Few people have been as influential as Dave Rubin in the new media movement and fight for free speech. He not only helped expose Big Tech's censorship but also built an alternative platform that enabled other contrarian voices to speak out. Where is new media headed next? Why are Tucker Carlson and others attacking Churchill or dabbling in antisemitic conspiracy theories? And how should we respond to a "woke right"?

This week we're joined by the comedian-turned political commentator and entrepreneur who has amassed millions of followers. An original member of the intellectual dark web, Dave challenged the limits of "acceptable speech" early on. After Patreon started censoring right-wing voices, he created Locals, where free speech reigned and power was given back to creators (I was a small investor in Locals, which was later acquired by Rumble). Dave's efforts were key in providing oxygen to alternative media voices and pressuring Big Tech to reform. He's still expanding his influence in media with a new production network, and just launched a long-time passion project: his own tequila company — Copal. Check out their first reposado before it sells out.

We begin with Dave's recent visit to UATX, how AI is impacting education, and why he's creating an AI version of himself. Next, we dive into the origins of Locals and how Dave responded to censorship by building his own independent, free-speech platform. He also reveals what it was like inside YouTube during the heyday of Big Tech censorship and how the "Twitter Files" changed the world. Then, we take a tour of Dave's new tequila company before discussing the troubling rise of a "woke right," and why figures like Tucker Carlson are attacking Winston Churchill and flirting with antisemitic tropes. How should free speech advocates confront the spread of these bad ideas? We end with Dave's ideas for how to elevate our culture and move our collective dialogue in a positive direction.

[NOTE: this episode was recorded before the United States and Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities.]

00:00 Episode intro

01:57 Intellectual dark web & Dave's impression of UATX

04:37 Why Dave is making AI version of himself

08:45 The origins of Locals & Dave's fight for free speech

12:40 Dave's new tequila company

18:00 Should we trust a changed BigTech?

25:20 Tucker vs Churchill

33:30 The Woke Right?

38:00 Did the Democratic Party get hijacked?

46:00 Can optimism prevail over conspiracy theories?

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Ep 117: Dave Rubin on the Woke Right, Free Speech vs Conspiracy Theories & His New Tequila Company

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist