Ball State University has settled a lawsuit for $225,000 with a former employee whose termination over a private Facebook post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk was alleged to violate her free-speech rights. The university cited significant campus disruption and potential harm to enrollment and fundraising as reasons for the dismissal, but the ACLU argued the employee was speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern, protected by the First Amendment. This settlement follows similar cases where employees were terminated for social media comments about Kirk’s death, resulting in six-figure settlements for the affected individuals.
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According to former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, politicians must be held accountable when their falsehoods undermine democracy. He proposes systemic reforms, including a “Truth in Elections Act,” to address election deceit without infringing on free speech rights. Weissmann draws parallels to existing laws that criminalize false claims for tangible benefit and notes international examples where election lies have led to consequences. He argues that the solution to false speech is not necessarily more free speech, especially when it jeopardizes democratic processes.
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It appears that there’s a sentiment circulating, particularly among some who follow political commentary and late-night television, suggesting that more hosts of late-night shows might be on their way out following commentary around Stephen Colbert. The idea is being framed as a prediction, with the departing hosts being described as untalented, not funny, and poorly rated, implying a sort of widespread weakness in the current late-night landscape.
There’s a strong feeling that this kind of focus from a prominent political figure on entertainers, rather than on pressing national issues, is rather telling. The argument is made that when the leader of a country seems more concerned with comedians making jokes about him and the perceived success or failure of their shows, it highlights a peculiar set of priorities.… Continue reading
A “Be on the Lookout” alert was issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s Nashville field office, targeting comedian Ben Palmer for his viral satire of US immigration enforcement. The alert, which was shared with law enforcement agencies nationwide, detailed Palmer’s spoof anti-immigration tip website and his videos that have garnered millions of views. While DHS acknowledged Palmer posed no direct threat, the alert has raised concerns about potential overreach and a pattern of targeting individuals critical of the agency.
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Tennessee officials have agreed to a $835,000 settlement with Larry Bushart, a retired police officer who was incarcerated for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme. The meme, which referenced an Iowa school shooting and included a quote attributed to Donald Trump, was deemed threatening by authorities despite Bushart’s insistence that it was protected speech. This case highlights a rare instance where online expression led to criminal prosecution, resulting in significant personal and professional repercussions for Bushart. The settlement underscores the importance of respecting First Amendment rights, particularly in times of heightened tension and civil discourse.
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Following the removal of a rainbow crosswalk, Key West residents painted their fences in similar colors, leading to city fines. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit challenging these penalties on First Amendment grounds, alleging selective enforcement against LGBTQ+ expression. The lawsuit contends that while the city cited a lesbian couple for their rainbow fence, other homes with non-compliant colored features were ignored, suggesting a politically motivated suppression of LGBTQ+ messaging. This legal action highlights concerns about censorship and state overreach in the suppression of free expression.
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Protests erupted at the state Capitol as critics voiced opposition to new legislation, with debate in the House temporarily suspended. Democrats highlighted concerns over racial equity and the state’s history of voter suppression, while Republican leaders indicated readiness to proceed with redistricting should court rulings prove favorable. This juxtaposition sets the stage for further legislative action and potential legal challenges.
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ABC has accused the Trump administration of violating its free speech rights through a regulatory action targeting the talk show “The View.” The network argues that an investigation into whether the show broke equal-time rules for political candidates creates a “chilling effect” on First Amendment freedoms. ABC asserts that “The View” has long been recognized as a “bona fide” news program exempt from these rules, and that the FCC’s actions are unprecedented and designed to suppress critical viewpoints. The network also points to a perceived disparity in the FCC’s enforcement, suggesting selective targeting of broadcasters.
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Following mounting international scrutiny and a CNN investigation into its hosting of gender-based violence and drug-facilitated sexual assault content, the porn website Motherless.com has been taken offline by Dutch authorities. Dutch prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into the site, which was hosted on servers located in the Netherlands. This action comes after previous reporting by German and Canadian journalists, as well as Dutch broadcasters, highlighted the platform’s role in distributing non-consensual imagery, including videos tagged with terms like “rape” and “incest.” The takedown represents a significant development in combating the online spread of such material, though concerns remain about the potential for the site to resurface.
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A Canadian plaintiff, identified as John Doe, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in U.S. federal court, alleging an overreaching attempt to obtain extensive personal information through Google. This action stems from social media posts critical of the former Trump administration, particularly concerning immigration policies. The ACLU, representing the plaintiff, contends that this summons represents a “transparent gambit to chill speech the government doesn’t like” and an un-American infringement on free expression, even for non-citizens. Google has stated it reviews all legal demands and pushes back against those that are overly broad or improper.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Trump Predicts More Late Night Hosts Will Depart After Colbert Exit
It appears that there’s a sentiment circulating, particularly among some who follow political commentary and late-night television, suggesting that more hosts of late-night shows might be on their way out following commentary around Stephen Colbert. The idea is being framed as a prediction, with the departing hosts being described as untalented, not funny, and poorly rated, implying a sort of widespread weakness in the current late-night landscape.
There’s a strong feeling that this kind of focus from a prominent political figure on entertainers, rather than on pressing national issues, is rather telling. The argument is made that when the leader of a country seems more concerned with comedians making jokes about him and the perceived success or failure of their shows, it highlights a peculiar set of priorities.… Continue reading