Interview: The GRANITE Act, explained by Preston Byrne

The GRANITE Act is a two-and-a-half-page bill designed to stop foreign governments from censoring Americans online.

Preston Byrne, the Managing Partner at Byrne & Storm, has spent over a decade advising tech companies on free speech questions. His work was instrumental in the introduction of the GRANITE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 27, 2026.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:10 How foreign governments censor Americans

3:34 The origins of sovereign immunity

6:40 197 demands, 4 refusals

8:58 Sovereign immunity in the courts

10:58 The GRANITE Act shield

12:37 The GRANITE Act sword

17:20 Where GRANITE stands in the states, House and Senate

This episode is presented by Altitude. Visit altitude.xyz/law to understand why.

Thank you to the other sponsors of this episode: Cahill Gordon & Reindel, the Solana Policy Institute and the Hyperliquid Policy Center.

Preston's Blog Post: https://prestonbyrne.com/2026/08/28/rulligranite/

GRANITE Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10174/text?s=1&r=1&hl=granite

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or investment advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their employers. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship.