Douglas Soule

Despite budgetary pressures, this Florida school board spends big bucks on banning books The Escambia County School Board has spent nearly $1 million on legal fees to keep certain books out of school libraries.

"And Tango Makes Three" costs less than $8 on Amazon.

But it's costing a #Florida school board more than $300,000 to keep that children's picture book off school library shelves. www.wusf.org/politics-iss... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

DeSantis 'very seriously' weighing new Florida congressional map in battle for GOP House control Gov. Ron DeSantis wants an unprecedented mid-decade Census to boost Florida's congressional representation. Even if that doesn't happen, he's looking at how to rework the U.S. House map anyway.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’s looking “very seriously” at a new congressional map. The current one already heavily favors Republicans.

Here's what to know.

Chuck E. Cheese employee in mouse costume arrested by TPD for credit card fraud TPD spokesperson Jerome Maples confirmed the legitimacy of the photos and said that TPD arrested a man on three felonies.

Chuck E. Cheese has been arrested in Tallahassee, Florida.

Friday vote in Florida could be higher education ‘foundation rocker’ With the board overseeing Florida’s public universities set to vote Friday afternoon on whether to create a new accreditor, some say a massive shift is coming to higher education.

With the board overseeing Florida’s public universities set to vote Friday afternoon on whether to create a new accreditor, some say a massive shift is coming to higher education.

I’m back on Bluesky!

First Amendment in Trump's second term: 'We're going to be busy,' free speech group says Trump’s actions and rhetoric have served as a lightning rod of constitutional controversy, drawing concern from First Amendment advocates.

Good overview of First Amendment (religion, speech, press, assembly, petition) issues popping up in this presidential term, and what various 1A groups are saying about them. by @douglassoule.bsky.social
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www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p...

'Anti-trans bias': Florida school district met with blowback for banning LGBTQ+ book Escambia, Florida's westernmost county, has been a hot spot for book banning.

#Florida school district meets with blowback for banning LGBTQ+ book www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/p... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

Porn in Florida: As age verification takes effect, some sites ignore it, some block access Pornhub, the most popular adult entertainment website in the world, is one of those barring access to those within Sunshine State lines.

Some porn sites now blocked, but others ignore new #Florida law on age verification www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

Porn in Florida: As age verification takes effect, some sites ignore it, some block access Pornhub, the most popular adult entertainment website in the world, is one of those barring access to those within Sunshine State lines.

Florida Attorney Ashley Moody's office says it's already investigating porn websites for not complying with the age verification law that took effect Jan. 1.

Porn in Florida: As age verification takes effect, some sites ignore it, some block access Pornhub, the most popular adult entertainment website in the world, is one of those barring access to those within Sunshine State lines.

A Florida law requiring age verification to visit porn platforms online took effect on New Year's Day, but a number of websites are either just blocking access in the state or not complying at all.

Citing tax dollars spent, judge urges Florida school district to settle book ban lawsuit The Escambia County School Board, meanwhile, has refused to budge.

Citing tax dollars spent, judge urges #Florida school district to settle book ban lawsuit www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

Lawsuit filed against Florida law requiring age verification to access porn in 2025 A Florida law requires pornographic websites to have age verification by New Year's Day but a new federal lawsuit is trying to get that struck down.

A Florida law requires pornographic websites to have age verification by New Year's Day, but a new federal lawsuit is trying to get that struck down.

Citing tax dollars spent, judge urges Florida school district to settle book ban lawsuit The Escambia County School Board, meanwhile, has refused to budge.

A federal judge is recommending that a Florida school board enter into a settlement with those suing it for book banning, citing how it's spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover legal fees.

Lakeland woman accused of threatening insurance company receives donations, words of support Briana Boston, accused of making a threat during a phone call with her insurance company, has received an outpouring of kind words and money for her defense.

Donations have poured into a GoFundMe account for a Lakeland woman, Briana Boston, who has drawn international attention for her arrest last week after she allegedly uttered the phase “delay, deny, depose” on a phone call with an insurance representative.

First Amendment or threat? Florida woman's arrest after CEO shooting sparks online uproar She said "healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil," police wrote in a Tuesday arrest affidavit.

First Amendment or threat? #Florida woman's arrest after CEO shooting sparks online uproar www.theledger.com/story/news/l... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

'You people are next': Social media reacts to Florida woman's alleged insurance threat She said "healthcare companies played games and deserved karma from the world because they are evil," police wrote in a Tuesday arrest affidavit.

The arrest of a Lakeland, Florida, woman accused of threatening her health insurance provider following denied claims has sparked a national debate about when First Amendment-protected speech veers into illegal threats.

Lakeland woman threatens insurance company, says ‘Delay, Deny, Depose’: police A Lakeland woman was charged Tuesday after police said she ended a call to an insurance company with the words, “Delay, Deny, Depose.”

A Lakeland, Florida, woman whose medical insurance claims were denied has been arrested after allegedly telling her insurance company, “Delay, Deny, Depose. You people are next."

Florida to spend up to $15 million on school material review technology for DeSantis laws Transparency or censorship? Florida is spending millions on a new tool for the public to review and object to school instructional materials and books.

Florida is spending millions on a “statewide, centralized, easily accessible” system for the public to review and object to school instructional materials and books.

DeSantis’ administration says it’s a transparency tool.

But it has raised concerns about censorship.

Deltona mayor calls for Volusia School Board chair's removal after disparaging remarks The new chair spoke about falsifying information to get agenda items passed and made derogatory remarks about students and fellow board members.

At a Moms for Liberty event, Jessie Thompson — the new Volusia County School Board chair in Florida — made a disparaging remark about a local high school's students and admitted to feeding false data to the board to get agenda items passed.

'Nothing's going to stop me': Florida's No. 1 book banner interviewed by 'The Daily Show' "In the last two years, I've challenged more than one book every calendar day," said Bruce Friedman, a conservative activist who says he's filed more than 900 objections.

"Nothing's going to stop me": #Florida's No. 1 book banner interviewed by "The Daily Show" www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/p... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

'Nothing's going to stop me': Florida's No. 1 book banner interviewed by 'The Daily Show' "In the last two years, I've challenged more than one book every calendar day," said Bruce Friedman, a conservative activist who says he's filed more than 900 objections.

Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" interviewed the "No. 1 book banner" in Florida, the state that has more books pulled from public schools than any other in the nation.

"Nothing's going to stop me," he said.
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p...

Too 'Wicked'? Novel that spawned movie is often removed from Florida school shelves The “Wicked” movie is popular, but the "Wicked" book has been pulled in some Florida school districts.

Want to read "Wicked" after seeing the movie? You can't in some #Florida schools -- it's been banned www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p... via @douglassoule.bsky.social

Too 'Wicked'? Novel that spawned movie is often removed from Florida school shelves The “Wicked” movie is popular, but the "Wicked" book has been pulled in some Florida school districts.

"Wicked” is popular. It had the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical ever and continues to defy gravity in the box office.

But the book version has been removed from multiple school districts in Florida.

I explored where and why:
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p...

Today I’m not thankful for the NYT Spelling Bee.

Why’d they make it so hard?!

Was a Florida school district's ban of a penguin book against the First Amendment? The case in question has high-stakes constitutional consequences.

A Florida school district wouldn't let a “Playboy” or a book about bomb-making sit in its libraries. That's why the Escambia County School Board says it should be able to remove an award-winning children’s picture book about a same-sex penguin pair.
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p...

The school district argues book bans represent "government speech," which is immune from First Amendment restrictions.

"When the government speaks, it may refuse to endorse or freely remove speech of which it disapproves," it wrote.

This came today from attorneys representing Escambia County Public Schools, where "And Tango Makes Three" has been removed by the school board. It's a children's picture book about a same-sex penguin pair raising a chick together.

They want a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed by its authors.

A Florida school district's defense of its ban on a children's book about a same-sex penguin pair:

If a "school library included a Playboy magazine or a book depicting how to make a homemade bomb, a reasonable observer likewise would hold the Board accountable for such an oversight in judgment."

Back again.

Florida again argues books ban are 'government speech,' not prohibited by First Amendment "The selection of public-school-library books is government speech and therefore not subject to the First Amendment," it said in a Friday filing.

In yet another case, Florida's government is arguing that book removals in public schools are "government speech," meaning they are unrestricted by the First Amendment.

It's a controversial legal argument, which free speech advocates have called "authoritarian.”
www.tallahassee.com/story/news/p...