A Massachusetts bakery owner is facing death threats and online harassment after creating cookies expressing her frustration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The owner of The Sweet Boutique in East Longmeadow, received threats to her and her employees’ safety, and even threats against her children after posting pictures of the cookies on social media. Despite the backlash, the owner plans to continue producing the anti-ICE cookies, seeing them as a platform for her beliefs and a way to encourage others to speak out. The local community has rallied in support of the bakery, showing their solidarity with the owner’s freedom of speech.
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Senator Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, claiming the Trump administration’s plan to reduce his military retirement pay for participating in a video violated the Constitution. The lawsuit argues that the government’s actions infringe upon Kelly’s freedom of speech, protections under the “speech or debate clause,” due process rights, and the separation of powers. The video, in which Kelly and other Democrats addressed U.S. troops, included a message about refusing unlawful orders, which led to Hegseth’s criticism and the subsequent penalty. The suit alleges that this type of action against a member of Congress for political speech is unprecedented in U.S. history.
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During an interview, an activist, Plichta, was arrested in Grand Rapids for obstructing a roadway and failing to obey an officer’s command. Plichta stated that U.S. tax dollars are used to commit war crimes, highlighting her concern regarding U.S. actions. This occurred after Plichta’s visit to Venezuela, where she witnessed Nicolás Maduro at an international summit just weeks before his alleged kidnapping by the Trump administration.
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A Paris court found 10 individuals guilty of cyberbullying French First Lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality. The court cited “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious” comments, leading to sentences ranging from six months in prison to suspended sentences, all accompanied by mandatory cyberbullying awareness training. The defendants, who shared posts falsely claiming Macron was transgender and a pedophile, were also ordered to pay 10,000 euros in compensation to Brigitte Macron. This case serves as an example in the fight against online harassment, reflecting the detrimental impact such claims had on Macron and her family.
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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
In a recent ruling, a federal judge found the Department of Education infringed upon the First Amendment rights of its employees. The judge, an appointee of former President Obama, determined that the department unconstitutionally compelled employees’ speech. The ruling stemmed from the Department’s use of out-of-office messages, which included partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Consequently, the court barred the administration from altering these messages to include partisan speech for union members.
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Following a video of a young man burning a photo of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, Omid Sarlak was found dead in a car, with police declaring it a suicide. Social media users have disputed the official account, identifying the deceased and claiming he was killed for his anti-government stance. Accounts from users detailed the young man’s final social media posts, which included inflammatory statements about Iran’s leadership. The family has reportedly been denied the body and pressured to confirm the suicide narrative, further fueling allegations of a state-sanctioned killing.
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Author Michael Wolff has filed a lawsuit against Melania Trump, claiming she threatened legal action to prevent him from reporting on her alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The suit alleges that Trump’s actions were intended to inhibit Wolff’s freedom of speech, citing a letter from her attorney demanding a retraction and apology for comments linking her to Epstein. The lawsuit also includes comments Wolff made to The Daily Beast and argues that the statements were taken out of context. Wolff intends to use the lawsuit to uncover details of the Trumps’ relationship with Epstein.
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The Australian High Court has upheld the government’s 2024 decision to deny Candace Owens a visa. The court determined that the Home Affairs Minister’s denial did not violate any constitutional freedoms. The minister refused the visa due to concerns that Owens’ views, including minimizing the Holocaust, had the potential to incite discord and fail the “character test” under the Migration Act. The court found the minister did not misinterpret the law in making this decision, ultimately dismissing Owens’ challenge.
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A Tunisian man has been sentenced to death for Facebook posts criticizing the president, an unprecedented ruling in the country. The 56-year-old day laborer’s lawyer confirmed the shocking verdict, which has been appealed. This decision has sparked widespread criticism, especially in a country where free speech restrictions have intensified since the president’s power grab in 2021, leading to concerns about stifled expression and growing political tensions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood