So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast
News:Politics
In late 2013, some of us at FIRE started noticing a change on college campuses. Students, who were previously the strongest constituency for free speech on campus, were turning against free speech. They began appealing to administrators more frequently for protection from different speakers and using the language of trauma and safety to justify censorship.
During the 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement, students demanded more free speech. Now, they were demanding more censorship.
What changed?
Neil Howe may have an answer. He is a historian, economist, and demographer who speaks frequently on generational change. He has co-authored several books with William Strauss, including “Generations” and “The Fourth Turning.” His most recent book, “The Fourth Turning is Here,” was published last year. Howe argues that history has seasonal rhythms of growth, maturation, entropy, and rebirth and that different generations take on different attributes reflecting their place in the cycle.
Joining Howe and host Nico Perrino for the conversation is FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff, co-author of “The Canceling of the American Mind” and “The Coddling of the American Mind.”
Note: Nico’s lavalier microphone was too close to his mouth during this recording, producing what we in the biz call “clipping.” Hence, Nico sounds a bit crunchier than normal. We apologize if it’s distracting, but we hope it’s not!
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
6:10 Neil’s intent with his book, “Generations”
13:12 Pattern in American history
17:08 The nomad archetype
25:00 Covid and the younger generation
27:28 Do people shape events?
35:35 Gen-Xers and Millennials
41:45 The Fourth Turning
50:24 William James’ “The Moral Equivalent of War”
57:08 Are Gen-Z actually Millennials?
58:10 Dominant generations
01:06:40 How do generational cycles impact civil liberties?
01:10:57 Summary of Millennials
01:18:15 Peaceful periods lead to greater inequality
1:19:16 Outro
Show Notes
Neil Howe’s Substack, “Demography Unplugged”
Greg Lukianoff’s Substack, “The Eternally Radical Idea”
Ep. 214: The Antisemitism Awareness Act
Ep. 213: Campus unrest - live webinar
Ep. 212: Should the First Amendment protect hate speech?
Ep. 210: The First Amendment at the Supreme Court
Ep. 209: ‘Is money speech?’ with Robert Breedlove
Ep. 208: Dodging censorship in Russia
Ep. 207 Free speech news: NetChoice, Taylor Swift, October 7, and Satan
Ep. 206: CJ Hopkins compared modern Germany to Nazi Germany. Now he’s standing trial.
Ep. 205: An anarchist’s perspective with Michael Malice
Ep. 204: “Liar in a Crowded Theater” with Jeff Kosseff
Ep. 203: ‘Undefeated’ with Coach Bill Courtney
Ep. 202: The backpage.com saga
Ep. 201: Crisis on Campus - X Space recording
Ep. 200: The state of free speech
Ep. 199: Israel, Hamas, and censorship at home
Ep. 198: 2023-24 Supreme Court Preview
Ep. 197 ‘Are cakes speech?’ with Alliance Defending Freedom’s Kristen Waggoner
Ep. 196 ‘The Identity Trap’ by Yascha Mounk
Ep. 195 ‘Don’t Tread on Me,’ misgendering, cancel culture, and three strikes for Texas
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