This Matters with Bill Britt

Belief, control and the real meaning of freedom

A society shifts from tolerance to control when belief is enforced, turning disagreement into obedience and eroding the foundation of freedom.

Bill Britt

Published on April 23, 2026 at 8:52 am CDT

What if we’ve been asking the wrong question about belief all along?

Using a powerful idea from Thomas Jefferson, this episode of “This Matters with Bill Britt” explores the difference between disagreement and control and why freedom depends on letting people believe differently. Britt argues a free society is built on restraint, tolerance and the right to be left alone—not forced agreement.

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Bill Britt

Bill Britt is editor-in-chief at the Alabama Political Reporter and host of The Voice of Alabama Politics. You can email him at [email protected].

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