Ira Glasser

Date: 2021-01-15 | Duration: 2h 4m

Episode Overview

Ira Glasser, former executive director of the ACLU, joins Joe Rogan to explore the complexities of free speech in the digital age. They discuss the legal and ethical challenges posed by social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, particularly regarding their decisions to ban figures such as Donald Trump. Glasser emphasizes that while these actions are legally permissible as private companies, they raise important questions about gatekeeping and the evolving nature of public discourse. He draws historical parallels to earlier forms of media control, highlighting how new communication technologies have always tested free speech boundaries. The conversation also delves into the delicate balance between protecting free expression and addressing harmful speech. Glasser recounts landmark legal cases that shaped First Amendment protections, including the standards for incitement and hate speech. He stresses the importance of tolerating even offensive speech to avoid empowering government censorship, warning against the slippery slope of restricting speech based on political disagreement. Additionally, they touch on the social and political polarization in America, with Glasser reflecting on the cultural divides that predate the internet and the ongoing struggle to foster civil dialogue amid rising tensions. Throughout, Glasser advocates for resilience in defending free speech as a cornerstone of democracy, despite its inherent challenges.

About Ira Glasser

Ira Glasser is a distinguished civil liberties advocate and former director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where he championed free speech rights across the United States for over 23 years. He is the subject of the acclaimed 2020 documentary "Mighty Ira," which explores his lifelong commitment to defending the First Amendment, even in controversial cases. Glasser's unwavering dedication to civil rights and his engaging insights into the complexities of free expression make him a compelling figure in contemporary discussions about democracy and personal freedoms, captivating audiences with his deep understanding of the balance between liberty and responsibility.

Key Moments

– First Amendment
– Free Speech
– Social Media Censorship
– ACLU History
– Hate Speech
– Political Polarization
– Supreme Court Cases
– Civil Rights Movement
– Incitement Law
– Neo-Nazism
– Internet Culture
– American Values
– Protests and Demonstrations
– Media Influence
– Political Extremism
– Free Speech Limits
– Social Dilemma Documentary
– Race Relations
– Government Regulation
– Historical Racism
0:00:00 – Introduction to Joe Rogan Experience and podcast format
0:00:54 – Private sector's First Amendment rights explained
0:01:37 – Legality of Facebook and Twitter actions discussed
0:02:36 – Comparison of social media to printing press infancy
0:03:11 – Defense of banning Trump on social media platforms
0:04:02 – Limitations of creating own media platforms
0:05:45 – Concerns about gatekeeper power of social media
0:07:26 – Worry about marginalized voices being unheard
0:09:53 – Benjamin Spock's draft card burning referenced
0:12:15 – Risks of government regulating speech
0:14:38 – Differences between private conversation and public social media
0:15:34 – Google removing app from Play Store example
0:19:02 – Debate over banning hate speech
0:20:48 – Controversy over banning art in Brooklyn Museum
0:26:36 – False speech and First Amendment protection
0:29:06 – Acceptance of hearing ugly speech as free speech cost
0:36:48 – Protests against clinic access and free speech limits
0:39:18 – Definition and examples of incitement
0:42:47 – 1969 Supreme Court incitement standard explained
0:48:00 – Discussion on convicting incitement cases
0:51:05 – Historical protest against school integration in Atlanta
0:54:20 – Human instinct to silence opponents discussed
1:00:26 – Neo-Nazi demonstration remedy in Skokie
1:07:29 – Newly elected Congress member's rhetoric
1:10:18 – Perspectives on nationalism and voter motivations
1:23:00 – Mention of documentary The Social Dilemma
1:27:22 – Silo culture predates the Internet
1:30:41 – Film Mighty Ira and its message
1:35:58 – Importance of civility and dialogue
1:43:56 – Comparison to Germany in the 1930s
1:46:16 – Trump's impact on American political climate
1:49:14 – Need for gradual societal change
1:51:34 – ACLU's history with First Amendment cases
1:55:30 – Young progressives' views on free speech
1:58:06 – Margaret Sanger's leaflets and free speech
2:00:50 – Interconnection of free speech and dissent

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 the joe rogan experience train by day joe rogan podcast by night all day Starting point is 00:00:54 And the private sector has always had the discretion, it's their First Amendment right, Starting point is 00:01:37 what Facebook and Twitter did is perfectly legal Starting point is 00:02:36 out how to work out yet because this medium is in its infancy. You know, people forget that the printing press Starting point is 00:03:11 I think Facebook and Twitter had the right to do what they did in banning Trump. Starting point is 00:04:02 It's not like anybody could have bought or made a printing press and printed their own books or printed their own newspapers not everyone can make their own twitter Starting point is 00:04:43 When I was growing up, I was a teenager in the 50s. Starting point is 00:05:45 And so, you know, it's a lot better now, even with questions about abusing the power of being a gatekeeper that Twitter and Facebook have. Starting point is 00:06:46 he could say it to our family at Thanksgiving, but he didn't have access to an audience of the Starting point is 00:07:26 What I'm worried about are people like you, people who have something to say, but their freedom is that they get to say it in the closet where nobody hears them. Starting point is 00:08:02 It was in the early 60s. Starting point is 00:09:03 flag to symbolize the fact that if a Starting point is 00:09:53 Benjamin Spock burned draft cards. Starting point is 00:10:32 these private people decide who gets to hear what. But even with that, the ability of ordinary people Starting point is 00:11:17 It just seems very strange. Starting point is 00:12:15 The only way to remedy that is to give the government the power Starting point is 00:12:43 You're going to give it to Giuliani? You're going to give it to Trump. You're going to give it to Giuliani. You're going to Starting point is 00:13:32 make some sort of a law that distinguishes or makes a distinction, Starting point is...

More Episodes

Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #1595?

Ira Glasser was the guest on JRE #1595. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #1595?

On Joe Rogan Experience #1595 with Ira Glasser, topics include First Amendment, Free Speech, Social Media Censorship, and ACLU History.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #1595?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #1595 with Ira Glasser is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.