Zealand, focusing on the implications of recent police training on hate crimes, the role of the Law Commission, and the influence of unelected officials. Jonathan and Hannah provide insightful commentary and updates on ongoing efforts to protect free speech rights in the face of growing challenges. Support the Show.https://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Join us for a thought-provoking episode of the Free Speech Union Podcast. Hosted by Jonathan (FSU NZ CEO), this episode features a deep dive into the essence of free speech, democracy, and societal values with Professor Mike Grimshaw from the University of Canterbury. Explore the historical and philosophical underpinnings of free speech, the challenges posed by modern societal shifts, and the crucial role of civil liberties. Whether you're a seasoned thinker or new to these concepts, this engaging discussion promises to offer new perspectives on free speech and its importance in contemporary society.Support the Show.https://www.fsu.nz/https://x.com/NZFreeSpeechhttps://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

Join Nick Hanne (Education Partnerships Manager) as he sits down with Dr. Paul Crowhurst to talk about tertiary education, white fragility, and the concept of unteaching racism. Dr. Crowhurst unpacks his experiences as a teacher, principal, and lecturer, and discusses the series of events leading to his encounter with cancel culture.Support the Show.

Nathan Seiuli (Events & Outreach Manager) & Nick Hanne (Education Partnerships Manager) talk about free speech in schools, the FSU's “Speak Up” schools program, and how the current free speech climate is affecting teachers. Support the Show.

Join Jonathan Ayling as he welcomes Dr. Gavin Ellis, a media consultant, researcher, and former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald. With a PhD in Political Studies and a rich background in journalism and communications, Dr. Ellis offers insights into the current media landscape in New Zealand and shares his hopes for its future growth, change, and improvement.For more information about Dr Ellishttps://knightlyviews.com/For more information about the Free Speech Unionhttps://www.fsu.nz/Support the Show.

Listen to Jonathan Rauch's talk, “Why Free Speech is the Only Safe Space for Minorities,” which he delivered to our audience in Christchurch. It is a powerful talk about the dire need for free speech in the fight for equality.“Minorities are always better off in a society that protects hate speech than in a society that protects us from hate speech.” - Jonathan RauchFor more information about Jonathan, https://www.brookings.edu/people/jonathan-rauch/For more information about the Free Speech Union, www.fsu.nzSupport the Show.

Eric Heinze is a Professor of Law and Humanities at the School of Law Queen Mary, University of London. He is also the author of “The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech is Everything”. Eric joins Jonathan Ayling for a discussion on free speech, academic freedom and democracy.You can purchase Eric's book here https://www.amazon.com/dp/0262547244/For more info on FSU NZ head to www.fsu.nzSupport the Show.

Former Judge Dr. David Harvey and Netsafe CEO Brent Carey discuss the DIA's abandoned proposal for online censorship.The Free Speech Union celebrates the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. It is increasingly clear Kiwis have no interest in our would-be-censors' obsession with trying to control what they say. The DIA's proposals for online content and media regulation set themselves up to effectively be hate speech laws for the internet and press, created by an unelected, unaccountable ‘regulator' without the legislative scrutiny that Parliament normally provides. It is a worst-case scenario for free speech. Bravo, free speech champions of New ZealandSupport the Show.

As a result of lobbying and threats of protest and boycott, Victoria University has postponed the panel discussion that was set to be hosted on 29 April. Jonathan Ayling and Dr. Michael Johnson, from the New Zealand Initiative, were two of the panellists in this discussion; it seems that their presence was the reason for the delay. Jonathan and Michael discuss the implications of this fragility in our institutions of higher learning, and what the inability to free (and think) freely means for our next generation of 'scholars'. Support the Show.

