#1128 Confronting Fascism in the Land of Free Speech (Throwback)

#1128 Confronting Fascism in the Land of Free Speech (Throwback)

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics February 6, 2026 Duration: 59:58

Original Air Date: 8-25-2017

Today we look at the constant struggle between the freedom to speak and the necessary limits placed on that freedom due to the rights of others to not be substantially harmed by that speech

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!


Show Notes

Ch. 1: WSJ Reports: ACLU Rethinks Defending Hate Groups Protesting with Guns - Wochit News - Air Date 8-17-17

Ch. 2: ACLU Will No Longer Defend Hate Groups Protesting With Firearms - MSNBC

Ch. 3: Understanding the line between free speech and hate speech - BackStory - Air Date 8-23-17

Ch. 4: I was a prominent neo-Nazi. Ignoring white extremists is a mistake. - Vox - Air Date 4-14-17

Ch. 5: Nazis Don't Get Free Speech! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 08-22-17

Ch. 6: Understanding who joins Antifa - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 7: How Do We Define Hate Speech? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 8-21-17

Ch. 8: Antifa: A Look at the Antifascist Movement Confronting White Supremacists in the Streets - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 08-16-17

Ch. 9: How not to fall for fascist rhetoric - 1943 US War Department


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Free speech absolutism - Ryan in Minneapolis, MN

Ch. 20: Free speech absolutism is bullshit - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 21: Railing against free speech would be a gift to the right - Todd from Delaware, OH

Ch. 22: Recommending Chomsky video - Elizabeth from North Carolina

Ch. 23: The Constitution is not a suicide pact - Will from Mississippi


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com


For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Podcast Episodes
#1779 Community After God: Why the Left Needs What Church Provided [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:01:57
Air Date: 3/24/2026 Today we explore what happens when people reject religious dogma but still hunger for ritual, meaning, and the concrete benefits of community. We'll hear from secular assemblies building "church witho…