How Protests Over George Floyd's Death and Police Brutality Could Help Trump Win Reelection
Princeton political scientist Omar Wasow says violent protests helped Richard Nixon win the presidency in 1968.
Civil Liberties
It Wasn't Tear Gas. It Was a Gaseous Substance That Causes Tears.
Plus: Protest updates, COVID-19 upates, a surge in gun sales, and more...
It's Hard To Take Either Side in Trump's Twitter Spat Seriously
The president promises penalties he has no power to impose, while the company promises moderation it cannot deliver.
California Congressman Ro Khanna Calls for "Fairness Doctrine for the Internet"
Also for the FCC to police supposed "blatant falsity."
Interesting Public Access Decision as to the R. Kelly / Drea Kelly Divorce Case
"The mere fact a person may suffer embarrassment or damage to his reputation as a result of allegations in a pleading does not justify sealing the court file."
What Should We Do If YouTube Censors on Behalf of the Chinese Communist Party?
Technological—not political—solutions will secure true freedom of speech online
Are People Allowed to Use Deadly Force to Defend Property?
It depends, whether as to looting or other threats to property.
"Leave the Community Alone," from the Sheriff of Polk County (Florida)
"The people of Polk County like guns, they have guns."
Violent Enforcement of Curfews Will Perpetuate the Cycle of Police Violence
The U.S. already has a major problem with overcriminalization.
Australian Court Rules Media Outlets Are Responsible for Facebook Users' Comments
Online censorship is coming, and it’s going to be bad news for everybody.
Trump Can't Designate Antifa a Domestic Terrorist Group, and It's a Bad Idea Anyway
The radical left is an occasionally violent nuisance, not an existential threat.
Libel Lawsuit Leads Court to Ban Even True Statements About Plaintiff's "Sex Offender Status"
Fortunately, the Michigan Court of Appeals has just reversed that injunction.
Black Civilians Arm Themselves To Protest Racial Violence and Protect Black-Owned Businesses
They're using their Second Amendment rights to protect local businesses from riots and looting.
Are the COVID-19 Lockdowns Constitutional?
Several courts have invalidated elements of state shelter-in-place orders. Constitutional law Professor Josh Blackman says that the longer they continue, the less legal they become.
Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden vs. Twitter vs. Facebook
Thank god for the First Amendment and the feuds among powerful politicians and platforms that will keep free speech alive.
Trump's Illegal, Impossible Plan to Teach Twitter a Lesson
Plus: unrest in Minneapolis, Twitter labels Trump tweet, and more...
Court Orders: Stop Tweeting About Your Ex-Friend's Criminal Conviction—Though Tweets Didn't Use the Man's Name
Fortunately, the Florida Court of Appeal reversed the order.
Platform Immunity and "Platform Blocking and Screening of Offensive Material"
"Good faith," "otherwise objectionable," and more.
If the Government Bans Viewpoint Discrimination by Social Media Platforms, That Would Also Protect Pro-Terrorist Content
Government action protecting speech must itself be viewpoint-neutral, I think -- and this makes it much less likely that such viewpoint discrimination requirements will indeed be adopted.
Surveillance Bill Yanked After Trump Tweets Veto Threat. Will It Be Changed for Better or Worse?
Weak reforms to the government’s power to secretly snoop on Americans wasn’t enough for the president. What happens next?
Trump's Executive Order on Twitter Is a Total Mess
Plus: the weird new battle lines on warrantless surveillance, more CDC incompetence, Minneapolis on fire, and more…
Edward Snowden, the Surveillance State, and the 'Dark Mirror' Still Watching Us All
National security journalist Barton Gellman talks about "the surveillance-industrial state," the possibility of a Biden presidency or a second Trump term, and his gripping new book.
How Edward Snowden Revealed the 'Dark Mirror' of the Surveillance State
Barton Gellman's new book is a riveting account of exposing NSA excesses to the light of the day.
House May Blow Its Chance To Protect Americans' Browser History From Federal Snooping
Sen. Wyden withdraws support for amendment due to fears it has been weakened too much.
Twitter Fact-Checks Trump. Trump Threatens To Shut Down Twitter.
Plus: Police brutality protest in Minnesota ends in more police brutality, and more...
Amendment Revived to Protect Americans' Internet Search Records From Warrantless Collection
The House will consider a surveillance reform proposal that failed in the Senate by just one vote.
"The Question Is Whether Delta [Airlines] Can Bring the Court a Dispute to Adjudicate in Secret"
"The answer to that question is clear."
Sen. Ron Wyden Wants To Stop the Government From Spying on Your Internet Searches
The Wyden-Daines Amendment would've prohibited warrantless monitoring of web activity, but it lost by one vote in the Senate. Will Nancy Pelosi bring it back in the House?
Right of Access to Court Hearings During Epidemics
Court hearings may be physically closed to the public for health reasons, if the public can watch them via video.
$1M+ Award for Law Professor Libeled by Ex-Girlfriend's Rape Accusation
"The Court's belief in the veracity of Wright's testimony dwindled while the trial progressed, as evidence of her inconsistent and questionable conduct was revealed piece by piece.... She lied about her advanced degrees. She signed e-mails as Dr. Wright when she is not a doctor. Her testimony and medical records conflicted time and time again ...."
Why Did Arizona Democrats Kill a Bill Protecting Citizens From Police Overreach?
It’s all about the revenue. Civil forfeiture brings in money, and lawmakers are more worried about their budgets than residents’ due process and property rights.
A Huge Blow to Hongkongers' Freedoms
New legislation proposed in Beijing signals the likely end of the "one country, two systems" policy that has allowed Hong Kong to flourish.
Requiring Creation of Computer Code Doesn't Violate the First Amendment
Seems right to me, at least as a general matter.
Joe Biden's 'Bold' Thinking Shredded Civil Liberties and Destroyed Lives
On crime, drugs, immigration, and foreign policy, his 44-year policy record is a cautionary tale of bipartisanship in response to perceived crises.
Judge to FBI: You Should've Gotten a Warrant Before Turning On That Phone
Plus: Virginia decriminalizes marijuana, it's not Trump's call whether we close the country again, and more…
N.C. Trial Court Holds Preliminary Injunctions Against Alleged Libel Are Unconstitutional
But permanent injunctions after a full trial on the merits might be a different story.
That Time the Libertarian Party Debated the Private Ownership of Nuclear Weapons
Friday A/V Club: Great moments from the C-SPAN archive
