The Free Speech Center

More complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their work? At least one newspaper has been sending journalists out to cover stories by interviewing people, collecting quotes and information, then feeding it into a computer to write.

Like so many sectors of the economy, the news industry is hurtling toward a future where artificial intelligence plays a major role. tinyurl.com/4mpune2c

In the latest newsletter … Minneapolis “peaceable”? … Greenpeace … CNN, CBS News fear “disaster” … presidential naming rights … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/k2r42utc

TrumpRx: Government free speech allows president to name things after himself The government has the right to put Trump's name and images on government property in many cases, but most resulting political protests will also be protected speech.

"The government will have the right to put Trump’s name and images on more government property in many cases, but most resulting political protests, in my view, will also be protected speech," writes Jason Zenor, professor at the State University of New York, Oswego. tinyurl.com/3axrasbs

How AP decided to describe joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and Iran’s retaliation, as a war At this point, the level of fighting constitutes the countries' being at war, no matter what happens next.

The decision by the Trump administration and Israeli leaders to attack and the subsequent destruction and casualties are enough to call the actions, and Iran’s response, a war. tinyurl.com/3t6mxjur

Judge to order Greenpeace to pay an expected $345 million in oil pipeline protest case Greenpeace has said the lawsuit is meant to use the courts to silence activists and critics and chill First Amendment rights.

“These claims never should have reached a jury, and there are many possible legal grounds for appeal – including a lack of evidence to support key findings and valid concerns about the possibility of ensuring fairness,” said Greenpeace USA interim general counsel Marco Simons. tinyurl.com/4ka245hz

First Amendment groups decry decision to block release of special counsel report on Trump classified-documents case Jack Smith investigated Trump's storing of sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left the White House following his first term.

“Judge Cannon’s decision to permanently block the release of this extraordinarily significant report is impossible to square with the First Amendment and the common law,” said Scott Wilkens, senior counsel at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. tinyurl.com/j3e2e547

Court clears way for La. law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms to take effect The 5th Circuit said it was too early to make a judgment call on the constitutionality of the law.

A U.S. appeals court has cleared the way for a Louisiana law requiring poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms to take effect. tinyurl.com/3z6mk9ds

Colbert, Talarico and the FCC: What you need to know FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by President Trump, announced that the FCC no longer believed that talk shows should be exempt from the equal-time rule.

What do you need to know about the equal-time policy, the FCC, and America's talk shows? Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, has answers. tinyurl.com/yc48azj5

Social media companies face legal reckoning over mental-health harms to children Trial outcomes could challenge the companies' First Amendment shield and Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their p...

“This is a monumental inflection point in social media,” said Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center. “When we started doing this four years ago no one said we’d ever get to trial. And here we are trying our case in front of a fair and impartial jury.” tinyurl.com/3v3rk44u

Ten Commandments could go up in Tenn. public schools Bill sponsor says legislation doesn’t require schools to put up displays of historically significant documents but provides local school agencies the option.

The Ten Commandments and other historical documents could be posted in public schools under legislation passed by the Tennessee House. tinyurl.com/2ndc2jfr

2025 Free Speech Center annual update now available New report outlines in detail the programs, projects, publications and activities of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.

“2025 was an eventful and, at times, startling year for the First Amendment,” said FSC Director Ken Paulson. “This report revisits how the center helped build support and understanding of our core American freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.” tinyurl.com/yphhvkyn

In the latest newsletter … ‘Chilling’ crackdown on journalists’ sources … DHS hunts anti-ICE social media … advice to Bezos … ‘ghost guns’ code not protected … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/49u8erft

The American way: Fighting fear with freedom Somehow we’re reluctant to exercise the very freedoms that have made America the most vibrant, creative and successful on earth.

"Shaking off the fear is easier said than done, but this nation has always been best served by people who called out justice and unfairness, without being intimidated," writes Ken Paulson. "Free speech can make all the difference. Just ask the good people of Minneapolis." tinyurl.com/yrcy9935

FIRE sues Bondi, Noem for censoring Facebook group and app reporting ICE activity Courts have consistently held that speech concerning the public activities of law enforcement officers and other government employees is protected by the First Amendment.

Two concerned Midwesterners are fighting back after the platforms they created to report on public Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity were censored by government officials. tinyurl.com/yu47p9t4

Stars and Stripes ombudsman on 'refocus': 'I have to be alarmed' Jacqueline Smith is tasked with reporting to Congress any threats to the mission of providing independent news to U.S. service members and the military community.

"The newspaper has to have credibility," said Jacqueline Smith, ombudsman at Stars and Stripes. "And if the troops don’t receive news that is unbiased, that is non-filtered — not coming through some mouthpiece — how do they know what are they risking their lives for?" tinyurl.com/yc42ymb6

Journalist Don Lemon set to be arraigned in Minn. church-protest case ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon is set to be arraigned in federal court in Minnesota today along with four other defendants who were indicted for their a...

“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable,” Lemon told reporters. tinyurl.com/49497k9w

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that Pentagon officials not only violated Kelly’s First Amendment free-speech rights, but they also “threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees.” tinyurl.com/2z3ashbz

Immigration court blocks deportation of Tufts Turkish graduate student A federal judge said Öztürk raised serious concerns about her First Amendment and due-process rights, as well as her health.

A federal judge said Öztürk raised serious concerns about her First Amendment and due-process rights, as well as her health. The federal government appealed her release to the 2nd Circuit. tinyurl.com/2nd6ds55

FIRE sues Federal Trade Commission over agency’s targeting of news-rating service In recent years, some conservative websites earning lower scores than their conservative competitors have sought government censorship of NewsGuard's ratings.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is filing a federal lawsuit on behalf of the company to protect NewsGuard’s First Amendment rights and remind the federal government it has no business using its power to censor journalism whose reporting it opposes. tinyurl.com/ycjpbe9x

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down after big layoffs Last week's layoffs have led to calls for Bezos either to increase his investment in The Washington Post or sell it to someone who will take a more active role.

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis said Feb. 7 that he would step down, ending a troubled tenure three days after the newspaper said it was laying off a third of its staff. tinyurl.com/aj22my5a

Tenn. appeals court says school shooter's writings can be made public The court battle could set a precedent for how similar records will be treated in cases involving school shootings.

Quoting from earlier court rulings, the appeals court on Wednesday explicitly noted the importance of the Tennessee Public Records Act as “a tool to hold government officials and agencies accountable to the citizens of Tennessee through oversight in government activities.” tinyurl.com/5y6wmzxd

Washington Post cuts a third of its staff in blow to legendary news brand The newspaper has been bleeding subscribers in part due to decisions made by owner Jeff Bezos, including pulling back from an endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.

The Washington Post laid off a third of its staff on Feb. 4, eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage in a widespread purge that represented a brutal blow to journalism and one of its most legendary brands. tinyurl.com/4etvbb5p

Ruling upholds free-speech protections in Tenn. high schools Since 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that “substantial disruption” of school activity should be the yardstick for when public school officials may discipline students for their expression.

Tullahoma, a small city on I-24 between Nashville and Chattanooga, may seem like an unlikely place for a big First Amendment challenge, but for several years one has played out there — and mid-January brought a victory for free speech among high school students. tinyurl.com/ynsbs5jn

Lemon pledge / Kari on / Nip and Tuck Lemon pledge. CNN’s Brian Stelter examined whether the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort in connection with a Minnesota church protest ...

In the latest newsletter … Don Lemon, church and press … social media used to suppress dissent? … Stars and Stripes mission debate … Alabama student magazine shutdowns … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/5n7b7h3x

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announces 2 more arrests in St. Paul church protest The two are among nine indicted for conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Feb. 2 announced two more arrests following a protest at a Minnesota church against the immigration crackdown, bringing the number of people arrested to nine. tinyurl.com/46c4p83z

Journalist Don Lemon charged with federal civil rights crimes after covering anti-ICE church protest Lemon "took steps to maintain operational secrecy by reminding co-conspirators to not disclose the target of their operation," the indictment says, and stepped away so his microphone would not acciden...

“I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” Lemon said. “In fact there is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.” tinyurl.com/53dk2xxb

TikTok settles as social media giants face landmark trial over youth-addiction claims It's the first time the companies will argue their case before a jury, and the outcome could have profound effects on their businesses and how they will handle children using their platforms.

“This was only the first case — there are hundreds of parents and school districts in the social media addiction trials that start today,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the nonprofit Tech Oversight Project. tinyurl.com/5977fhaf

Don’t turn the military’s newspaper into a message platform The Pentagon intends to “refocus” Stars and Stripes reporting toward content “custom tailored to our warfighters,” such as weapon systems and lethality.

"The Americans who serve in our Armed Forces deserve more than information that flatters authority," writes Rufus Friday. "They deserve journalism that respects them enough to tell the truth." tinyurl.com/2ycv5rj2

CBS News chief Bari Weiss tells staff ‘we’re toast’ if they continue on current path She said CBS News is not producing a product that enough people want.

Weiss said that “we in this building need to reflect more of the political friction that animates our national conversation” and “widen the aperture” of stories that CBS tells and voices that the network speaks to. tinyurl.com/36r55x6v

USA Today Co. buys Detroit News USA Today Co., which owns the Detroit Free Press, said Monday that it plans to acquire the Detroit News and bring both major metropolitan newspapers under its banner. The Detroit News and the Detroit ...

USA Today Co., which owns the Detroit Free Press, said Monday that it plans to acquire the Detroit News and bring both major metropolitan newspapers under its banner. tinyurl.com/3c8a9avc