Teenage Russian street musician jailed over anti-Kremlin songs is detained as she leaves jail. It’s truly a statement about the state of affairs when a teenage musician, armed with nothing more than a voice and a guitar, can incite such a level of fear within a government. The fact that the regime felt threatened enough to imprison her initially, and then to immediately detain her again upon her release, paints a rather bleak picture of the tolerance for dissent. It speaks volumes about the fragility of power when it’s so easily rattled by a pop song. It’s hard not to find the whole situation a little pathetic.… Continue reading
As part of a government initiative to combat violence against women and girls, online pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation will be outlawed. This decision follows a review highlighting the normalization of choking in mainstream porn and its potential impact on young people. Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will criminalize both possessing and publishing such content, with online platforms mandated to detect and remove it. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) emphasized that this move elevates choking in pornography to a “priority offence” under the Online Safety Act, akin to child sexual abuse material and terrorism content.
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El Salvador’s government, in a move that seems ripped from a dystopian novel, has reportedly imposed restrictions on the use of certain words and concepts. This isn’t about outlawing the terms outright in everyday conversation, but rather, it is a new style manual for educational materials and official documents. The focus is to scrub “feminism,” “diversity,” and, perhaps most concerning, anything related to climate change. The stated reasons, as far as they have been made public, are couched in vague notions of cultural values and clarity. But let’s be honest, it raises a lot of eyebrows, to say the least.
The core of this directive appears to be a shift in educational language.… Continue reading
Tensions have arisen between Indiana University and its student newspaper, the *Indiana Daily Student*, resulting in the elimination of print editions and the firing of its faculty advisor, Jim Rodenbush. The advisor was terminated for refusing to censor the homecoming edition, sparking concerns about censorship and First Amendment rights. The university claims the shift from print is a financial decision, yet the move has drawn criticism from advocates for student media, alumni, and high-profile figures. The *Daily Student* continues to publish online, but the recent events have led to accusations of administrative overreach and attempts to control the paper’s editorial content.
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On October 15th, St. Petersburg police detained 18-year-old singer Diana Loginova, known as Naoko, after she performed the protest song “Swan Lake Cooperative,” by rapper Noize MC. The song, which calls for the overthrow of President Putin, was previously labeled “extremist” by the St. Petersburg Prosecutor’s Office. Loginova’s bandmates from Stoptime were also questioned, with Loginova potentially facing charges of “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces and organizing an unauthorized event. Stoptime has since canceled their scheduled performances and announced they would temporarily stop sharing the street locations of their performances in advance.
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Far-right US influencer Candace Owens loses legal fight to enter Australia. Well, that’s certainly a turn of events, isn’t it? It seems Candace Owens, a figure known for her often provocative and controversial views, won’t be gracing the shores of Australia any time soon. The details of the legal fight aren’t fully clear here, but the outcome is definitive – she’s been denied entry. You have to wonder what her reaction was to that news.
It brings up a lot of interesting points, though, doesn’t it? Like, what does it say about a country when it refuses entry to a public figure?… Continue reading
Facebook takes down a page that the Justice Department says was used to harass ICE agents, and it feels like a familiar story, doesn’t it? It brings up a lot of different perspectives, and the main feeling is often one of frustration. It’s like, “Here we go again.” You know, the kind of thing where you’re not really surprised but still disappointed.
The immediate reaction is often a healthy dose of cynicism. People seem to have seen this pattern play out a million times. Facebook, and other big tech companies, are criticized for often being slow to react to instances of hate speech, harassment, and incitement of violence, as one comment pointed out.… Continue reading
Numerous prominent news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, have publicly rejected a new Pentagon policy. This policy mandates that media outlets pledge not to obtain unauthorized material and restricts access to certain areas without official accompaniment. The policy has sparked widespread criticism, with many outlets arguing it infringes on First Amendment rights and hinders the public’s ability to understand government operations. Pentagon officials claim the policy is necessary for national security, while some conservative outlets have embraced the new rules.
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Librarian Fired in LGBTQ Books Dispute to Receive $700,000 Settlement: This is a pretty hefty sum, isn’t it? Seven hundred thousand dollars is nothing to sneeze at, especially when it’s coming as a settlement in a case involving censorship and the rights of people to access information. You have to imagine it’s a win, on some level. It’s a financial vindication for the librarian, Terri Lesley, who stood her ground and defended the books in her library that were under fire.
The core of the matter, as I understand it, revolves around the conflict over books featuring LGBTQ themes and content in the library.… Continue reading
Terri Lesley, a former Wyoming library director fired amidst a book dispute involving sexually explicit content and LGBTQ+ themes, will receive $700,000 in a settlement after suing Campbell County officials. Lesley’s termination occurred after public officials sided with book objectors, with Lesley claiming her First Amendment rights were violated. The county denied Lesley’s claims, asserting the dismissal was based on performance, not the book controversy. Lesley’s attorney hopes the settlement sends a message about the importance of the First Amendment and anti-discrimination values.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker