Free Speech
On Remand, the 5th Circuit Again Blocks a Lawsuit by a Texas Reporter Arrested for Newsgathering
Even if Laredo cops punished Priscilla Villarreal for constitutionally protected speech, the appeals court says, they would be protected by qualified immunity.
Florida Lawmakers Don't Want You To Know When a Cop Shoots Someone
The Sunshine State is considering a bill that would expand protections for law enforcement officers who use deadly force or cause great bodily harm.
Mark Clifford: A Political Prisoner Fights for Free Speech in China
The former editor in chief of the South China Morning Post discusses his book on Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial in Hong Kong for having the audacity to stand up to the government.
How Obama and Biden Paved the Way for Trump's Attacks on Universities
"Universities were bending over for federal funds long before Trump," writes Laura Kipnis.
Survey: Free Speech Support Is Eroding in America
A new global survey reveals a stark decline in Americans' support for free speech as the Trump administration tightens its grip on expression.
Leigh Stein and Julius Taranto: Did Wokeness and Trump Kill Literary Satire?
The novelists join the podcast for a sharp, satirical dive into fiction, free speech, and the absurdity of modern culture.
Can Trump Broker a TikTok Sale Before the April 5 Deadline?
The president seems optimistic. It's not clear why.
Nina Jankowicz's Defense of Government Censors Is Based on Misinformation
"Everything looks like a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works," said Jankowicz.
School Contractor Allegedly Fired for Complaining About Drag Show for Students in Grades 7-12
A federal court has allowed the contractor's claim to go forward, denying defendants' motion to dismiss (though of course the facts remain to be ascertained at trial or summary judgment).
Mississippi Says Medical Marijuana Is Legal—Just Don't Talk About It
The state legalized medical marijuana but banned dispensary owners from advertising. Now, one owner is taking the fight to the Supreme Court.
FCC Chair Investigates Disney Over Potential Past and Present DEI Policies
Disney scaled back DEI policies this year. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr still opened an investigation.
Brown University Targets Student Journalist for Emailing Administrators
Brown is violating its code of conduct, which guarantees community members’ right to petition the university.
Defending Student Deportations, Marco Rubio Equates Writing an Anti-Israel Op-Ed With Starting a Riot
The detention of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk illustrates the startling breadth of the authority the secretary of state is invoking.
"The 2024 Presidential Campaign Saw a Massive Disinformation and Misinformation Campaign, …
which likely helped bring the current administration into power."
Universities Should Challenge Trump's Speech-Based Deportations of Students in Court [Updated]
A lawsuit brought by universities could potentially be much more effective than leaving individual students to fend for themselves.
Marco Rubio Says He's Revoked 300 Student Visas Over Campus Activism
"We're looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up," Rubio said in a Thursday press conference.
Paul Clement's Argument Against the Executive Order Targeting the WilmerHale Law Firm
It's a lawyer's argument, not an attempt at objective analysis. But I think that on balance it is generally quite correct, and powerfully framed.
The 'Meritocracy' Lie
Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump has smashed many of the government's silly DEI rules. But he hasn't created a new age of meritocracy.
Black Student Expelled for Sexual Assault of White Classmate Seeks Pseudonymity Partly Because "Interracial Sexual Relationships …
between White women and Black men are the subject of heightened prejudice and violent responses that create a tangible risk of retaliation and animus against him."
Federal Judge Tosses Defamation Lawsuit Against NewsGuard
The self-styled watchdog site ranks news outlets' reliability, which has rankled those on both the right and left.
Libel Claims by The Satanic Temple Against Newsweek Over Sexual Abuse Allegations …
thrown out for lack of evidence of "actual malice" (i.e., knowing or reckless falsehood on Newsweek's part).
Parent Submits Photo of School Postings to LibsOfTikTok, Gets Restricted from Accessing School Property or Events
A federal court, however, has now largely blocked this restriction; the court rejected the argument that the parent violated the school's "bullying" policy.
15 Years of Super PACs
The SpeechNow ruling expanded political speech and reshaped elections.
Texas A&M's Drag Ban Shows the Threat to Campus Free Speech Is Bipartisan
Conservatives are picking up the unconstitutional weapons that intolerant progressives have deployed against them.
FIRE Says the Law Trump Is Using To Deport Mahmoud Khalil Is Unconstitutional. Trump's Sister Agreed.
As a federal judge, Maryanne Trump Barry said the provision is unconstitutionally vague. That's especially problematic when it is used to punish speech.
Federal Judge Blocks Texas A&M From Banning Drag Shows
The judge ruled that Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive orders targeting "gender ideology" can't change the fact that drag performance is expressive conduct under the First Amendment.
The Truth About Brazil's Rumble Ban
Justice Alexandre de Moraes has shut down Rumble in Brazil, using the same dubious legal arguments that led to the blocking of X and Telegram.
New Case Against Khalil
Plus: Sanders supports deportations, tariff tracker, Panama's Jewish enclave, and more...