Hear from Josie Pagani, Paul Moon, Marcus Roberts, and Jonathan Ayling on a panel discussion and Q+A on speech rights and the ability to pursue tolerant debate on conflict in the Middle East. This discussion is about our ability to deal with complex and competing ideas, not the substance of the conflict itself. Support the show

Paul Thistoll is a dedicated trans-rights activist and outspoken opponent of the Free Speech Union. But he was willing to sit down with Jonathan Ayling, the Chief Executive of the Union, to discuss hate speech, trans-rights, preferred pronouns, professional deregistration, and more. There are two very different views on free speech on display in this podcast. So rarely do we have the opportunity to hear two so very different perspectives engage respectfully. And in the end, it's you who gets to decide which view is right. Support the show

More than any other one thing, COVID-19 has defined our past 3 years. But are we starting to thinking about it, or talk about it in fresh ways? Our lives have been impacted in unprecedented ways by COVID-19; but this virus has also been weaponised by our would-be-censors to corral us into one position on this issue, and a host of others. In this episode, Jonathan Ayling sits down with the director of River of Freedom, a recently released documentary film on the 2022 occupation of Parliament. Support the show

Speaking to the recently published Addressing the Challenges to Social Cohesion, Sir Peter Gluckman (former Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister and Director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures) sits down with Jonathan Ayling to discuss what's happening to fraying public discourse, and what we can do to address it.  Support the show

Free speech across our universities is under fire- but many academics are also working to address this. After 3 years, a working group established at the University of Auckland to consider how to preserve academic freedom and free speech has reported back, making a bold stand in a hostile environment. Free Speech Union member and UoA Professor, Kendall Clements, sits down with Jonathan to give an insider's view to why free speech is under fire, and what needs to be done about it.   Support the show

"Most important thinking I've written", this is how Prof. Grimes describes his recent research on who benefits from free speech. Spoiler alert- it's not who you might think. We're often told that the marginalised, oppressed and poor need protection from free speech, probably provided by the State, to ensure that free speech doesn't oppress them. But in reality, free speech enables the powerless to undermine the powerful by insisting that ideas and speech should be challenged with dialogue and reason, not force. Jonathan Ayling and Adam Young from the Free Speech Union sit down with Prof. Arther Grimes to consider this important research, and look at why it is the poorer in society, the uneducated, and the vulnerable who benefit from the radical idea that even they should be free to speak.    Support the show

Academic freedom and free speech can appear to be nebulous subjects at times, which wonky intellectuals pontificate on. Yet the real world implications for a university that fails to preserve academic freedom are far-reaching. In this episode, Jonathan Ayling sits down with Dr. James Kierstead and Dr. Michael Johnston to discuss the opposition we've faced to our academic freedom research, why certain arguments have been made, and what this tells us about the debate for free thought and belief in general. Let's just say, the stakes are fairly high for all of us. Support the show

With the Free Speech Unions Academic Survey for 2023 now released and raising concerns Jonathan Ayling sat down with Prof Elizabeth Rata (a co-author of the "Listener 7" letter) and Dr. David Bromell (formerly of Canterbury University) to discuss the state of academic freedom in today's New Zealand. The trio explores the increasingly doctrinaire approach turning up in fields where truth has traditionally never been considered settled, and why this intellectual inflexibility seems to be ramping up post covid with many Universities currently in financial straits. Support the show

Jonatha sits does with Paul Brennan on Reality Check Radio to discuss the FSU announcement that we are supporting a tender-bid for a DPMC contract to research disinformation.  Support the show

Free Speech Union Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling sat down with Prof. Grant Schofield who recently authored a  'A falling out of love letter to the university'- which reflects on his over 30 years in academia. Prof. Schofield questions whether the contemporary New Zealand university can any longer claim to be the 'conscious and critic of society' and in an in-depth discussion, comments on the health of free speech within our universities, the problem of self-censorship (especially among young academics), whether withholding funds to anti-free speech universities would work, and how a refusal to debate important issues affects society. This episode is a good warm-up for the release of the Free Speech Union's 2023 academic survey next week so get swatting! https://profgrant.com/2023/04/24/a-falling-out-of-love-letter-to-the-university-we-need-to-talk/Support the show

Join Free Speech Union Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling, FSU council member Stephen Franks and Left-wing commentator Josie Pagani and Connor Molloy for a debrief on former ACLU president Nadine Strossen's recent tour of Aotearoa. The team discuss some of the high-profile members Strossen attended, why rationalism wins the argument, and what lessons we should take from her into our ongoing free speech battles. It's then a gearshift to discuss the disturbing 'Disinformation Project' report released in the wake of the Posie Parker visit in which the shadowy group warns of an imminent genocide against the trans community... with zero evidence? What is the best strategy for tackling such bad-faith actors? All this and more in another fascinating podcast episode. Enjoy! fsu.nz Support the show

"For me this is the recognition of the linking of free speech with the right for civil disobedience because the public square is never cool and rational and only ‘discursive' – except when constrained and imposed to be so by the privileging and power of ‘the rational'." This provocative paragraph was written by Canterbury-based sociologist and former Free Speech Union podcast guest Mike Grimshaw. In the original piece, published on plainsight.nz, Mike defended some of the civil disobedience from the counter-protesters witnessed at the aborted Posie Parker appearance at Albert Park. Free Speech Union council member Dr David Cumin chews over some of the challenging arguments with Mike in a deep dive that covers some of the contradictions of free speech and examines the role of Police at Albert Park - and what role they should play in a liberal society fsu.nz/join Support the show

Free Speech Union council member Dane Giraud speaks with journalist and now filmmaker Samantha Blanchard about her new documentary "Silenced" which was released online over Easter weekend. "Silenced" looks at censorship during the pandemic and features the story of Peter Williams who walked away from a job at Magic Talk after being given directives not to challenge the government narrative. A thought-provoking and challenging film Samantha discusses the making of the documentary and shares her experiences working as a journalist along with why the media are failing to earn the trust of the public today. https://www.silenced.co.nz/Support the show

Gender-critical speaker Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's 'Let Woman Speak' tour of New Zealand ended before it began: due to violence. A feral mob assaulted her and women were viciously assaulted including a 72-year-old woman who was left with a fractured skull. This followed failed attempts by fringe LGBTQI+ voices to deny KJK entry to New Zealand. Will Albert Park be the new normal? Free Speech Union spokespersons Dane Giraud and Ani O'Brien discuss the day (Ani was present) and its potential ramifications https://www.fsu.nz/public_letter_to_police_minister Support the show

Free Speech Union council member Dane Giraud speaks to Corina Shields (@AuntyHeihei on Twitter), a wahine Maori who took her opinions and concerns with government policy to TikTok after being denied the ear of MPs. Dane and Corina discuss distrust and why governments need to work much harder to win back the poor - the failure of the media to cover lower-socio-economic issues, and why the Maori Party is so unpopular with Maori. Enjoy! Support the show

Free Speech Union council members Ani O'Brien and Dane Giraud discuss the union's defending of Drag Queen story time along with Tusiata Avia's controversial poem. Enjoy!  https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/131393894/the-free-speech-door-swings-both-waysSupport the show

Josephine Varghese is a political analyst and researcher with the Democracy Project at Victoria University of Wellington. In today's episode, Josephine and Free Speech Union council member Dane Giraud discuss Left-wing perspectives on free speech, whether a Leftist should view free speech as a central right, and anti-colonisation thought both as expressed in the controversial poem by Tuisata Avia along with a Left-wing critique. A great in-depth discussion on classic Left-wing thought and where it is often at odds with many of those calling themselves Left today  https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/last-words-screening-tour-1718439Support the show

Free Speech Union spokesperson Dane Giraud speaks to James Kierstead, a Senior Lecturer in Classics at Victoria University of Wellington and Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative. James (who should be no stranger to Free Speech Union supporters) gives his summary of the failed hate speech laws before the boys discuss the need for generosity towards your ideological opponents, the woke re-editing of Roald Dahl's books, and the general issue with translations and tampering with texts. Another great conversation with a top mind. Enjoy! There's still time to see the Free Speech Union's debut film "Last Words" https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/last-words-screening-tour-1718439Support the show

In a fascinating discussion that covers an amazing amount of ground, Free Speech Union spokesperson Dane Giraud speaks to Sociologist Mike Grimshaw of the University of Canterbury. Mike discusses the open society that relies on free speech to function versus the retreat into identity groups censorship encourages. The boys talk through tagging and street art as a means of expression for the underclass and why council-sponsored art may be a calculated way to silence these voices. And Mike unpacks the concept of the radical loser - the disenchanted male who is likely to view censorship as a provocation to action. This is surely a packed episode with a banquet hall brimming with food for thought. Enjoy. And don't forget that the Free Speech Union's debut film "Last Words" is about to go on a nationwide cinema tour. Have you got your ticket yet? If not book today! Tickets are available by following the link below.https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/last-words-screening-tour-1718439?fbclid=IwAR0c51Clm5der-BC98I1fIdovB7gIcIeWG7yBwDIg6Fv_SYzfRbENd5of9cThursday 16th February (PREMIERE):, 7 pm at The Penthouse Cinema, WellingtonSaturday 18th February: 2 pm at Lumiere Cinema, Riccarton, ChristchurchSaturday 18th February: 6 pm at the Regent Cinema, AshburtonSunday 19th February: 1 pm at Movie Max Cinema, TimaruSunday 19th February: 6 pm at Rialto Cinema, DunedinSupport the show

