Minter Dialogue with Sarah McLaughlin

Sarah McLaughlin is a free speech advocate, author, and thinker who joined me for this episode to dig deep into the state of expression on campus and far beyond. Based in Philadelphia and working at FIRE—the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression—Sarah dedicates her work to defending speech across the political spectrum, championing First Amendment rights not just in law, but in the culture of higher education.

Our conversation pivots around her latest book, Authoritarians in the Academy, which shines a light on the subtle and not-so-subtle ways censorship is shaping universities globally. The book zeroes in on the growing influence of foreign governments—China in particular—over what can and cannot be discussed in US classrooms, as well as the quieter crisis: self-silencing by students and professors alike due to pressure from internal and external sources.

We examine why higher education is such fertile ground for these battles. As Sarah points out, universities are the birthplace of ideas and future leaders—making them a key target for those seeking to control the narrative for generations to come. Our discussion takes us from the complexities of internal versus external censorship (and how those lines blur in a borderless digital age), to the challenges leaders face standing up for the principles of expression in the face of financial and political pressure.

Key Points:

• External Influence in the Classroom: Chinese, Russian, and other authoritarian governments increasingly attempt to limit discussion on “sensitive issues”—from Tiananmen Square to Hong Kong—especially among international students, who often return home as future leaders.
• The Power and Peril of Self-Censorship: In both the US and abroad, the threat isn’t always draconian laws—it’s the chilling effect on academics and students who see the risk and choose to stay quiet, especially when personal safety and careers are on the line.
• Why Free Speech Is (Still) for Everyone: Protecting expression means defending opinions you may dislike as fiercely as those you cherish. As Sarah notes, free speech isn’t a finite resource—the more we safeguard it for others, the safer we are ourselves. Objectivity and principled leadership are vital, even when the cost is standing against financial incentives or tribal pressure.

Three Takeaways:

• University leaders must show moral backbone—defending campus speech against both overt censorship and more discreet pressures, regardless of where they originate.
• Diversity of thought isn’t just a buzzword. Creating environments where differing perspectives are honestly heard builds resilience—personally, professionally, and democratically.
• Free speech is more than law; it’s a cultural commitment. The healthiest societies protect the right to speak, even when it’s unpopular (or uncomfortable), because truth thrives in open, messy debate.

To connect with Sarah McLaughlin:

• Check out the FIRE site here
• Find/buy Sarah McLaughlin’s book, “Authoritarians in the Academy,” here on Amazon
• Find/follow Sarah McLaughlin on LinkedIn
• Find/follow Sarah McLaughlin on X (formerly Twitter)

Other mentions/sites:

• Book XXX  here
• Other mention XXXX here

Further resources for the Minter Dialogue podcast:

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Music credit: The jingle at the beginning of the show is courtesy of my friend, Pierre Journel, author of the Guitar Channel. And, the new sign-off music is “A Convinced Man,” a song I co-wrote and recorded with Stephanie Singer back in the late 1980s (please excuse the quality of the sound!).

Transcription courtesy of Castmagic.io, an AI full-service for podcasters

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