First Amendment
Trump's Responses to Kimmel and Comey Highlight His Contempt for Freedom of Speech
The president is not shy about using government power to punish people for saying things that offend him.
Why the Courts Will 86 the Flagrantly Unconstitutional Charges Against James Comey
The case defies more than half a century of rulings on the “true threat” exception to the First Amendment.
SCOTUS Narrows the Reach of the Voting Rights Act
Plus: The Supreme Court says “demands for a charity’s private member or donor information” raises First Amendment problems.
Unanimous Supreme Court Affirms Standing to Challenge Subpoena for Info on Financial Supporters
The Court dispatches with an easy case the lower courts should have gotten right.
Trump Administration's Review of ABC's Broadcast Licenses Looks Like 'Illegal Jawboning'
When he returned to the White House, Trump vowed to protect free speech from the government. The FCC's latest move against ABC and Disney looks like the opposite.
Civil Liberties Groups Sue for Information on ICE's Speech-Chilling Subpoenas
The feds have been demanding that tech companies identify the administration's anonymous online critics. That violates the First Amendment.
Allowing Censorship of Military Retirees Like Sen. Mark Kelly Would Set a Chilling and Dangerous Precedent
To justify punishing a legislator for his speech, a FIRE brief notes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth relies on a Supreme Court precedent that is clearly inapposite.
The FBI's Alleged Probe of a Reporter for 'Stalking' Breaks New Ground in Criminalizing Journalism
The bureau reportedly investigated the author of a New York Times story that made FBI Director Kash Patel look bad.
What's the Point of Telling Middle Schoolers Not To Commit Adultery?
Texas might have the right to post the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, but it shouldn't bother.
Judge Says DOJ and DHS Likely Coerced Tech Firms To Censor ICE-Tracking Platforms
The platform creators filed a lawsuit claiming their First Amendment rights were violated after the Trump administration convinced Apple and Facebook to remove their content.
The Supreme Court Ruled Against 'Informal Censorship' 6 Decades Ago but Officials Are Still Jawboning
The Court's 1963 ruling in Bantam Books v. Sullivan is freshly relevant in light of recent efforts to restrict speech through government intimidation.
Virginia's Unconstitutional Effort to Strip Property Tax Exemptions From Pro-Confederate Groups
The groups and their ideology are awful. But Virginia's policy violates the First Amendment. Allowing it to stand could set a dangerous precedent.
Pete Hegseth Wants the D.C. Circuit To Let Him Punish a Senator for Criticizing Him
The defense secretary's asserted authority to control the speech of retired military officers "would chill public participation by veterans," a brief supporting Mark Kelly warns.
Yale Admits Self-Censorship and Political Bias Are Eroding Trust in Higher Education
The Ivy League school released a self-critical report this week.
In Poisoned Ivies, Stefanik Sees Censorship as a Cure for 'Anti-Americanism'
What is a greater rejection of America's founding ideals than an overreaching government trampling the First Amendment?
When the U.S. Censored a Movie About the American Revolution and Imprisoned Its Producer
Remembering the infuriating case of United States v. “The Spirit of ’76.”
ICE Is Determined To Unmask a Reddit User Whose Only Crime Seems To Be Criticizing ICE
After withdrawing a summons in the face of a legal challenge, the government is seeking a grand jury subpoena.
Anti-Hate Poster Has No Home in Ohio Classroom, Says School District
The poster, which included a rainbow flag, counts as "instruction that includes sexuality content" and triggers an Ohio parents' rights law, the board said.Â
The FTC's Probe of Media Matters for America Is a Blatant Assault on Freedom of Speech
In the guise of investigating "potentially unlawful advertiser boycotts," the commission is punishing the organization for its views.
When SCOTUS Did Lasting Damage to the Bill of Rights
Plus: The Alito retirement rumors keep swirling.
A Federal Judge Dismisses Trump's Defamation Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal
Trump's failure to properly allege "actual malice" is consistent with his long history of filing shaky legal claims against people who say things he does not like.
UNC Newspaper Halts Satire and Implements DEI Training After Backlash Over April Fools' Issue
Free speech lawyers say UNC violated North Carolina’s institutional neutrality law.
Lawsuits Targeting Social Media Are an Attack on Free Speech
Tech companies that create social media apps should not be blamed for the complex mental issues of everyone who might use them.
Los Angeles Teen Blinded in One Eye by DHS Agent at 'No Kings' Rally, Attorney Says
The 18-year-old college freshman had to have his right eye surgically removed after a federal agent allegedly shot him in the head with a less-lethal weapon.
Ron DeSantis Clamps Down on Free Speech in the Name of Fighting Terror
A new Florida law would allow state leaders to designate certain groups as terror organizations.
Zoning's War on Cuddly Animals, Cute Kids, and Christian Charity
A recent string of zoning controversies show how land use regulations have become the enemy of all good things.
Why SCOTUS Ruled 8–1 Against Colorado's 'Conversion Therapy' Ban
Understanding the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar.
Sex Educators Say They're Being Harmed by Age Verification Laws
Plus: Wisconsin governor vetoes porn age-check bill, more charges for penis protester, the Komodo dragon theory of social media, and more...
Satanic Temple Wins Legal Fight Over 10 Commandments Monument in Arkansas
A federal judge ruled the Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol must be removed.
The Daily Mail's Dishonesty About Charlie Kirk's Alleged Killer
This is how a conspiracy theory grows.
What If the U.K. Had Free Speech Like the U.S.?
The U.K. said it would stop investigating "legal" social media posts, but free speech advocates demand more change.
Unless People Support Me, Trump Habitually Warns, 'We Won't Have a Country Anymore'
The president's predictions of the nation's imminent demise reflect his narcissistic authoritarianism.
Government Actions Against Anthropic Are 'Classic First Amendment Retaliation'
Plus: the Facebook verdicts, porn star chatbots, facial recognition gone awry, drag queen regulation, and more…
Judge Rejects 'Orwellian Notion' That Anthropic Is a Supply Chain Risk for Disagreeing With the Government
Judge Rita Lin's preliminary injunction confirms what government officials had implicitly acknowledged: The supply chain risk designation was punishment, not policy.
#Addiction
Plus: Meta and Google found liable, what the verdict means, an OnlyFans-style campaign website, and more...
A Lawsuit Settlement Highlights Trump's Hypocrisy on Government Meddling With Social Media
Despite its rejection of the Biden administration's interference, the Trump administration is still asserting authority over online speech.
A Jury Hit Meta With a $375 Million Verdict. The Open Internet May Pay the Price.
Meta's loss in a New Mexico "product design" case could also be a blow against Section 230, free speech, and online privacy.
Arresting a Reporter for Asking Questions Was a 'Blatant First Amendment Violation,' Sonia Sotomayor Says
The justice dissented from the Supreme Court's denial of a petition from a Texas journalist who was charged with felonies for practicing journalism.
Miami Beach Woman Visited by Detectives Over a Facebook Comment Files Free Speech Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleges that the city has a history of silencing pro-Palestine speech.
4chan Sends Hilarious, Hamster-Filled Reminder That U.S. Companies Need Not Follow British Speech Regulations
"We are not in the mood to discuss the matter further, and have not been in the mood for 250 years."
Jury Clears Afroman of Defamation for Mocking Cops Who Raided His House
Ohio sheriff's deputies raided Afroman's house in 2022 based on a bogus tip, then sued the rapper after he released music videos mocking the deputies.
Brendan Carr's Crusade To Reshape TV Journalism Is Blatantly Unconstitutional
The First Amendment does not allow the FCC chairman to police news coverage.
Prairieland Verdict: Texas Man Found Guilty of Transporting Constitutionally Protected Pamphlets
Eight others were convicted on vague "terrorism" charges—causing serious concern among First Amendment advocates.
Court Backs First-Grader in Suit Over School Reaction to 'Any Life' Matters Drawing
Yes, 6-year-old students have First Amendment rights, the 9th Circuit says.
Yes, the First Amendment Protects Free Speech for Noncitizens
"Freedom of speech and of press is accorded aliens residing in this country," according to a 1945 Supreme Court ruling.
Brendan Carr Says He Can Police TV Journalism Because Broadcast Licenses Are 'Free'
The FCC chairman's reasoning is faulty.
