The Free Speech Center

White House must restore access to spending database, appeals court rules The Trump administration has until Aug. 15 to make the data available online again, the three-judge panel unanimously agreed.

“Two of the three appeals judges assigned to the matter also signed onto a forceful opinion declaring that the administration’s bid to conceal the data was an affront to Congress’ authority over government spending,” a Politico report said. tinyurl.com/425an5fy

Closure of Midwest-based newspaper chain leaves dozens of communities without a news source U.S. has lost more than a third of its print newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2004 as the news media has struggled to adopt to a changing readership and revenue landscape.

“No one in Huron, nor any of the other papers, knew this was coming today,” Benjamin Chase, managing editor of the Huron Plainsman in South Dakota, said in a social media post. “We’re all in shock and attempting to figure out how to move forward.” tinyurl.com/y2axtbh2

Court blocks Wash. state law forcing priests to disclose 'abuse and neglect' in confessions The new law flies in the face of traditionally recognized priest-penitent privilege, wherein information revealed during confession for forgiveness of sins is to remain secret.

A Washington state law that would have required Catholic priests to report “abuse or neglect” divulged during confession has been blocked by a federal court, The Olympian newspaper reported. tinyurl.com/5n8hum4s

ABC, CBS settlements with Trump are dangerous step toward commander in chief's becoming editor-in-chief It's not certain what the ABC and CBS settlements portend, but many are predicting they will produce a "chilling effect" within the network news divisions.

"I don’t think reporters, editors and producers plan to let Donald Trump become their editor-in-chief over the next three years," writes Michael J. Socolow, professor in the University of Maine's Department of Communication and Journalism. "But we’ll only know by watching." tinyurl.com/3n26j5kk

Cell service / Too late / Feline blue Cell service. The same president who broadly used the term “fake news” is now answering calls from reporters directly on his personal phone...

In the latest newsletter ... President Trump answers reporters' calls himself ... Paramount "bias monitor" reporting to Trump ... crowd-sourced fact-checking fails ... Blue Angels, Instagram and a dying cat ... and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/yyns6xjk

Trump administration choking off essential government information There's no way to find out whether policies and programs are working without credible data collected over a long period of time.

President Donald Trump’s firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer has been drawing criticism. But it’s not the first time that his administration has taken steps that could weaken the integrity of some government data. tinyurl.com/yrykv352

How journalists leaving legacy news strive to survive in new media The danger for independent journalists is a market reaching a saturation point. People already stress over how many streaming services they can afford for entertainment.

“If I’m going to jump off a cliff, is there water or not?” former “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd says. “I didn’t know until I left NBC. Everybody told me there would be water. But you don’t know for sure until you jump.” tinyurl.com/2u6esu2k

UCLA reaches $6 million settlement with Jewish students, professor over campus protests The University of California, one of the nation's largest public university systems, has since created systemwide campus guidelines on protests.

“Today’s settlement reflects a critically important goal that we share with the plaintiffs: to foster a safe, secure and inclusive environment for all members of our community and ensure that there is no room for antisemitism anywhere on campus,” UC Board of Regents Chair said. tinyurl.com/cm748jpb

Free speech for middle schoolers: The making of a curriculum Regardless of which cases are chosen, free-speech discussions are reliably contentious.

Meg Mott, professor of politics emerita at Marlboro College, offers a success story about engaging middle school students on First Amendment topics. tinyurl.com/2395k35k

Hulk Hogan's sex-tape lawsuit had a lasting effect on cases involving celebrity privacy The case showed that, in certain circumstances, celebrities could persuade a jury that their right to privacy outweighs the freedom of the press — even when the published material was true.

“Now more people, including judges, understand that it’s possible to sue someone for revealing something truthful, as long as that something is deeply personal and its publication is highly offensive,” said Amy Gajda, a Brooklyn Law School professor. tinyurl.com/2ys2daey

Who's calling? A reporter, and it's often President Donald Trump answering Trump's style of dealing with the news media is the definition of unique, Ari Fleischer said.

“There have been multiple times that people who work for the president have made clear that they weren’t happy he was talking to me,” reporter Michael Scherer said. “But they don’t get to make the decisions. It’s his decision.” tinyurl.com/yhj2bad7

Felony charges dropped against 2 Ohio journalists arrested during immigration protest The journalists also face misdemeanor charges that include failing to disperse, obstructing emergency responders, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

“A free press is critical to a functioning democracy, and those members of the press who, like our clients, merely cover a story enjoy the full protection of the U.S. and Kentucky constitutions to do so,” staff attorney William Sharp said in a statement. tinyurl.com/yatu6ays

Did money or politics cause Colbert cancellation? Either way, the economics are tough for TV The television industry's declining economic health means similar hard calls are already being made with personalities and programming, with others to be faced in the future.

“It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race,” Andy Cohen, host of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” told The Associated Press. “I mean, they are turning off the lights after the news.” tinyurl.com/vuhwuxkf

Trump administration releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite family's opposition Among the documents are leads the FBI received after King's assassination and details of the CIA's fixation on King's pivot to international anti-war and anti-poverty movements in the years before he ...

“It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society,” the King Center, linking those challenges to MLK’s efforts. tinyurl.com/rfdev4ps

Appeals court won't reinstate AP access to presidential events Next up: This fall, the appeals court considers those full merits.

