presented by
Prize Gala
Past honorees
Founder of Turning Point USA
Professor, Harvard Law School
Award-winning comedy writer and director
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
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.
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 RealClear Samizdat Prize honors those who have paid a price for telling the truth. A look back at recipients from past years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highlights from the 2025 Gala
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.
