Carl Cannon asked Alan Dershowitz why modern liberalism appears to have turned against free speech at RCP’s third annual Samizdat Prize Gala. You can read more about the prize and Dershowitz’s contributions to free speech here: “Profile in First Amendment Courage: Alan Dershowitz – 2026 Samizdat Winner” “It’s still an article of faith among real liberals,” Dershowitz said about free speech. “Free speech should never become a conservative issue any more than it ever should have been a liberal issue. It is an issue for all.” “I am a criminal defense lawyer, and I am a defender of free speech. They are the same job,” he said. “They are completely related, and they have the same problem.” “The vast majority of Americans, in theory, agree that the Sixth Amendment should protect the right of everybody – including Jeffrey Epstein – to get a lawyer. They agree with that in theory. But if you ask, should anybody defend Jeffrey Epstein? Oh my God, no – not Jeffrey Epstein,” he said. “The same thing is true of free speech.” “Everybody agrees with free speech in theory. But when you ask, should you defend the free speech of – and fill in whatever blank you want – the vast majority of Americans believe in free speech for me, but not for thee. Criminal defense for me, but not for thee.” “And I think this organization is wonderful because it does stand for free speech for thee – even if we disagree with thee,” he said.
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