“We are disappointed by today’s procedural decision but remain focused on the strong district court opinion in support of free speech as we have our case heard,” said Patrick Maks, an AP spokesman. tinyurl.com/44ss7k42

Unraveled / Showstoppers / Controllers Unraveled. NPR’s David Folkenflik has examined how bipartisan support for public media came undone in the President Trump era. ■ Major new...

In the latest newsletter … public media unraveling … Epstein files … Cincinnati journalists arrested … conversion therapy … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/53cdkjed

Banishing a reporter: Trump escalates battle with Wall Street Journal over Epstein story Since the administration announced it would not release more files from the case against Epstein, factions of Trump's base have turned on him. That has put some normally supportive news outlets in a d...

“There’s nothing inherently wrong with a president bringing a libel suit,” said noted free-speech attorney Floyd Abrams. “But this claim certainly seems like nothing more or less than an effort to suppress speech that our president finds discomforting.” tinyurl.com/32k3kw7x

New Texas law restricting expressive activity on college campuses may have flaws A new Texas law that restricts expressive activity on college campuses in Texas could have some flaws for its overbreadth.

It is easier to support the idea of free expression that one favors than it is to facilitate manifestations of speech that one finds offensive. The recent adoption in Texas of S.B. 2972 regulating free speech on public college and university campuses, illustrates the point. tinyurl.com/yc2cptwk

Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch over reporting on Epstein ties WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch on July 18, a day after the newspaper published a story reporting on...

A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the Journal‘s publisher, responded Friday night: “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.” tinyurl.com/29krkp89

Hispanic journalist in Atlanta detained by ICE speaks out Mario Guevara tells the AJC about his month behind bars, and his once positive feelings toward Donald Trump.

“I’m plainly convinced that my situation in this ICE jail is direct retaliation for my coverage,” Mario Guevara told @ajc.com in an exclusive interview from the Folkston, Georgia ICE detention center where he is currently detained, despite a judge's bail order. “I haven’t committed any crimes.”

Idaho judge lifts sweeping gag order in Kohberger quadruple-murder case Judge says he can't justify continuing the gag order because the public has the right to receive information about the case, and those rights are "paramount."

“The primary purpose of the non-dissemination order, which is to ensure that we can seat an impartial jury, is no longer at play,” the judge said. He said he couldn’t justify continuing the gag order because the public has the right to receive information about the case. tinyurl.com/mpx6ysy2

Federal court says Ark. can enforce ban on critical race theory in classrooms 8th Circuit holds that the First Amendment doesn't give students the right to compel the state to offer its instruction in public schools.

“It gives us pause and concern about a steady erosion of individual rights and protections in this great country,” attorney Mike Laux said in a statement. “Nonetheless, major aspects of this lawsuit remain viable, and they will proceed in due course.” tinyurl.com/kjyz424h

Death threats over Texas-flooding cartoon force museum journalism event to be postponed An online fury erupted this week over an editorial cartoon in The Buffalo News by Pulitzer Prize-winner Adam Zyglis showing a man in a MAGA cap being swept away by Texas floodwaters.

“We wholly condemn the individuals who have chosen to twist a positive, public event into an attempt to terrorize and silence Zyglis, spread fear among journalists and their supporters, and distort the mission of a free press,” the Buffalo Newspaper Guild said in an online post. tinyurl.com/4m2p7fnx

Campaign finance and free speech: The extreme and the mainstream the most important political speech is that which may actually persuade, change electoral outcomes, or affect public policy. This is where campaign finance comes in.

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How covering your face became a constitutional matter: Mask debate tests free-speech rights First Amendment advocates oppose anti-mask laws because they deter people from protesting if they fear retaliation.

Can something that covers your mouth protect free speech? Protesters say the answer is an emphatic yes. Several legal experts say it’s only a matter of time before the issue returns to the courts. tinyurl.com/mswskhb6

Wis. Supreme Court clears the way for conversion-therapy ban Those opposing a ban say it would violate the free-speech rights of counselors to treat people as the counselors see fit.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way July 8 for the state to institute a ban on conversion therapy. tinyurl.com/26hr22v5

Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn’t lose tax-exempt status, IRS says in filing The Johnson Amendment changed the U.S. tax code to prohibit tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

The Internal Revenue Service says pastors who endorse political candidates from the pulpit should not have to risk losing their tax-exempt status. tinyurl.com/3j98zcjc

A century after Scopes was convicted of teaching evolution, the debate on religion in schools rages The role of religion in public schools — and whether to keep it out entirely — is still being fiercely debated.

One hundred years ago, a public high school teacher stood trial in Dayton, Tenn., for teaching human evolution. His nation is still feeling the reverberations today. tinyurl.com/3hha8t2f

Scopes at 100 / Lesson plan / Betting man Scopes at 100. A century ago, the ‘‘most famous trial in America’’ helped tackle questions about free speech and freedom of religion. They ...

In the latest newsletter … Scopes trial at 100 years … age verification at porn sites … AI’s First Amendment implications … campaign finance … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/pby5dxd7

Federal trial starts over Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus activists BOSTON (AP) — Plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s arrests and deportations of faculty and students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations argued July 7 it was an...

“Not since the McCarthy era have immigrants been the target of such intense repression for lawful political speech,” said Ramya Krishnan, senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, to the court. tinyurl.com/2pyx9yr8