The Supreme Court has sided with Texas in the case of *Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton*, upholding a law requiring age verification for adult websites. The court ruled that the First Amendment does not protect the right of adults to access content deemed obscene for minors without first providing proof of age, opening the door for similar age-gating measures nationwide. This decision, reached with a 6-3 majority, effectively revisits a 2004 ruling and attributes the change to advances in technology. The ruling highlights the absence of a strict scrutiny standard for age verification, potentially affecting privacy.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, seeking $787 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, centers on comments made by Jesse Watters alleging Newsom lied about a phone call with former President Trump. Newsom’s suit accuses Fox News of distorting facts to favor Trump and propagate a false narrative, particularly regarding a conversation about protests in Los Angeles. The suit demands a retraction and apology from Watters and Fox News to be voluntarily dismissed. Fox News has responded, calling the lawsuit frivolous and vowing to defend itself.
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The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a 14-year-old student who was allegedly humiliated by a teacher for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support of Israel’s war in Gaza. The lawsuit claims the teacher told the student, whose family is of Palestinian descent, to leave the country, resulting in emotional distress. The ACLU argues that the student’s First Amendment rights were violated, seeking financial compensation, while the school district has stated they do not tolerate discrimination but declined further comment due to the ongoing litigation.
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A federal appeals court declared Louisiana’s law mandating Ten Commandments displays in public schools unconstitutional, siding with plaintiffs who argued it violated the separation of church and state. This ruling, upholding a lower court’s decision, stems from a lawsuit filed by parents of children from diverse religious backgrounds. While the state attorney general plans to appeal, arguing the ruling’s limited scope, the appeals court’s decision binds all Louisiana school districts. The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court, potentially revisiting prior Supreme Court precedent on similar religious displays in public spaces.
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X, formerly Twitter, is suing New York State over the Stop Hiding Hate Act, arguing that the law’s requirement for disclosure of content moderation policies violates the First Amendment by forcing the release of constitutionally protected speech. The act mandates social media companies report on their efforts to combat hate speech and extremism. New York lawmakers defended the law, countering that social media platforms are havens for hate and misinformation. X’s suit cites a previous successful challenge to a similar California law and alleges the New York legislation is similarly flawed.
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A federal jury awarded $2.3 million to Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems employee, in a defamation lawsuit against MyPillow founder Mike Lindell. Lindell, a prominent spreader of false 2020 election conspiracy theories, was found liable for defamatory statements accusing Coomer of election interference. The verdict follows similar successful lawsuits against Fox News and Newsmax for disseminating false claims about Dominion voting machines. Lindell’s defense, citing First Amendment protections, was rejected by the court.
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Alex Padilla’s forceful removal from Kristi Noem’s Los Angeles press conference is a deeply troubling incident that raises serious questions about the state of political discourse and the potential erosion of fundamental rights in the United States. The senator’s removal, which reportedly involved being pushed to the ground and handcuffed, is presented as an act of blatant suppression of free speech. The incident itself is alarming, considering the involvement of law enforcement in what many perceive as a purely political matter.
The accounts suggest Senator Padilla was actively attempting to engage with Governor Noem, possibly by posing questions or offering a counterpoint, at her press conference.… Continue reading
President Trump’s response to Los Angeles protests reveals a new set of First Amendment rules: protests are only acceptable if aligned with his agenda. This includes restrictions on flag usage, where only American flags are permitted for non-Trump supporters, while violence against law enforcement is excused for pro-Trump demonstrators. The administration’s actions, including deploying the National Guard and Marines, indicate a willingness to suppress dissent and escalate any perceived opposition. This creates a stark double standard, where pro-Trump actions are pardoned while anti-Trump protests are met with force.
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President Trump threatened a forceful response to all protesters, regardless of their intentions, against his upcoming military parade. This declaration, made amidst concerns of widespread troop mobilization, follows the planning of over 2,000 nationwide “No Kings” rallies protesting the parade and the president’s authoritarian actions. Rally organizers have emphasized peaceful demonstrations, yet Trump’s comments have been widely condemned as a threat to the right to peaceful assembly. The president’s strong rhetoric is anticipated to increase protest attendance.
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During protests in Los Angeles, CNN correspondent Jason Carroll was briefly detained by police while reporting live on air, creating confusion at the CNN studio. Carroll stated he was not arrested but escorted away and questioned. This incident follows reports of other journalists being injured while covering the protests, including an Australian journalist hit by a rubber bullet and a British photographer requiring emergency surgery. The protests, sparked by immigration enforcement actions, prompted President Trump to deploy National Guard and active-duty Marines, a decision Governor Newsom is challenging legally.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood