The Samizdat Prize is an annual award given to journalists, scholars, and public figures who resisted censorship and stood for truth.

Prize Gala

March 2, 2027

The Breakers
Palm Beach, FL

Register for this year’s Gala →

Past honorees

Charlie Kirk

Founder of Turning Point USA

Alan Dershowitz

Professor, Harvard Law School

Graham Linehan

Award-winning comedy writer and director

RealClear presents The Samizdat Prize: an annual award honoring courageous journalists and public figures who did not flinch when censorship threatened. Samizdat – “self-publishing” in Russian – was the Soviet-era underground publication network.

The RealClear Samizdat Prize honors those who embody the spirit of last century’s Samizdat literary heroes. We celebrate the journalists and public figures who exhibit unwavering commitment to truth and free speech.

2027 Winners

Gad Saad

Author of the international bestselling book Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind, Dr. Gad Saad is a visiting professor at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi. He is also author of the 2020 book The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense and host of THE SAAD TRUTH podcast, which has yielded 50+ million views and downloads. His legion of global fans includes Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi.

Other 2027 Winners to Be Announced

Host Committee Sponsors

Elizabeth Ailes

Apricity Foundation

ATHOS

Carl Schramm & Ellyn Brown

Chronicles

Jeff Cunningham

DonorsTrust

Freedom Foundation

Jack Fowler

John K. Garvey

Scott D. Hayworth, MD &
Hon. Nan A.S. Hayworth, MD

Keybridge Communications

MediaPedia

Gerry Ohrstrom

Tom Rastin

The Jonathan & Evelyn Rose Silverman Family

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Smith

David & Laura Thayer

George Tidmarsh

The Honorable Hal Valeche

Real Clear media fund

RealClear Media Fund, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, in partnership with RealClear Media Group, supports journalistic efforts that strengthen America’s experiment in self-government, fulfilling the Fourth Estate’s constitutionally protected mission of searching for truth and reporting it without fear or favor.

Learn More

  
  Prior-Year Highlights

        Highlights From
Prior-Year Events
      
        A look back at the evenings that built the RealClear Samizdat Prize Gala — the honorees, the guests, and the setting that made each one unforgettable.
      
  Looking Back

          An evening for the voices that refuse to be silenced.
        
            Each year the RealClear Samizdat Prize Gala brings together writers, journalists, and champions of free expression to honor those who speak when it is easiest to stay quiet.
          
            Past evenings have welcomed celebrated honorees and distinguished guests to a night of recognition, conversation, and celebration — a tradition the 2027 gala is proud to continue.
          
The Samizdat Prize Gala dinner — RealClear Media Fund

  Past Winners
The RealClear Samizdat Prize honors those who have paid a price for telling the truth. A look back at recipients from past years.

        2026
        Samizdat Prize Recipients
      
Charlie Kirk (in memoriam)Founder of Turning Point USA
Charlie Kirk devoted his life to civil discourse at a moment when civil discourse was under assault. He traveled campus to campus, engaging young Americans across ideological lines, insisting that persuasion was still possible, and that disagreement can be civil and healthy.

Alan DershowitzProfessor, Harvard Law School
One of the world’s most recognized legal scholars, Dershowitz has taught, written, and litigated on law and public policy for more than 60 years. A former editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal, he taught at Harvard Law for 50 years and authored 63 books — a lifelong advocate for civil liberties.

Graham LinehanAward-Winning Comedy Writer & Director
Creator of Father Ted, Black Books, and The IT Crowd, and an Emmy and five-time BAFTA winner. In recent years he has become a prominent advocate for free expression and women’s rights, writing and speaking internationally on law and culture.

        2025
        Samizdat Prize Recipients
      
Abigail ShrierAuthor and Journalist
A bestselling author, essayist, and commentator whose writing explores culture, public policy, and social trends. Her work has appeared in major publications, and she is widely known for examining controversial issues through investigative reporting and analysis.

Jonathan TurleyProfessor, George Washington University Law School
A nationally recognized expert on constitutional law and civil liberties, bestselling author, and frequent legal commentator on free speech, government power, and the Constitution. His scholarship and advocacy have made him a leading voice in legal and policy debates.

Linda YaccarinoChief Executive Officer, X
A media and business executive serving as CEO of X. She previously spent more than a decade at NBCUniversal leading its global advertising business, and is widely recognized for her leadership at the intersection of technology, media, and communications.

        2024
        Samizdat Prize Recipients
      
Jay BhattacharyaDirector, National Institutes of Health
A physician, health economist, and researcher serving as Director of the NIH. A former Stanford professor with an M.D. and Ph.D. in economics, he has published more than 170 scholarly articles and has been a prominent voice in debates on healthcare and pandemic policy.

Miranda DevineColumnist, New York Post
An award-winning columnist whose commentary on politics, culture, and public affairs has appeared across the US, Australia, and the UK. She is the author of several books and is widely recognized for her reporting, commentary, and interviews on major issues.

Matt TaibbiIndependent Journalist and Author
An investigative journalist, bestselling author, and former contributing editor at Rolling Stone. In recent years he has written extensively on free speech, government transparency, and the relationship between media and public institutions.

Gala Images

Behind the Scenes
Stories of Censorship

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” hosts a panel with the winner’s of RealClearPolitics Samizdat Prize including Abigail Shrier, Jonathan Turley & Linda Yaccarino for their bravery in resisting censorship.

Photos from the Dinner

Photos from the Red Carpet

The Samizdat Prize is an annual award given to journalists, scholars, and public figures who resisted censorship and stood for truth.

Charlie Kirk

Alan Dershowitz

Graham Linehan

2027 Winners

Gad Saad

Highlights FromPrior-Year Events

An evening for the voices that refuse to be silenced.

Charlie Kirk (in memoriam)

Alan Dershowitz

Graham Linehan

Abigail Shrier

Jonathan Turley

Linda Yaccarino

Jay Bhattacharya

Miranda Devine

Matt Taibbi

Behind the Scenes Stories of Censorship

Photos from the Dinner

Photos from the Red Carpet

Photos from the Reception

Highlights From
Prior-Year Events

Behind the Scenes
Stories of Censorship