The Future of Free Speech: Reversing the Global Decline of Democracy’s Most Essential Freedom

The Future of Free Speech: Reversing the Global Decline of Democracy’s Most Essential Freedom

From Cato Event Podcast by Cato Institute

April 9, 2026 · 60 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges facing free speech in modern democracies and advocates for a renewed commitment to open dialogue.

The Future of Free Speech  confronts a stark truth: The right to speak freely is under siege. Once celebrated as a cornerstone of democratic societies, free expression is now met with growing suspicion and retaliation across the globe.  In this book ,  Jacob Mchangama and Jeff Kosseff present a panoramic view of how we arrived at this pivotal moment. They argue for a reinvigorated, global commitment to open dialogue and civic-minded solutions. Join Mchangama and Kosseff for a discussion with moderator David Inserra on how free speech can meet modern challenges without abandoning its foundational role in sustaining democracy, human rights, and shared understanding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: David Inserra

Guests: Jacob Mchangama, Jeff Kosseff

Topics covered

  • free speech
  • democracy
  • global challenges
  • open dialogue
  • human rights

Keywords

  • free speech
  • democracy
  • civic-minded solutions
  • human rights
  • global decline

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cato Institute

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