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The De-Platformer’s Dilemma—John Eastman Edition (Guest Post By 1L Milo Ratner)

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The De-Platformer’s Dilemma—John Eastman Edition (Guest Post By 1L Milo Ratner) In a 2008 paper titled “Conspiracy Theories,” Cass R. Sunstein and Adrien Vermeule described the key dilemma involved in a government responding to a conspiracy theory. As they put it, “Ignoring the theory allows its proponents to draw ominous inferences from the government’s silence,” but “to rebut the theory may be t...
The Cornell Federalist Society's decision to host John Eastman exemplifies the "de-platformer's dilemma" described by Sunstein and Vermeule: ignoring conspiracy theories risks allowing them to fester, while engaging with them may legitimize them. Eastman's appearance at an Ivy League institution lends an air of credibility to his claims, despite his disbarment and criminal indictments. The Federalist Society's role as a conduit for such views raises questions about its broader influence in conse...