Free Speech Union council member Dane Giraud speaks with Ashley Church  - a prominent media commentator on politics and property - about the religious impulse driving the "woke doctrine" and the challenges it poses for traditional text-based Christians like Ashley.  The boys also touch on the pros and cons of progressive congregations in a wide-ranging discussion on today's competing belief systems fsu.nz Support the show

Climate change dominates tense debate around the world. Some aren't satisfied with just words however and are taking dramatic protest actions like blocking motorways and gluing their hands to roads to demand the attention they believe this crisis demands.In this podcast, Jonathan Ayling sits with Simeon Brown MP to discuss his proposed Bill to increase the penalty for those who protest by disrupting key infrastructure. He is also joined by climate change activist James Cockle - himself no stranger to controversial protest - to discuss the limits of free speech, and whether disruption is a winning strategy to persuade kiwis to consume less. Enjoy a great debate! And don't forget to share this podcast fsu.nz/join  Support the show

In today's special episode, Free Speech Union board members Dane Giraud and Ani O'Brien discuss the emerging narrative that now-former Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern resigned due to online abuse.  Were the levels of abuse she faced unprecedented and have they been contributive to increased polarisation? Or is this a cynical attempt to limit criticism through censorship? fsu.nz/join Support the show

We kick off the year with a very special episode: New Zealand Free Speech Union Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling in discussion with his UK and South African counterparts Toby Young and Sara Gon respectively.  This inaugural meeting offers a chance to reflect on the global fight for free speech and to learn about the unique cultural challenges each union faces in 2023 and beyond. You can look forward to an assortment of invigorating and thought-provoking guests on the 2023 NZ Free Speech Union podcast as we steam into an election year determined to leave everything on the canvas! Enjoy! And don't forget to share the free speech message - and all our wonderful content - with friends and family fsu.nz/join Support the show

Tune in for this special end-of-year discussion with guests Karl du Fresne, Prof Natasha Hamilton-Hart, and Alex Penk for a 'stock take' of the work the Free Speech Union has done in 2022. Will our guests give us a pass mark? Enjoy! fsu.nz Support the show

The Free Speech Union's Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling sat down with Paul Goldsmith MP, National's Justice Spokesperson, Prof. Paul Moon, a prominent historian from AUT, Dr. Michael Johnson from the New Zealand Initiative, and Prof. Ananish Chaudhuri, an economist from Auckland University at the recent Free Speech Union AGM to discuss the importance of fostering a culture of free speech. The panel started by noting the differences in the relatively strong legal defense to free speech which Kiwis still enjoy, which is at odds with the current recession of free speech culturally. Enjoy! fsu.nz/join Support the show

The Free Speech Union celebrated a victory with Justice Minister Kiri Allen announcing the government would be dropping proposed hate speech laws. But the single inclusion of religion means we still have a fight on our hands. Could it really soon become harder to criticise religion? In a thoughtful and far-ranging discussion, Dr. Michael Johnson (NZ Initiative) and Marcus Roberts (Maxim Institute) wrestle with this possibility along with examining the concept of "settled science" and whether the horrors of totalitarianism becoming a distant memory is behind a new generation taking their freedoms for granted. fsu.net/join Support the show

Free Speech Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling sat down with respected journalists Janet Wilson and Yvonne van Dongen to discuss the health of the New Zealand media in regard to fostering free and open debate. Are we seeing a new bias? Is ideology polluting journalism and undermining public trust? What role or responsibility does a journalist have in combatting mis or disinformation? And are the majority of contemporary journalists even trying to speak to the masses, or is their audience themselves (their own class)? A fascinating, bold, and revealing discussion on free speech and the press in New Zealand from two of our most experienced journalists. Enjoy! fsu.net/join Support the show

Free Speech Union member Daphna Whitmore and council member Dane Giraud discuss the Curia poll featured in a Herald recent piece from Left-wing commentator Bryce Edwards that found lower-socio-economic communities stood against the government's Hate Speech laws. Why is this? Weren't such laws supposedly sought by vulnerable, multicultural communities? Dane and Daphna (both South Aucklanders) discuss the myriad reasons why the working class has always rejected state censorship, and the team recaps their thoughts on the recent Free Speech Union AGM. The link to Bryce's piece is below...https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/bryce-edwards-why-labour-government-capitulated-on-hate-speech-laws/RGKOXGGXGBA5NN7QYGIK4SMWDU/Support the show

Free Speech Union member Daphna Whitmore speaks with Dr. Forough Amin about what's happening in Iran after two months of growing protests across the country.  Forough is a women's rights activist and the founder of the Iranian Women in NZ Charitable Trust.  Forough discusses the dire state of civil rights in Iran, the rigid power of the regime, the important role women and youth are playing in the protests, and reveals the origin of the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom". https://www.facebook.com/IWIN.Charity/Correction: The town where Ruhollah Khomeini's house was set fire to by protesters is referred to as Khomeini Shah in the interview. The correct name of the town is "Khomein".  Support the show

In an unexpected (but welcomed!) development, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan announced this morning that proposed hate speech laws will be all but dropped. Gone is the threat of 3-year prison terms. In fact, the sole change will be the addition of religious beliefs under a new amendment to the Human Rights Act. Free Speech Union board members Jonathan Ayling and Stephen Franks are joined by Left-wing political analyst Bryce Edwards and representative of the New Zealand Jewish council Juliet Moses, to discuss the dramatic reversal along with the Free Speech Union's influence on the decision, and why conceding on religious belief could have devastating consequences for free speech moving forward fsu.nz/join Support the show

Free Speech Union member Daphna Whitmore talks with Daniel Ben-Ami, an author, and journalist based in London. His website "The Radicalism of  Fools" https://www.radicalismoffools.com/  aims to develop a better understanding of anti-Semitism and its root causes.  Daniel talks about different forms of anti-Semitism from the right and the left. He explains why definitions of anti-Semitism should not be imposed through initiatives like the IHRA definition of antisemitism and why censorship is not an answer to the anti-Israel BDS boycott movement. This fascinating discussion covers much more including whether deplatforming Nazis works and how censorship risks letting bad ideas go unchallenged fsu.nz/ join Support the show

Following the shock announcement this morning (Sunday 30th) by Justice Minister Kiri Allen that hate speech laws are back and may be in place before next year's election, Jonathan Ayling sits down with Free Speech Union Council members Dr. Roderick Mulgan and Ani O'Brien, along with ACT Party Leader David Seymour to unpack what this means for the fight for free speech. Given the negative reaction to the proposals last year, what makes Minister Allan think Kiwis will accept them this time around? Will the short window provided ahead of next year's election be used to ram the laws through without proper scrutiny? And why does National leader Christopher Luxon want nothing to do with this topic? These are some of the questions addressed as the Free Speech Union gears up to oppose this legislation.  Support the show

In today's episode of our LOL series, Free Speech Union spokespeople Dane Giraud and Dr. David Cumin discuss the Young Greens of UoA (University Of Auckland) decision to boycott the "Baby Back Benches" debate until a set of specific demands are met. Dane and David pull apart the 7 demands that - while reading like self-parody - cloak a sinister attitude towards both freedom of expression and the very minority groups the Greens claim that their demands protect. fsu.nz/join Support the show

Jonathan Ayling, Ani O'Brien, and Dane Giraud are our first panel in the reboot of our LOL (Life Out Loud) podcast series. The team pull-apart local body elections and ask whether a low voter turnout can be put down to the multiple campaigns seeking to limit acceptable debate - we get a preview of the upcoming Free Speech Union AGM  featuring Danish free speech superstar Jacob MChangama (which includes a special announcement) - and finally the Prime Ministers controversial "weapons of war" speech delivered at the UN - what it means, and why we should all be very afraid fsu.net/join  Support the show