<![CDATA[The Institute for Liberal Values: The Dissidents Podcast]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/s/the-dissidents-podcasthttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cPw6!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F13bc0149-80d1-4f62-a347-bdbcad49004c_720x720.pngThe Institute for Liberal Values: The Dissidents Podcasthttps://ilvalues.substack.com/s/the-dissidents-podcastSubstackWed, 13 May 2026 10:33:40 GMT<![CDATA[Don't get on the Banned-Wagon: Recent Trends in Library Censorship]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/dont-get-on-the-banned-wagon-recenthttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/dont-get-on-the-banned-wagon-recentFri, 03 Oct 2025 04:02:26 GMTThis week Elizabeth is joined by librarian and frequent contributor, Pamela Hayes-Bohanan who, in anticipation of Banned Books Week, gives us the latest news on attempts to remove books from our libraries. The majority of book censorship attempts now originate from organized movements, pressure groups, and government entities, including elected officials. While concerns about content or appropriate category for shelving used to come from individuals, book bans are now most commonly initiated by activists who may never have seen the book or patronized the library they’ve targeted. The titles most frequently targeted for censorship appear on partisan lists. Websites provide a forum for sharing author names, book titles, and tools to demand censorship of more titles in more libraries. Pam helps us understand what that means for our public, private, K-12 and college libraries. We also discuss what it means for education and society more broadly. Pam encourages us to celebrate the right to read.

Podcast notes

The American Library Association sponsors Banned Books Week annually to promote awareness, remind us that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and most of all to celebrate the right to read. More information about Banned Books Week can be found here: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned

Since our podcast this happened: Texas School Administrators Use A.I. To Ban Books. Read about it here: https://bookriot.com/leander-sb-13/

A couple of reports from PEN America can be found here:

Cover to Cover: An analysis of titles banned in the 23-24 school year
https://pen.org/report/cover-to-cover/
The Blueprint State: Lessons from Parents Left Behind by Parental Rights Policies in Florida
https://pen.org/report/the-blueprint-state/

Ask A Librarian

Welcome to our inaugural “Ask A Librarian” monthly column. Once a month, Librarian Pamela Hayes-Bohanan, responds to your questions. Please feel free to leave a question in the comments or write to admin@ilvalues.org with a question to be considered in the forthcoming columns.

October Question:

I’ve heard a lot of people mention a constitutional crisis. I’m wondering if we are in a “free speech crisis,” particularly on college campuses?

The day before Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) released its annual College Free Speech Rankings which also included results of survey indicating that more students than ever - over 30 percent across the political spectrum - believe that violence is a justifiable response to a controversial speaker on campus in at least some instances. (Nineteen percent of students at Utah Valley University agreed that violence was an acceptable response, and the University earned an overall grade of D- from FIRE.)

A recent New York Times article reports that some conservatives believe that FIRE has flipped its ideology from right to left, however, this is not the case. FIRE has always stood up for academic freedom, regardless of the beliefs of the speaker. What has happened instead is that prior to January 2025 more threats on campuses came from the left, whereas they are now more likely to be coming from the right, and FIRE is stepping in the same way it did before.

Free Speech issues on campuses prior to October 7, 2023 appeared to be based on the perception (real or imagined) that conservative viewpoints were being quashed. Some State Legislatures (like Texas) rushed to make campuses “free speech” zones. However pro-Palestine protests and other controversies have found conservative lawmakers doing an about face and passing new laws limiting free speech on campuses. For instance, Texas A&M recently made headlines when a faculty member was fired for including coursework that recognized more than two genders in a class on children’s literature after a student confronted the professor and called the coursework illegal. And Oklahoma Central University cancelled a play about gender bending in theater during Shakespeare’s time. West Point, the United States Military Academy is being sued by one of its own professors over free speech allegations. Campuses across the country have been threatened with loss of funding if DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives are not eliminated which further puts funding for scientific, medical, and other research at risk.

As we see public as well as private colleges and universities facing government sanctions, now is the time for more institutions of higher learning to consider adopting speech policies that mirror the Chicago Statement. These policies protect academic freedom for faculty and students while allowing for discussion and civil debate of controversial issues without administrative interference.

~Pamela Hayes-Bohanan

Further reading

Baum, S. (2025, September 15). Oklahoma student play about Shakespearen theatre shut down over gender laws.

Cochran, L. L. (2025, September 23). West Point professor alleges free speech violation.

College Pulse & FIRE. (2025). 2025 College Free Speech Rankings.

Gavin, M. (2025, July 30). ‘There is no workaround to this moment – we are all targets’.

Krausch, October. “Harvard Dominates Headlines, But Other Schools Are Quietly Battling Trump.”

Lukianoff, G. (2025). Beware of the weapon you wield today.

Neas, Cora. “University of Texas students sue, say new law could ban prayers, reporting, music on campus.”

Ring, T. (2025, September 11). Texas A&M professor fired over discussion of gender identity.

Schuessler, J., & Patel, V. (2025, August 22). A critic of universities is rallying to defend them in the Trump era.

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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]]><![CDATA[S5 E25 | Viewpoint Diversity Adversity: The Conundrum Between Balance and Obscurity]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/s5-e25-viewpoint-diversity-adversityhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/s5-e25-viewpoint-diversity-adversityFri, 19 Sep 2025 15:01:21 GMTThis week Elizabeth is joined by Mark Horowitz. We discuss two very different articles about viewpoint diversity. In one (unpublished) paper the authors examined thousands of college course syllabi for evidence that diverse perspectives were being introduced. In all 3 areas of focus (racism in the criminal justice system, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the ethics of abortion), faculty overwhelmingly assigned works representing a single perspective. There was very little evidence that students were formally introduced to books or articles identified as well known with respected alternative views. Based on our personal experiences in academia, we were more surprised about the magnitude of the effects than the general findings. While we could find little to criticize about the first article, we were less enamored with the second, which argues against viewpoint diversity. The author's focus is more political than scientific, and her examples are primarily extreme, unrelated to traditional academic goals, and may reveal more about her bias against Heterodox Academy than the futility of viewpoint diversity. She rightly argues that hiring individuals solely because they have unusual views would likely do little to advance science, but we find little else to admire about her narrow arguments and examples. Mark shares his own research findings regarding groupthink in academia, the benefits of viewpoint diversity, and briefly describes the rewards and challenges of incorporating controversial topics and perspectives in the classroom.

Podcast notes

The (unpublished) Shields, et al. syllabus working paper can be found here: https://roseinstitute.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/jon-shields

The authors were interviewed by the Chronicle of Higher Education here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-scholarly-topics-are-hotly-debated-so-why-dont-syllabi-reflect-that and the paper was referenced in this New York Times editorial here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/conservative-professors-viewpoint-diversity.html

The Siraganian op-ed for the American Association of University Professors Academe Magazine, which argues against viewpoint diversity, can be found here: Seven Theses Against Viewpoint Diversity | AAUP

Other episodes with contributor Mark Horowitz:

Top of the Class: Teachers with Lenient Grading get Higher Ratings:

Contrarians at the Gate: Publishing Controversial Topics in an Era of Academic Progressivism:

Making Up the Grade: A Call for Educators to Openly Address Eroding Standards:

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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]]><![CDATA[Authoritarians in the Academy with Sarah McLaughlin]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/authoritarians-in-the-academy-withhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/authoritarians-in-the-academy-withFri, 29 Aug 2025 05:01:05 GMTThis week Jennifer Richmond and Brandy Shufutinsky speak with Sarah Mchlaughlin on her recently released book – Authoritarians in the Academy. As universities are run more and more like corporations with increasing numbers of administrators, priorities have shifted. As part of this shift, we often see universities making financial decisions that can be at odds with their values, namely freedom of speech. This includes not only US university campuses that operate overseas in places like China and Qatar, but also on our home turf. In order to appease financial partnerships Sarah has found that American universities have become increasingly censorious. In some cases, this censorship is to protect overseas students who face harsh recrimination for speaking out on American campuses in their home country, but in many more cases the calculation is monetary. So, what can we do to roll back these trends? Sarah shares several suggestions, including whistleblower protections, transparent speech codes, and programs that educate vulnerable students on how to exercise their freedom anonymously, when necessary.

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Join us on September 4 at 7pm ET for our Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion - Beyond the Panel: Implementing Pluralistic Practice in Social Work Education.

Building on the foundational discussions from the 2025 Heterodox Academy Conference panel "Promoting Pluralism in Practice," this follow-up session examines the practical challenges and opportunities that emerge when translating pluralistic principles into real-world social work contexts. While the initial panel established the theoretical framework for fostering viewpoint diversity and intellectual humility within the profession, this discussion delves deeper into the implementation barriers and systemic changes needed to sustain these approaches. Panelists will present case studies and lessons learned from early adopters who have begun integrating pluralistic methodologies into their educational curricula, clinical practice, and organizational structures, addressing critical questions about navigating institutional resistance, developing effective pedagogical innovations, and creating supportive environments for constructive disagreement while maintaining professional standards. Drawing from ongoing initiatives by ProSocial Workers, the Institute for Liberal Values, and partner organizations, participants will engage with practical strategies for building coalitions across ideological divides, managing conflict in multidisciplinary teams, and measuring the impact of pluralistic approaches on client outcomes and professional satisfaction, concluding with a roadmap for expanding these practices and sustaining momentum within the broader social work community.

Add to Calendar

]]><![CDATA[For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Death of Knowledge with Lyell Asher]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/for-whom-the-bell-tolls-the-deathhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/for-whom-the-bell-tolls-the-deathFri, 22 Aug 2025 05:02:03 GMTIn 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Lyell Asher. In the update to his original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where he gave us suggestions on ways to “hack” DEI, we explore what has changed since 2022. His methods of introducing complexity and nuance into DEI conversations remains a viable “hack” for DEI, but we note that the fervor for DEI training has subsided or maybe gone underground. However, what has not changed much is the rise of the “bureaucratic class” in academia, responsible for implementing ideological pedagogy that maligns the pursuit of knowledge.

Podcast Notes:

Lyell’s Original Counterweight Presentation on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion

How Ed Schools Became a Menace to Higher Education, Lyell Asher in Quillette

Look Who’s Talking About Equity, Lyell Asher in Quillette

Understanding Ed School Ideology and Dysfunction | Lyell Asher, Hold my Drink Podcast (now Dissidents Podcast)

Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories, E.D. Hirsch

The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them, E.D. Hirsch

How The Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle Over School Choice, Robert Pondiscio

Undoctrinate: How Politicized Classrooms Harm Kids and Ruin Our Schools―and What We Can Do About It, Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder

Episode 47: Undoctrinating the Classroom | Bonnie Snyder, Hold my Drink Podcast (now Dissidents Podcast)

The Longing for Total Revolution: Philosophic Sources of Social Discontent from Rousseau to Marx and Nietzsche, Bernard Yack

Why Colleges are Becoming Cults, Lyell Asher on YouTube

The Cultural Matrix: Understanding Black Youth, Orlando Patterson

Soft White Underbelly, YouTube Channel

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

]]><![CDATA[Rage Against the Algorithm: Terminating AI's Moral Misalignment]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/rage-against-the-algorithm-terminatinghttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/rage-against-the-algorithm-terminatingFri, 15 Aug 2025 05:04:12 GMTWe have a lot of questions about AI. Maybe you do too. If you follow our work you’ll note that we’ve done several presentations on AI (Reimagining the Academy Panel Discussion, and This is Your Brain on AI Dissidents Podcast). To get a better grasp on both the problems and opportunities, we invited Robert “RSnake” Hansen, a tech security guru and author of the book, AI’s Best Friend, to our podcast. Our conversation centers on the moral alignment of AI. The divergence between censorship and alignment is discussed, which touches on the issue of bad actors in the design on AI. While we work to “raise” AI from infancy into what we hope can model a “best friend”, one of the tools we have to monitor the progression is transparency. We know that China’s DeepSeek leans heavily on censorship; Gemini leans politically left; Grok leans right. These evaluations and critiques are important as we find the best way forward in this new landscape. But will it be enough? If AI can do wonderful things beyond human capacity, like cure cancer, are we ok losing some of our autonomy “to the machine”?

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

]]><![CDATA[Unconditional Political Regard: Addressing Political and Cultural Blinds Spots in Therapy]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/unconditional-political-regard-addressinghttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/unconditional-political-regard-addressingFri, 08 Aug 2025 05:02:26 GMTDr. Nafees Alam and Matt Watson interview Andrew Hartz, founder of the Open Therapy Institute. They discuss the impact of political issues on mental health training, the importance of addressing bias in therapy, and the need for cultural competence that includes diverse sociopolitical values. Hartz shares insights on diverse approaches in therapy, the significance of self-censorship, and the challenges of navigating emotional responses in therapy sessions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care and building awareness of diverse perspectives in mental health.

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

Join us for our August Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion Livestream - Bridging Perspectives: Cultivating Pluralism in the Classroom

As students nationwide anticipate the start of a compelling new school year, our distinguished panel explores the inspirational and actionable dimensions of embedding pluralism within educational settings. Mike Whitenton from Interfaith America will outline innovative approaches his organization employs to equip institutions in navigating differences—spanning religious, cultural, and ideological realms—to foster collaboration and deeper mutual insight. Nafees Alam will introduce his engaging point-counterpoint methodology, designed to instill in students the discipline of empathetic perspective-taking. Matt Watson from ProSocial Workers will explore the profound implications of viewpoint diversity and bridge-building skills in professional spheres and interpersonal dynamics.

Mark Your Calendar

Join us for our August Liberal Values Lab - Classical Education Properly Understood is Inevitably Radical, Not Conservative

When we hear the phrase ‘classical education’ in a K-12 context, the assumption is that we are in the company of educators holding a conservative perspective, in many cases including educators with conservative Christian (or in rare cases Jewish) religious convictions. But if – as these educators certainly claim – we are going to read the canon of the great books with seriousness and open-mindedness, the results are more likely to be radical than conservative. This talk will provide arguments to support this perhaps surprising claim.

Mark Your Calendar

]]><![CDATA[Hate Parties and Digital Campfires: The Social Nature of Online Aggression]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/hate-parties-and-digital-campfireshttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/hate-parties-and-digital-campfiresFri, 01 Aug 2025 05:02:22 GMTThis week Elizabeth is joined by Ryan Tsapatsaris for a discussion about the complex world of online communities focused on aggression and hate. We draw insights from the book Social Processes of Online Hate as well as Ryan’s own research and expertise in the area. While most of us assume that attackers are laser focused on their targets and on affecting some change, the evidence suggests that attackers are more interested in themselves and in impressing one another. Far more time is spent celebrating, reminiscing, cross-posting, and bragging about their own behaviors than on discussing their target or the target’s behaviors. Ryan shares examples and his knowledge about platforms like 4chan, the dynamics of anonymity and status, subculture language, and the gamification of online cancellations. We also spend time talking about “concern trolling” and explore why it works particularly well when directed toward a university or organization. Listen while we work to unpack online hate and its implications for society.

Podcast notes

Ryan’s article on 4chan: https://oilab.eu/the-bakers-guild-the-secret-order-countering-4chans-affordances/

OILab, an Amsterdam-based network of interdisciplinary scholars scrutinizing political subcultures on the fringe corners of the Web: https://oilab.eu/

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture by Whitney Phillips: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262529877/this-is-why-we-cant-have-nice-things/

Cancel Culture: Tales from the Front Lines by Paul du Quenoy: https://www.academicapress.com/node/523

Walther J. B., Rice R. E. (Eds). (2025). Social process of online hate. Routledge: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/92521

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

Join us for our August Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion Livestream - Bridging Perspectives: Cultivating Pluralism in the Classroom

As students nationwide anticipate the start of a compelling new school year, our distinguished panel explores the inspirational and actionable dimensions of embedding pluralism within educational settings. Mike Whitenton from Interfaith America will outline innovative approaches his organization employs to equip institutions in navigating differences—spanning religious, cultural, and ideological realms—to foster collaboration and deeper mutual insight. Nafees Alam will introduce his engaging point-counterpoint methodology, designed to instill in students the discipline of empathetic perspective-taking. Matt Watson from ProSocial Workers will explore the profound implications of viewpoint diversity and bridge-building skills in professional spheres and interpersonal dynamics.

Mark Your Calendar

Join us for our August Liberal Values Lab - Classical Education Properly Understood is Inevitably Radical, Not Conservative

When we hear the phrase ‘classical education’ in a K-12 context, the assumption is that we are in the company of educators holding a conservative perspective, in many cases including educators with conservative Christian (or in rare cases Jewish) religious convictions. But if – as these educators certainly claim – we are going to read the canon of the great books with seriousness and open-mindedness, the results are more likely to be radical than conservative. This talk will provide arguments to support this perhaps surprising claim.

Mark Your Calendar

]]><![CDATA[The Color of Truth: Redefining American Identity]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-color-of-truth-redefining-americanhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-color-of-truth-redefining-americanFri, 11 Jul 2025 05:03:12 GMTOn the eve of July 4th, co-authors Jennifer Richmond and Winkfield Twyman joined Equiano Project Head of Content Ada Akpala for an insightful conversation about blackness and race identity with noted podcaster Danielle Romero.

A native of Troy, New York, Danielle discovered one day that her putative French and Irish maternal great grandmother Lola Perot had spent all her married life passing for white in New York. In fact, Lola was born Creole (colored) in Louisiana. In a fascinating roundtable, we explore where does Romero land in our country's obsession with racial identity? What does it mean when a European American discovers the story of one's family was a racial lie? Is it possible that Romero's origin story can bring us closer to connection in our universal humanity? Is the true impact of Danielle's story not her ancestor who passed for white, but that Danielle's mixed ancestry is a lens into our racial future as Americans?

In a sense, Danielle is the tip of a spear. More and more Americans will discover they are of multiple ancestry groups over time. Come join us for an hour with a national leader in the hunt for identity sans race.

Podcast notes

Danielle Romero’s Podcast, NYTN

The Equiano Project

My great grandmother hid who she was. 20 years later I understand why | Opinion, The Tennessean, Danielle Romero

Race Is Beginning to Bore Me, Winkfield Twyman, Jr.

Winkfield’s Substack
Race Is Beginning to Bore Me
In a text message today, I informed my co-author Jennifer (Jen) Richmond that race was beginning to bore me. Let me explain what I mean by boredom…
Read more
2 years ago · 15 likes · 4 comments · Winkfield Twyman

The Legacies of Black Pioneers: The Problem with Black Excellence with Ada Akpala, The Dissidents Podcast

Are Light-Skinned People the White People of the Black Community? Winkfield Twyman, Jr.

Winkfield’s Substack
Are Light-Skinned People the White People of the Black Community?
As my readers know, we are color indifferent within my family. No one cared. And the same applied when I was growing up in my family back in Chester, Virginia. I don’t understand people who are so color-struck in the modern age, particularly young women and men…
Read more
a year ago · 3 likes · Winkfield Twyman

The Souls of Black Folk, Winkfield Twyman, Jr.

Winkfield’s Substack
The Souls of Black Folk
One-hundred and twenty years ago, W.E.B. Du Bois published The Souls of Black Folk.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Souls_of_Black_Folk For generations of writers, scholars and intellectuals, the idea of Black consciousness beyond the color line has informed the way we think, and write, about race. I suggest the brilliance of Du Bois in 1903 is compara…
Read more
3 years ago · 7 likes · 2 comments · Winkfield Twyman

This is Your Brain on AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Dissidents Podcast,

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

]]><![CDATA[A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swinginghttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swingingFri, 27 Jun 2025 04:02:38 GMTIn this week’s podcast, Jennifer Richmond sits down with Dmitri Shufutinsky’s to discuss his latest article for White Rose Magazine, A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging. In his article Shufutinsky argues that a faction he terms the "Woke Right" has emerged within conservative movements, mirroring the identity politics and grievance-based ideology of the progressive left while simply reversing the targets and victims.

We discuss key figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Joe Rogan, and Jackson Hinkle as representatives of this movement. Shufutinsky contends that rather than rejecting woke ideology entirely, they've adopted its methods while positioning straight, Christian white men as the new victim class. This manifests through historical revisionism (including Holocaust revisionism), anti-Semitism disguised as "just asking questions," and the weaponization of Christian slogans like "Christ is King" for tribal signaling.

In foreign policy, Shufutinsky argues the Woke Right paradoxically supports America's adversaries, particularly Russia and Iran, while opposing support for Ukraine and Israel. He finds it particularly troubling that supposed conservatives would back Putin's Russia despite its low church attendance, high abortion rates, and authoritarian nature that contradicts traditional conservative values. He also emphasizes that the idea of America First, shouldn’t be America Only, which seems to be part of the messaging behind this movement’s foreign policy initiatives.

Shufutinsky warns that this movement undermines genuine conservative goals by providing ammunition to the progressive left, potentially causing the political pendulum to swing back even harder toward woke leftism. Instead of achieving the "common sense" governance many voters sought in 2024, the Woke Right perpetuates the same divisive dynamics it claims to oppose.

Shufutinsky concludes by calling for a more responsible conservative approach that maintains strong alliances, supports genuine diversity and merit, and avoids both extremes of woke ideology to preserve American strength and Western civilization.

Podcast notes

A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinsky

Nation of Victims, Vivek Ramaswamy

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

]]><![CDATA[Challenging Ideological Conformity in Social Work Education]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/challenging-ideological-conformityhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/challenging-ideological-conformityFri, 13 Jun 2025 08:30:27 GMTIn this timely episode, FAIR Executive Director Monica Harris, joined by Gabriel Nadales and Suzannah Alexander, examines the troubling rise of mandated ideological conformity across professional education programs with Zander Keig and Nafees Alam. Following FAIR's groundbreaking formal complaint to the Department of Education against CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs) for compelling students to adopt specific ideological positions on race and privilege, the panel explores how similar patterns of coerced belief systems have infiltrated social work, medical, legal, and K-12 education programs nationwide. The discussion delves into real-world consequences for students who face academic penalties for expressing dissenting views or religious beliefs that conflict with prescribed ideologies, while offering concrete strategies for promoting genuine viewpoint diversity and protecting students' constitutional rights. As the conversation unfolds, the panelists thoughtfully consider whether FAIR's approach to challenging CACREP could serve as a model for addressing ideological conformity enforced by other accrediting bodies, such as the CSWE (Council on Social Work Education), ultimately asking whether the time has come for a broader movement to restore intellectual freedom and critical thinking in professional education.

Podcast notes

FAIR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and liberties, and promoting a common culture grounded in fairness, understanding, and humanity.

Check out FAIR at https://www.fairforall.org/ and their "American Experience Curriculum" at https://www.fairforall.org/american-experience-curriculum/

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

Donate

Join the conversation in our June Liberal Values Panel Discussion, Reimagining the Academy: AI, Liberal Education, and the Future of Learning.

This panel examines the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on higher education within the context of liberal values. As AI technologies reshape teaching methodologies, research capabilities, and institutional operations, we explore how colleges and universities can integrate these tools while preserving the core tenets of liberal education—critical thinking, intellectual pluralism, and the pursuit of knowledge as a public good. Distinguished panelists will address pressing questions about academic integrity in an era of generative AI, the ethics of algorithmic decision-making in admissions and assessment, and how technological innovation might either exacerbate or ameliorate existing inequalities in higher education access. The discussion aims to articulate a vision for AI adoption that enhances rather than diminishes the humanistic foundations of higher learning, balancing technological efficiency with the enduring values of open inquiry and democratic education.

Mark Your Calendar

]]><![CDATA[In Vogue but Out of Style: The Persistent Myth of Learning Styles in Education]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/in-vogue-but-out-of-style-the-persistenthttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/in-vogue-but-out-of-style-the-persistentSat, 07 Jun 2025 02:00:24 GMTIn this week's episode clinical psychologist Patrick Lockwood joins Elizabeth for a discussion about why, despite all evidence to the contrary, beliefs in learning styles remain strong. We talk about the psychological and institutional forces that promote the myth including the countless journal articles, opinion pieces and websites that make fuzzy suggestions about neuroscience and other vague claims few individual learners and teachers are capable of evaluating for accuracy. Our desires for uniqueness, to blame forces outside our control when we perform at or below average, confirmation biases, and the ubiquitousness of the myth are just a few of the reasons we can perhaps forgive individuals for succumbing to the learning style grift. More egregious is that institutions continue to cling to them. Learning styles are actively taught to future teachers in schools of education, to students of all ages in K-12 classrooms, in tutoring centers, and of course, touted in online forums. Patrick and Elizabeth share literature that debunks learning styles and take the listener on a brief tour of learning habits and strategies that are supported by research.

Podcast notes

Brown SBRE (2023) The persistence of matching teaching and learning styles: A review of the ubiquity of this neuromyth, predictors of its endorsement, and recommendations to end it. Front. Educ. 8:1147498. Link: Brown Myth of Learning Styles

Link to University of Michigan Teaching and Technology summary: Myth of Learning Styles

Rohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2012). Learning styles: Where’s the evidence? Medical Education, 46, 34-35: Where's the Evidence?

Dr. Lockwood has worked for non-profits, treatment centers, has trained with experts in the field of addiction treatment, and worked at every level of the mental health and addiction treatment industry for the past 15 years. He has a podcast on YouTube about topics related to mental health, wellness, psychology, and neuroscience. He is the author of “The Fear Problem,” a book integrating the neuroscience and evolutionary psychology of our fear process to explain why we get triggered by politics and other “hot topics.” Currently Dr. Lockwood teaches at California Lutheran University and is the COO of Oak Forest Recovery Center. Patrick's website:

https://www.lockwoodconsultingsolutions.com/

Patrick's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPatrickLockwood

His Twitter handle is @DoctorLockwood

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

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Join the conversation in our June Liberal Values Panel Discussion, Reimagining the Academy: AI, Liberal Education, and the Future of Learning.

This panel examines the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on higher education within the context of liberal values. As AI technologies reshape teaching methodologies, research capabilities, and institutional operations, we explore how colleges and universities can integrate these tools while preserving the core tenets of liberal education—critical thinking, intellectual pluralism, and the pursuit of knowledge as a public good. Distinguished panelists will address pressing questions about academic integrity in an era of generative AI, the ethics of algorithmic decision-making in admissions and assessment, and how technological innovation might either exacerbate or ameliorate existing inequalities in higher education access. The discussion aims to articulate a vision for AI adoption that enhances rather than diminishes the humanistic foundations of higher learning, balancing technological efficiency with the enduring values of open inquiry and democratic education.

Mark Your Calendar

]]><![CDATA[Decolonization: Erasure or Diversity?]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/decolonization-erasure-or-diversityhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/decolonization-erasure-or-diversityFri, 30 May 2025 05:02:36 GMTIn 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Brandy Shufutinsky. In the update to her original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where she highlighted anti-black racism and antisemitism and the ties between the two, we explore what has changed since 2022, especially in light of the Oct 7 2023 massacre of Israeli citizens and the current conversations around Israel and Palestine. The “Global Intifada” is a strange marriage of Islamist and left-wing extremism, often called the red-green coalition. While it is often easy to spot extreme right-wing antisemitism, the red-green version of antisemitism is often unacknowledged. This does not result in the proliferation of diversity and inclusion but rather an erasure of history and the erosion of common values.

You can find Brandy’s original presentation here.

Podcast notes

A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinsky

Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Minorities, Eric Kaufmann

Vatican nativity scene showing baby Jesus on a keffiyeh removed after backlash

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Join the conversation in our June Liberal Values Lab, Publish & Perish: Academe in the Age of Social Media.

Social media has impacted every aspect of social life and academia is no exception. Like society at large, the results have been decidedly mixed. On one hand, social media has made scholarship more accessible to the public. On the other, the visibility and publicity afforded by these technologies have also been used in negative ways, particularly by academics themselves. For nearly a decade, academics have weaponized social media to defame or vilify other scholars with whom they disagree. In his research, Ryan terms this practice “academic cancel campaign[s]”, and its attendant climate, “academic cancel culture”. Through a series of case studies, drawn from thousands of social media posts and interactions, he provides a descriptive analysis of how academic cancel campaigns coalesce and function. Ryan contextualizes these campaigns in light of both the rise of critical theory in the academy and the specific platforms that are amenable to their genesis. Understanding academic cancel culture as providing a blueprint for contemporary governmental intrusion into university procedure, he concludes with some suggestions for campuses and other intellectual institutions to protect academic freedom, liberal values, and pluralism.

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]]><![CDATA[This is Your Brain on AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/this-is-your-brain-on-ai-the-goodhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/this-is-your-brain-on-ai-the-goodFri, 23 May 2025 05:03:10 GMTIn this week's episode Winkfield Twyman Jr. joins Elizabeth to explore our lay view of the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. Our discussion is guided by several reports, popular press articles, and opinion pieces that expose different types of challenges and perspectives. We start with education. teaching, and learning. We include concerns about the effects of AI on information literacy, diversity of thought, and how it has impacted the societal and personal value placed on knowledge. We talk about AI risks and opportunities in research, medicine, psychology, and relationships. Wink marvels at the ability to personalize most any intervention to get targeted AI help with tasks both big and small. Unsurprisingly, he focuses on the positive, while Elizabeth reminds us of the downsides.

Podcast notes

Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College

The Veldt

AI is Amazing

The (artificial intelligence) therapist can see you now

Alien Intelligence or How We All Became Captain Dunsel

How Humans Respond When the Ground Shifts Beneath Them

Meet the Women with AI Boyfriends

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Join the conversation in our May Faith & Liberalism Panel Discussion, Defining Agnosticim.

In this panel, we explore the nuanced journey from structured religious upbringings to personalized spiritual identities that exist outside institutional frameworks. We articulate a compelling perspective on agnosticism not as mere doubt or indecision, but as an intentional spiritual stance that embraces uncertainty while maintaining a profound connection with a creator. The conversation examines how questioning, rather than being antithetical to faith, can lead to an authentic spiritual relationship—one based on ethical behavior and personal connection rather than ritualistic adherence or fear. Reconciling scientific curiosity with spiritual longing, we consider how liberal approaches to faith might honor individual paths to meaning-making while preserving the essence of divine connection. This dialogue invites viewers and listeners to reconsider traditional boundaries between belief and non-belief, suggesting that spiritual authenticity may sometimes require stepping beyond organized religion's constraints.

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]]><![CDATA[Liberal Alternatives to State Coercion in Economic Affairs]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/liberal-alternatives-to-state-coercionhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/liberal-alternatives-to-state-coercionFri, 16 May 2025 04:02:13 GMTIn this episode of The Dissident Podcast, James & Chris explore some of the legal, political, and moral arguments that undercut the basis for the modern welfare-regulatory state - which sees coercive powers concentrated in a central government body that intervenes into most human affairs, often in illiberal ways that pit one interest group against another or prioritize the interests of those in power. They show why it can only ever be that way under the current paradigm, regardless of who is in charge. With a particular focus on welfare & IP regimes, they go on to discuss & debate some novel alternatives that could take the place of the current concentrated power structure while yielding safer & more productive outcomes for all citizens. Such liberal alternatives can also still solve many of the human challenges that the prevailing coercive systems seek to remedy.

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Join the conversation in our May Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion: Beyond Ideological Mandates in Social Work Education.

This panel discussion aims to critically examine the current state of social work education, exploring whether ideological mandates have undermined the profession's commitment to viewpoint diversity, academic freedom, and evidence-based practice. Drawing on perspectives from educators and practitioners, the session will address concerns about the adoption of critical theories that may narrow pedagogical approaches, inhibit intellectual exploration, and potentially compromise client-centered care. Panelists will discuss the tension between advancing social justice goals and maintaining professional integrity, while proposing frameworks that balance advocacy with respect for diverse worldviews, political perspectives, and clinical approaches in social work education to better prepare practitioners for effective service across varied communities.

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]]><![CDATA[Strength, Science and Society: Two Gym Rats Discuss How Their Fitness Journey Complements a Liberal Mindset]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/strength-science-and-society-twohttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/strength-science-and-society-twoFri, 09 May 2025 05:02:12 GMTIn this episode of The Dissident Podcast, Jennifer Richmond and Nafees Alam dive into an engaging conversation on the intersections of fitness, mental health, faith, and societal challenges. Beginning with personal stories of their fitness journeys, they explore how physical well-being impacts mental clarity, self-awareness, and day-to-day productivity. Drawing on new scientific insights into gender-specific fitness practices, Jennifer reflects on her own realizations about training and physiology, while Nafees shares his perspective on how fitness builds resilience and fosters intellectual growth.

The discussion expands to broader societal topics, including the role of biology in shaping conversations around gender, trans inclusion in sports, and the implications for fairness and personal identity. With compassion and curiosity, they navigate the complexities of these issues while offering potential solutions, such as the idea of separating sports leagues into "female" and "women's" categories. They also explore the critical role of diet and exercise in addressing mental health concerns, with a focus on long-term habits and scientific research.

Through humor, humility, and thought-provoking dialogue, Jennifer and Nafees challenge listeners to embrace self-awareness, seek balance between individuality and inclusivity, and approach divisive topics with kindness and curiosity. This episode is a call to action for listeners to reflect on their health, values, and the role of reason in creating a more connected and compassionate society.

Podcast Notes:

Fair, Inclusive & Safe: A Transgender Sports Policy Panel Discussion

From Worriers to Warriors: The Cultural Rise of Women with Cory Clark

Transform Your Mental Health With Diet & Lifestyle | Dr. Chris Palmer, Huberman Lab

The Body Reset: How Women Should Eat & Exercise for Health, Fat Loss, & Enery, Mel Robbins Podcast

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Join the conversation in our May Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion: Beyond Ideological Mandates in Social Work Education.

This panel discussion aims to critically examine the current state of social work education, exploring whether ideological mandates have undermined the profession's commitment to viewpoint diversity, academic freedom, and evidence-based practice. Drawing on perspectives from educators and practitioners, the session will address concerns about the adoption of critical theories that may narrow pedagogical approaches, inhibit intellectual exploration, and potentially compromise client-centered care. Panelists will discuss the tension between advancing social justice goals and maintaining professional integrity, while proposing frameworks that balance advocacy with respect for diverse worldviews, political perspectives, and clinical approaches in social work education to better prepare practitioners for effective service across varied communities.

Mark Your Calendar

]]><![CDATA[In Search of a Third Space in Trans Care and Conversation with Zander Keig]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/third-space-in-trans-care-and-conversationhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/third-space-in-trans-care-and-conversationFri, 25 Apr 2025 08:00:22 GMTIn 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Zander Keig. In his update to his original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where he shared elegant ways to emphasize heterodox views in trans care, Zander updates us on how the conversation on trans identity has changed over the past three years. Zander continues to approach the conversation always centering the individual and the search for “third spaces” to navigate “third rail” issues. Zander reviews some big changes over the past three years, including the recently discussed science that suggests that rapid and rabid adherence to sex change as a solution for exploring gender identity, may need reconsideration. Unfortunately, what has not changed is the polarization that continues to hijack the conversation, making genuine progress elusive.

You can find his original presentation here.

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Tomorrow we continue our faith and liberalism journey with the livestream: Faith and Reason.

As American & Western societies grow more secular, traditional faith-based moral frameworks have been increasingly marginalized. Yet this decline in religiosity has coincided with the rise of illiberal currents across the political spectrum. Some argue that Liberalism’s future depends on a return to religious roots; others see reasonand empirical inquiry as its only reliable guardians. But beyond the religion vs. no-religion debate lies a deeper question: what are the underlying epistemologies that shape our moral and political lives? Can reason and faith— often framed as opposites — be reconciled in defense of liberal values, or are they ultimately in tension? This panel brings together voices from across the spectrum to probe the compatibility of faith and reason, the foundations of morality, and the challenges liberal societies face in respecting plural worldviews without sacrificing rational discourse.

Watch Live

]]><![CDATA[The Boys are Back: The Unique Social Contributions of Men and Masculinity]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-boys-are-back-the-unique-socialhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-boys-are-back-the-unique-socialFri, 18 Apr 2025 07:02:00 GMTIn this week's episode we honor the importance of men and masculine traits for a functioning society and human survival, for productive and enjoyable interactions, and for the sake of diversity. That's right, Nafees Alam joins Elizabeth to talk about men--men in the gym, men in the classroom, men and ideology, men's portrayal in the media, masculinity, and relationships. We use as a jumping off point an article about the importance of both belonging and uniqueness. The author argues that young men may feel excluded and unvalued in the current socio-political environment. When society's focus shifts to include and pay tribute to the distinctiveness of some (e.g. women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+), the special and important contributions of other individuals and groups may naturally be set aside. Elizabeth and Nafees admit to seeing the basic human needs of belonging and uniqueness reflected in their own behavioral choices and preferences and wonder if this an unavoidable cycle inherent to human societal development. If so, can we all (particularly men in today's society) find ways to define and nurture our own sense of belonging and uniqueness so that cycles will be less personally and socially costly? Nafees helps us close on a positive note because above all, he believes in a resilient society.

Podcast notes

Versteegen, P. L. (2025). Trump Voters’ social position in U.S. Society: Uniqueness and radical‐right support. Political Psychology, 46(1), 145–165.

How toxic masculinity becomes necessary masculinity

Celebrating strong, independent men

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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Respected researchers, including Lee Jussim, recently released an informative paper that underlines the limitations of DEI Programs - Instructing Animosity: How DEI Pedagogy Produces the Hostile Attribution Bias. We've invited Lee his colleagues, Nate Bork, Danit Finkelstein and Anne Wilson, to dig into this research and see if there is another path forward or if we should just let DEI, DIE.

According to the paper's abstract, DEI programs purport to cultivate inclusive environments for people from diverse backgrounds and encourage greater empathy in interpersonal interactions. A key component of DEI offerings lies in diversity pedagogy: Lectures, trainings and educational resources ostensibly designed to educate participants about their prejudice and bias in order to eliminate discrimination. As institutions across corporate and educational sectors increasingly embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their foundational strategies, it is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of common aspects of this pedagogy.

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]]><![CDATA[Fair, Inclusive & Safe: A Transgender Sports Policy Panel Discussion]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/fair-inclusive-and-safe-a-transgenderhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/fair-inclusive-and-safe-a-transgenderFri, 11 Apr 2025 04:01:54 GMTIn this bonus episode, we share the recording of our Liberal Values in Practice livestream about transgender sports policies. The panelists, Social Work Professor Nafees Alam, Psychotherapist Stella O'Malley, and author and Social Worker Zander Keig, discuss the nuance and complexities of balancing competitive fairness with inclusivity. They explore scientific research, share their relevant lived experiences, examine multiple perspectives, and consider policy frameworks that aim to protect the dignity and opportunities of all athletes. Concerns about competitive equity and transgender rights are explored with respect and a commitment to liberal values.

Podcast notes

Point / Counterpoint: Transgender Sport Participation Policy, Matt Moore and Nafees Alam

The Third Space: A Nonconformist's Guide to the Universe, Zander Keig

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

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Have questions about Ukraine? You're not alone. So we asked our Advisor, Ken Pope, Senior Fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to a bonus lab to pick his brain.

This lab will explore Putin's war in Ukraine, why it happened, where we are and how it will likely end. Our lab will help you better understand the conflict but equally important Russia, how it works and the current authoritarian in charge. In Feb 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in what was an illegitimate war of choice according to many and a war of necessity for Russia’s survival to others. We’ll dive into the why of Russia’s war on Ukraine and by extension the West and the debate surrounding this conflict in the US and Europe. This debate misses many key factors and much nuance. Both sides of the argument result to slogan slinging versus getting after the legitimate life and death issues of this war. We'll discuss the current state of the war, examine why there is no easy solution to ending it and that in any "final" solution no one will get everything they want.

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]]><![CDATA[Where Do We Go from Here: The Elusiveness of Peace in Ukraine]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/where-do-we-go-from-here-the-elusivenesshttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/where-do-we-go-from-here-the-elusivenessFri, 04 Apr 2025 09:30:05 GMTIn this week's episode Ken Pope indulges Jen, Matt and Elizabeth in a discussion of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Ken, a retired Army officer, shares his personal experiences of living and working in both Ukraine and Russia. He patiently listens to our often naive and occasionally probing questions and does his best to answer in language we can understand without sacrificing the complex nature of the problems and potential solutions. He is tired of the slogans and name calling, which are unproductive and tribally motivated, and offers historical context as well as a pragmatic contemporary perspective on the issues we face. Ken is critical of all sides, particularly NATO, which he suggests must step up to ensure peace in the long term. Join Ken for a follow up Liberal Values Lab, Putin’s War in Ukraine, on April 17 at 7pm ET, live on ILV’s YouTube or X (@ilvalues).

Podcast notes

What the U.S. Has to Gain from Supporting Ukraine

Ending Russia’s War: Why Ukraine’s Victory Is Crucial

Ukraine’s growing military strength is an underrated factor in peace talks

The Strategic and Military Pathways to a Peaceful Ukrainian Settlement

To Really Get Peace in Ukraine, Consider Why Putin Started the War

Mark Your Calendar

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

*To sponsor a specific event with your name or logo, please reach out directly to admin@ilvalues.org*

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James LaRue returns to ILV during National Library Week to give us an update on recent trends in book banning and censorship. He sees a shift from personal and ideological challenges to political intimidation and threats. School and public libraries remain under the microscope, and the emerging political tactics should concern us all. In one example, legislation calls for the arrest and jailing of school and public librarians for providing "inappropriate materials" to minors, regardless of educational merit. Pressure and tactics that limit availability of resources for all are making their way into higher education. Threats to government funding are creating chilling effects on college and university campuses, suppressing academic freedom and free speech, and limiting campus libraries’ materials and service.

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]]><![CDATA[The Pursuit of Truth: Curiosity over Compliance with Will Reusch]]>https://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-pursuit-of-truth-curiosity-overhttps://ilvalues.substack.com/p/the-pursuit-of-truth-curiosity-overFri, 28 Mar 2025 08:15:49 GMTIn 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think?

This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Will Reusch. In his update to her original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where he shared practical tips for difficult conversations and communicating across divides, Will shares with us his latest work on how to Brainwash-proof kids. Despite DEI being on the wane across America, Will tells us that they are now too often baked into K12 academic standards, making them more difficult to dismiss. As education becomes more decentralized with the rise of new school opportunities, Will is taking the momentum to move education from an obedience model that values compliance over curiosity, with his own online courses. His ultimate aim in creating Patterdox is the pursuit of truth that rewards curiosity and critical thinking.

You can find his original conference presentation here.

Podcast notes

Will's socials: ⁠

https://www.instagram.com/willreusch/⁠ ⁠

https://x.com/teecherreusch⁠

Website: ⁠www.patterdox.com⁠

The Brainwash Proof masterclass can be accessed here: ⁠https://patterdox.com/masterclass⁠

Patterdox Online Course Samples:

Gender: ⁠

Critical Social Justice: ⁠

Please consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.

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Join us as a sponsor for our upcoming Liberalism in Practice Panel Discussion and Liberal Values Labs. Be a Founding “Dissident” Subscriber and join us for monthly planning and brainstorming calls.

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