Why Free Speech Matters for Everyone with Kristen Waggoner

Impact 360 Institute

The great abolitionist Frederick Douglass once observed "Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions cease to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power."

Free speech has the power to reveal the truth, expose lies, win hearts, and even change the course of history. And yet, in our current culture, freedom of speech is under attack. So what is free speech, and why does it matter for everyone? What would be the consequence if we lost it?

In this episode of the podcast, Jonathan sits down for an excellent conversation with the CEO, President, and General Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, Kristen Waggoner. Join us as Jonathan and Kristen discuss why free speech matters for everyone, how the conversation on free speech is changing, how to respond to challenges to free speech in a divided culture, and much more.

Kristen Waggoner is the CEO, president, and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom. She leads the faith-based legal organization in protecting fundamental freedoms and promoting the inherent dignity of all people throughout the U.S. and around the world. Waggoner oversees the efforts of more than 400 ADF team members in seven global offices as well as 4,700 network attorneys engaged in litigation, legislation, training, funding, and public advocacy. ADF also provides legal resources to nearly 4,000 churches and ministries through its Ministry Alliance program and defends the persecuted church in dozens of countries.

You can read more about what Kristen discussed in this interview in her pieces for WORLD here and here, and connect with her and ADF at adflegal.org.