Unpacking the legal and political issues surrounding free speech and the First Amendment

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of The Blessings of Liberty, former president of FIRE David French explores evolving threats to free speech, the rise of Christian nationalism, the importance of religious liberty, and the thorny legal issues posed by AI and social media. Jeffrey Rosen, senior fellow at FIRE and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Participants

David French is a columnist for the New York Times and Special Guest for the podcast Advisory Opinions. He’s a former president of FIRE and former senior editor of The Dispatch. He most recently Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation.

Jeffrey Rosen is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. He is also a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School and a contributing editor of The Atlantic.

Additional Resources

• David French, Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation (2020)
• David French, “Christian Nationalism’s Dark Forebears” (6/14/2026)
• David French, “There’s a 900-Year-Old Answer to Our Most Modern Problem” (4/30/2026)
• David French, “Don’t Cheer Too Hard for the Facebook Verdict” (3/26/2026)

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Thank you to our presenting sponsor, FIRE, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans—especially freedom of speech and free thought. Learn more about FIRE’s work at FIRE.org/blessings.

Soapbox is the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s bold new conference, taking place November 4-6, 2026, in Philadelphia to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with high-impact keynotes, timely panels, and unforgettable entertainment. It culminates in a show-stopping gala on November 6. Please go to soapbox.fire.org to purchase tickets and check out the amazing lineup of speakers! I’m