Naval Academy cancels speech by podcaster amid cultural turmoil
- The US Naval Academy canceled a lecture by Ryan Holiday after he refused to omit slides criticizing the removal of nearly 400 books from its library.
- Holiday expressed concern about censorship, stating that critical thinking is essential for future military leaders and emphasizing the importance of engaging with diverse ideas.
- The ACLU is suing the Department of Defense over policies affecting students at Defense Department schools, with classes and books being banned.
- A Navy spokesperson stated that the academy is an apolitical institution, emphasizing its mission to prepare midshipmen for careers of service.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Michael Eric Dyson: Hegseth purged two of my books on race. Did he actually read them?
Two of my books are among the 381 volumes that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered removed from the library of the U.S. Naval Academy because they were deemed to relate to the topics of diversity, equity or inclusion. The arbitrary removal of these books reveals a sophomoric approach to history by word search. That amateurish tactic of linking title and theme has already resulted in comical yet depressing results. A recent DEI purge at the…
Author Says Naval Academy Canceled His Lecture over Removed Book Reference
The Naval Academy canceled a speech by author and podcaster Ryan Holiday after he declined a request not to reference 381 books and literary works removed from its library as part of a review of diversity, equity and inclusion materials, according to an opinion piece he authored for The New York Times.

Naval Academy cancels speech by podcaster amid cultural turmoil
The Navy said it canceled a speaking engagement at its academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with popular podcaster and author Ryan Holiday because it wanted to steer clear of what it saw as political content aimed at young naval officers.
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