Understanding American Defamation Law: Free Speech Unmuted Explores 'Defamacast' and Key Cases

Free Speech Unmuted: A Deep Dive into American Defamation Law and Beyond

Explore the complexities of American defamation law and free speech with Free Speech Unmuted, a podcast series from Reason.com. This season examines landmark cases, Supreme Court rulings, and the evolving challenges to free expression in the digital era.

Defamation Law in Focus: The 'Defamacast' Case

The series dedicates an episode to the Defamacast case, analyzing its implications for defamation law in the modern media landscape. The discussion highlights how traditional legal frameworks adapt to new forms of digital communication and content distribution.

Landmark Supreme Court Rulings and First Amendment Challenges

Free Speech Unmuted covers a wide range of pivotal Supreme Court cases and First Amendment issues, including:

• Speech, Not "Conduct": Supreme Court Rules on Conversion Talk Therapy
• Student Speech, Threats, and the First Amendment: Examining the rights of public school students in expressing controversial views.
• Can Journalists Be Charged for Involvement in Protests? The Don Lemon Dilemma: A deep dive into the legal boundaries of journalistic activity during protests.
• 2025: The Year In Free Speech: A retrospective look at the most significant free speech developments of the year.
• Does the First Amendment Protect Supposedly "Addictive" Algorithms?: Analyzing the intersection of technology, free speech, and user engagement.
• Defamation Law in the Age of AI with Lyrissa Lidsky: Exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping defamation and liability in digital spaces.
• Free Speech and the Future of Legal Education: Discussing the role of free speech principles in shaping legal pedagogy.
• From Brandenburg to Britain: Rethinking Free Speech in the Digital Era with Eric Heinze: A comparative analysis of free speech laws in the U.S. and the U.K.
• Kimmel, the FCC, and the Government's Power Over Broadcast Speech: Examining the regulatory landscape for broadcast media.
• A Conversation with FIRE's Greg Lukianoff: Insights from the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on campus free speech issues.
• A Burning First Amendment Issue: President Trump's Executive Order on Flag Desecration: Analyzing the legal and political implications of the order.
• Free Speech and Doxing: Exploring the legal boundaries of online harassment and privacy.
• The Supreme Court Rules on Protecting Kids from Sexually Themed Speech Online: A look at how courts balance child protection with free speech rights.
• Free Speech, Public School Students, and "There Are Only Two Genders": Examining the limits of student speech in public schools.
• Can AI Companies Be Sued for What AI Says?: Discussing liability and legal accountability in the age of generative AI.
• Harvard v. Trump: Free Speech and Government Grants: Analyzing the intersection of academic freedom and government funding.
• Trump's War on Big Law: Exploring the legal and political dimensions of the former president's challenges to major law firms.
• Can Non-Citizens Be Deported For Their Speech?: Examining the limits of free speech for non-citizens in the U.S.
• Freedom of the Press, with Floyd Abrams: A conversation with one of the nation's leading First Amendment attorneys.
• Free Speech, Private Power, and Private Employees: Discussing the balance between employer policies and employee rights.
• Court Upholds TikTok Divestiture Law: Analyzing the legal and geopolitical implications of the ruling.
• Free Speech in European (and Other) Democracies, with Prof. Jacob Mchangama: A global perspective on free speech laws and challenges.
• Protests, Public Pressure Campaigns, Tort Law, and the First Amendment: Exploring the legal frameworks surrounding protest rights and civil liability.
• Misinformation: Past, Present, and Future: A historical and contemporary look at the regulation of false speech.
• I Know It When I See It: Free Speech and Obscenity Laws: Examining the legal standards for obscenity and their impact on free expression.
• Speech and Violence: Analyzing the boundaries between protected speech and incitement to violence.
• Emergency Podcast: The Supreme Court's Social Media Cases: A timely discussion on the Court's rulings on social media and free speech.
• Internet Policy and Free Speech: A Conversation with Rep. Ro Khanna: Insights from a key policymaker on the future of digital free speech.
• Free Speech, TikTok (and Bills of Attainder!), with Prof. Alan Rozenshtein: A discussion on the legal challenges facing TikTok and the First Amendment.
• The 1st Amendment on Campus with Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky: An exploration of free speech principles in higher education.
• Free Speech On Campus: A broader look at the challenges and debates surrounding campus free speech.
• AI and Free Speech: Examining the legal and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in the context of free expression.
• Free Speech, Government Persuasion, and Government Coercion: Analyzing the limits of government influence on public discourse.
• Deplatformed: The Supreme Court Hears Social Media Oral Arguments: A discussion on the legal battles over social media content moderation.
• Book Bans – or Are They?: Exploring the legal and political dimensions of book bans in public institutions.

Why 'Free Speech Unmuted' Matters

The Free Speech Unmuted series provides a comprehensive exploration of the most pressing free speech issues of our time. From landmark Supreme Court rulings to the challenges posed by emerging technologies, the podcast offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the legal, political, and social dimensions of free expression in America.

For more episodes and in-depth analysis, visit Reason.com.