Effective March 6th, 2025, the Social Security Administration banned employees from accessing news websites, online shopping sites, and sports websites on government devices to enhance security and improve employee focus on mission-critical tasks. Employees may request exceptions for work-related needs. This policy follows recent criticism of the agency and aligns with prior administration efforts to limit federal agency access to certain news sources. The restrictions aim to protect sensitive information and ensure employees concentrate on serving the public.
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The White House announced a restructuring of its press pool, granting the administration control over which outlets receive close-up presidential coverage, a departure from established tradition. This decision, framed as modernization and inclusivity by Press Secretary Leavitt, has raised significant First Amendment concerns due to the president’s selection of his own press corps. Critics argue this undermines press independence and the public’s right to unbiased information. The move follows a federal lawsuit by the Associated Press, challenging its exclusion from presidential events over a naming dispute, with a judge’s ruling pending.
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The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials, alleging unconstitutional suppression of speech after the White House restricted AP journalists’ access to presidential events. The restrictions, directly linked to the AP’s refusal to adopt Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, are viewed as a retaliatory measure against the news agency’s editorial independence. The lawsuit, citing the First Amendment, seeks to immediately restore the AP’s access and prevent future government interference with press freedom. The White House, however, maintains its position and anticipates a court battle.
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Utah Representative Trevor Lee’s proposed bill, HB0077, seeks to ban pride flags from all government buildings and property, expanding its initial scope which only included public schools. The bill, favorably recommended by the House Education Committee, permits only specific flags, including state, national, and military flags, alongside those representing Native American tribes and universities. While Lee initially stated the bill aimed to ban pride flags, he now claims it allows historically significant flags for educational purposes, a point he later disputed. The bill has generated significant public debate, with passionate arguments both for and against its passage.
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Following a presidential memo, numerous federal websites, including those of the CDC and HHS, have removed LGBT health information and data on certain vaccines. This action complies with executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and recognizing only two sexes. Consequently, pages on topics such as the monkeypox vaccine, youth health disparities, and the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey are inaccessible or have been altered. The changes reflect a broader effort to eliminate government promotion of “gender ideology,” causing significant disruption across multiple agencies.
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US health agencies are actively scrubbing their websites, removing any mention of “gender ideology.” This action, while seemingly small, represents a larger trend of suppressing information and perspectives related to gender identity and expression. It’s a blatant attempt to erase the existence and experiences of a significant portion of the population, a tactic that feels profoundly wrong and deeply unsettling.
This isn’t about simply removing words from a website; it’s about erasing people and their identities. The attempt to control information through this type of censorship is alarming, especially in the context of already existing prejudices and targeted violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.… Continue reading
Following President Trump’s executive order, Google Maps will reflect the name change of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” and the renaming of Denali to Mount McKinley. This aligns with Google’s policy of updating names based on official government sources. The change will be implemented for users outside of Mexico, while Mexican users will continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.” The updated names are a reversal of prior changes made during the Obama administration.
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Venezuela’s Supreme Court levied a $10 million fine against TikTok for failing to prevent viral challenges resulting in the deaths of three children, ordering the platform to establish a Venezuelan office for content supervision within eight days. The court’s enforcement methods remain unclear, though Venezuela has a history of blocking websites for non-compliance. The ruling follows several reported child deaths linked to TikTok challenges, prompting government accusations of negligence. TikTok has yet to publicly respond to the court’s decision.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood