#199. The Legal and Cultural History of Hate Speech

Samantha Barbas is a legal and cultural historian and the author of several books on media history and legal history topics, with a focus on journalism, privacy, defamation, and the First Amendment. A Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, she is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Award. Samantha was previously on Delving In three years ago to discuss her book, Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan, about the landmark case that reaffirmed freedom of the press by establishing a high bar for libel suits against journalists. Today’s interview will focus on her latest book, Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma, due to be published on September 15, 2026.

Recorded 9/2/26.