In a series of Truth Social posts, Trump attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, offered a sarcastic Christmas greeting to his political opponents, and condemned President Biden’s clemency for 37 death row inmates. He also shared a meme mocking Barack Obama and promoted his nominees for FBI Director and Secretary of Defense. The posts showcased his characteristic self-victimization and attacks on perceived enemies.
Judge Timothy Brooks declared portions of Arkansas Act 372 unconstitutional, blocking its ability to criminally prosecute librarians and booksellers for providing minors access to “harmful” materials. The law, challenged by a coalition including the Central Arkansas Library System, was deemed to promote censorship by creating a system where fear of prosecution would lead to self-censorship. Attorney General Tim Griffin plans to appeal the decision, while Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders maintains support for the law, mirroring similar legislative efforts in other states.
House Democrat: ‘Unelected oligarch’ Musk ‘governing by tweet’
A House Democrat recently labeled Elon Musk an “unelected oligarch” who is effectively “governing by tweet,” highlighting concerns about Musk’s influence on public discourse and policy. This assertion captures a growing sentiment among many who perceive Musk’s actions as a concerning overreach of power.
The criticism centers around Musk’s ownership and control of X (formerly Twitter), a platform with immense reach and influence on shaping public opinion. The suggestion is that Musk’s use of the platform, through tweets and policy changes, amounts to a form of governance without the accountability of an elected official.… Continue reading
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act, prohibiting book bans in public schools and libraries and protecting compliant librarians. This action counters a national trend of conservative efforts to restrict access to books, particularly those addressing LGBTQ+ issues and race, with over 10,000 books removed from schools this year alone, according to PEN America. The law, effective in one year, follows similar legislation in Illinois and Minnesota, and allows immediate implementation by state officials as needed. The new law aims to safeguard library integrity and foster critical thinking among students.
New Jersey’s newly enacted Freedom to Read Act prohibits the removal of books from public libraries and schools based on content or author views, unless developmentally inappropriate for certain age groups. The law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy, protects intellectual freedom and counters a national trend of book bans, which disproportionately target books featuring people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The act establishes a review process for addressing concerns about library materials and safeguards library staff from legal repercussions. This legislation ensures equitable access to learning resources and reinforces the right of individuals to choose their reading material.
Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act into law, protecting New Jersey librarians and prohibiting book bans in public schools and libraries. The legislation prevents censorship based on viewpoint or offense, except for age appropriateness, and shields librarians from lawsuits for complying with the law. This action directly counters a surge in book bans by Republican lawmakers, primarily targeting books on sexuality, gender, and race. New Jersey joins Minnesota and Illinois in enacting such protective legislation.
OnlyFans, previously blocked in China, is now accessible, as confirmed by CNN and GreatFire.org, marking an unusual development given the country’s strict censorship policies against sexually explicit content. This unblocking, noted since November 29th, has prompted online discussions, with some suggesting it as an unexpected employment opportunity for China’s struggling youth. While known for adult content, OnlyFans also features non-explicit material, potentially broadening its appeal within the Chinese market. The site’s renewed availability coincides with persistently high youth unemployment rates in China.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Satanic Temple, an American non-theistic religious group advocating for secularism and individual liberties, as an “undesirable” organization. The designation, which carries legal ramifications for those involved, stems from accusations of promoting occult ideology, discrediting traditional values, and supporting extremist movements. The Prosecutor General’s Office cites alleged support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and calls for regime change in Russia as justification. This action adds The Satanic Temple to a growing list of over 190 organizations similarly branded by the Russian government.
Elon Musk’s recent X posts publicized the names and job titles of four relatively obscure climate-focused federal employees, sparking a wave of online harassment and forcing at least one to delete their social media accounts. This action, enabled by Musk’s massive following, has instilled fear among federal employees, who worry about becoming targets of online abuse and even physical threats. Experts suggest this tactic aims to intimidate employees into quitting, effectively downsizing the government without formal processes. A former federal employee, previously targeted by Musk, reported receiving death threats and being forced to relocate, highlighting the potential dangers of such public shaming.
Elon Musk’s recent actions on X, formerly known as Twitter, have sparked widespread outrage and concern. He has openly admitted to throttling links, effectively limiting users’ access to news articles and other online content. This admission, far from being an apology, was presented almost as a boast, highlighting the blatant control Musk exercises over the platform. The implication is clear: information flow is being actively manipulated, not for the benefit of users, but seemingly to serve a specific agenda.
This move directly contradicts Musk’s previous pronouncements about free speech absolutism on the platform. The very idea of a “free speech” platform actively suppressing links to news sources is inherently paradoxical and demonstrates a significant hypocrisy.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood