Free Speech
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College can't punish math professor for criticizing low academic standards, appeals court rules
Lars Jensen was nearly fired for handing out flyers about potential harm to the community from lowering the "academic level" of math classes. Oregon sows the wind, reaps the whirlwind in "staggeringly low" student proficiency.
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FTC crashes FCC party in threats against Big Tech for censorship in tug-of-war with Europe, Brazil
Shadowbanning, demonetizing may violate consumer protection, competition laws under FTC purview, new agency chair warns. Section 230 "advisory opinion" could send Big Tech investors fleeing, columnist forecasts.
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Trump social media company sues Brazilian Supreme Court justice in global free speech fight
Lawsuit filed in federal court in Florida picks a global free speech fight aligned with the new Trump administration's priorities.
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California still threatening doctors for COVID claims after ditching misinformation law: suits
Golden State's lawyers wouldn't accept permanent injunction against AB 2098 or admit it was unconstitutional in hearing to determine possible mootness of lawsuit, plaintiffs' lawyer says.
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Journalists, medical groups, big business emerge as Biden allies in social media censorship case
Friend-of-the-court briefs warn Supreme Court that protecting Americans from indirect censorship by government officials undermines the First Amendment, national security and public health.
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Lawmakers sue Oregon to block 'misinformation' contract to counter election-related claims
Motion for preliminary injunction says "good faith effort" to resolve dispute fell apart. Secretary of state claims contract will just help it respond to misinformation with "accurate information."
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Democratic AG puts pro-life ministry on defensive, while ignoring Planned Parenthood misinfo: suit
Consumer fraud investigations less likely to face immediate scrutiny from judges than laws singling out disfavored groups' speech. No concern from NJ's Matthew Platkin on Planned Parenthood misrepresenting misoprostol, suit claims.
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Virginia Supreme Court puts school boards on notice: preferred pronoun mandates won't fare well
French teacher Peter Vlaming's suit under state constitution, which is more protective than U.S. Constitution, goes back to trial. Dissenting justices dispute the case is about "compelling adherence to a particular ideology."
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Sen. Ted Cruz says Elon Musk's purchase of X is one of the most crucial victories for free speech
A constitutional scholar and formerly the Solicitor General of Texas, Senator Cruz said Elon Musk's buying Twitter is the "single most important step for free speech in decades."
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Illinois renounces 'stupid and very likely unconstitutional' law against pro-life speech
Washington attorney general forestalls litigation by a year and a half by targeting anti-abortion religious groups through "civil investigative demands," rather than statute explicitly targeting pro-life speech like Illinois's.
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Plagiarism claims give Harvard potential off ramp to remove president in antisemitism controversy
Claudine Gay plagiarized fellow black female academic and her own advisor among others in doctoral thesis, activist says. President has already lost a billion from "small group" of donors, influential alum claims.
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Alex Jones returns to X after Musk restores his account: 'The people have spoken and so it shall be'
Musk has a history of supporting free speech and asking the public for their input, which has been on full display since he bought X.
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Judges skeptical that HHS won't punish religious doctors for refusing 'gender affirming care'
DOJ claims dissenting pediatricians and Catholic physicians don't have reasonable fear of punishment, but 6th Circuit judges call that "hard to believe" based on HHS statements and theorize investigation itself is "the punishment."