During a televised debate, Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official, threatened progressive commentator Cenk Uygur with deportation after he criticized her and her husband. Despite Uygur’s criticism of her husband, Miller baselessly accused him of antisemitism, even though Uygur made no comments about her faith or ethnicity. Miller’s threat, suggesting Uygur’s citizenship could be scrutinized, echoes the Trump administration’s past actions of targeting individuals critical of U.S. policy, particularly concerning Israel. This move has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights and free speech advocates, who view it as a violation of fundamental rights.
Read More
Charges against Larry Bushart, who was jailed for over a month for a Trump meme, were unexpectedly dropped Wednesday. Bushart was arrested for threatening mass violence at a school because the meme, which quoted Trump, was misinterpreted as a threat to shoot up Perry County High School. The dismissal occurred after a NewsChannel 5 interview revealed investigators knew the meme referred to an Iowa shooting, not the local school. Furthermore, new video footage raised questions about the sheriff’s initial account of the encounter, ultimately leading to the nolle prosequi.
Read More
In Tennessee, a felony charge against Larry Bushart, who was jailed for over a month, has been dropped following a Facebook post regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Bushart’s arrest on a charge of threatening mass violence at a school sparked concerns from free speech advocates who believed it was politically motivated. The post in question was a meme referencing a school shooting, which authorities said caused alarm in the community despite the post referencing a school in Iowa. Bushart was released after prosecutors dismissed the charge, and neither the sheriff nor the local district attorney have commented on the reason for the charge being dropped.
Read More
A Tennessee man, Larry Bushart, was arrested and charged with making threats of mass violence after posting a meme referencing Donald Trump in a Facebook group memorializing slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, which was misinterpreted by members of the group as a threat against their local high school. Despite investigators acknowledging the meme was not a direct threat, Bushart was arrested and held for over a month. However, the charges against him have since been dropped, after an interview revealed authorities were responding to community anxiety rather than an actual threat. Bushart, who lost his job due to his imprisonment, had been arrested and charged in connection with the fallout from Kirk’s death, who had been assassinated on a college campus.
Read More
Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has stated that the United States revoked his visa and banned him from the country, a move he links to his criticism of the Trump administration. Soyinka, who previously renounced his US green card in protest of Trump’s 2016 election, made the announcement after being asked to surrender his passport for visa cancellation. The author has been a frequent critic of Trump’s immigration policies and suggested that his comparison of Trump to Idi Amin may have contributed to the recent development. The US embassy has declined to comment on the individual case.
Read More
A Tennessee sheriff is defending the arrest of a man who posted a meme referencing a school shooting, despite the meme not containing any direct threats. The arrest, based on potential misinterpretations of the meme’s reference to “Perry High School,” has sparked free speech concerns. The sheriff claims the arrest was necessary due to community fear, and the man refused to delete the post, though the officer acknowledged that it was not illegal. The man faces felony charges and a high bond, while free speech advocates and others question the legitimacy of the arrest, particularly since the sheriff admitted the meme was not directly threatening.
Read More
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
Sami Hamdi, a British journalist and Muslim political commentator, was detained by federal immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport, which the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) claims is retaliation for his criticism of Israel while touring the US. According to CAIR, Hamdi’s detention is an affront to free speech. The Department of Homeland Security stated that his visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal, with a press secretary stating that those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit the US. Hamdi’s detention has drawn condemnation as part of a pattern of detaining individuals over pro-Palestinian views, even as a federal judge ruled that such a policy violates the US constitution.
Read More
In a recent Truth Social post, former President Donald Trump expressed outrage over political ads run by his opponents, claiming they should be outlawed. He made several assertions about his accomplishments and high poll numbers, many of which are disputed by data and reporting. Alongside this call to ban opposing views, Trump has also made plans for a civil-service purge and threatened reprisals against political enemies. Despite being in Tokyo, as part of a five-day Asia trip focused on trade, security, and diplomacy, Trump’s Truth Social posts have not stopped.
Read More
Former President Joe Biden, speaking after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, described the current political climate as “dark days,” citing attacks on free speech and the expansion of executive power. He emphasized the importance of limited presidential power, a functioning Congress, and an autonomous judiciary for the nation’s well-being. Biden highlighted examples of individuals and institutions standing against the current administration and urged Americans to remain optimistic. This was Biden’s first public appearance since completing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, a diagnosis announced in May.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
ICE Detains British Activist After Praise of Hamas Attack, Raising Free Speech Concerns
Sami Hamdi, a British journalist and Muslim political commentator, was detained by federal immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport, which the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) claims is retaliation for his criticism of Israel while touring the US. According to CAIR, Hamdi’s detention is an affront to free speech. The Department of Homeland Security stated that his visa was revoked, and he is in ICE custody pending removal, with a press secretary stating that those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit the US. Hamdi’s detention has drawn condemnation as part of a pattern of detaining individuals over pro-Palestinian views, even as a federal judge ruled that such a policy violates the US constitution.
Read More