Recent News
Concerns about how to address online censorship are live questions U.S. courts are grappling with right now There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the future of free speech. When 40% of Americans say they don’t say what they believe for fear of reprisal, that’s a problem we need to solve. Cancel culture […]
According to legend, Benjamin Franklin was leaving the just-adjourned Constitutional Convention in 1787 when a woman shouted, “Well, Doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?” To which he responded, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” You can see why the story has gained legendary status. It sets the scene nicely, […]
American democracy cannot thrive when its citizens feel stifled In baseball, a relief pitcher will take over for the starting pitcher. This week, we could say that my colleague David Voorman is my relief pitcher (not my designated hitter – because, as David agrees, those shouldn’t exist). David is a fellow attorney and a senior […]
I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of the term “culture wars.” Too often it’s used to minimize what are real and important debates about significant problems facing the country — even critical First Amendment questions. Too often important debates around education, faith, economics, free speech, or other issues are treated dismissively by invoking the […]
Online speech wins big, Tucker moves to Twitter, and other free speech news for your Memorial Day weekend Ready for the holiday weekend? If you’re looking for a free speech update to pack next to your cooler and towels, you’ve come to the right place. So let’s dive in (to the round-up, not the pool, […]
The end of the Chevron doctrine could be the end of unaccountable bureaucrats making up the rules as they go What is the Chevron doctrine? And why am I talking about it in a civil liberties newsletter? Well, let me tell you a story. It starts with a fisherman. Call me Ishmael. Oops, that’s the […]
I’m writing this just a few days removed from the 2023 FIRE Gala, held to celebrate a new era of FIRE, and my spirits are still high from the evening. What could be better than a night spent among fellow First Amendment advocates, discussing all the ways free speech benefits our society and brainstorming ways […]
Oftentimes threats to free speech don’t come labeled as “A Bill to Restrict the Freedom of Speech.” California’s Assembly Bill 5, which became law a few years ago, is a good example. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB5 into law in 2019, and it went into effect on January 1, 2020. AB5 recategorized many self-employed […]
It’s been just about two weeks since St. Patrick’s Day… which I hope has been enough time for everyone to recover from any holiday festivities! For many, St. Patrick’s Day is considered the luckiest day of the year, which got me thinking about luck versus hard work. When it comes to free speech, is it […]
