The Free Speech Center
@freespeechcenter.bsky.social
Non-profit and non-partisan public policy center based at Middle Tennessee State University. Our mission is to support First Amendment freedoms through education and information. freespeech.center
In the latest newsletter … Trump’s effect on campus free speech … gender pronouns lose in court … Calif. antisemitism law challenged … Loomer wields Pentagon press pass … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/yc45ha5d
Fear 101 / Half empty / Hard-pressed
Fear 101. Potentially lawless hardball tactics against California universities by the Trump administration is affecting free speech on cam...
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In the latest newsletter … Trump’s effect on campus free speech … gender pronouns lose in court … Calif. antisemitism law challenged … Loomer wields Pentagon press pass … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/yc45ha5d
Texas can enforce a 2023 law that restricts some public drag shows, a federal appeals court ruled Nov. 6. tinyurl.com/4hdfpsat
Texas ban on sexually explicit drag shows can be enforced, federal appeals court rules
Senate Bill 12 prohibits drag performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain prosthetics on public property or in front of children.
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Texas can enforce a 2023 law that restricts some public drag shows, a federal appeals court ruled Nov. 6. tinyurl.com/4hdfpsat
Landor v. Louisiana stands out because it underscores the complexity and far-reaching nature of religious freedom laws in the United States and the increasingly diverse faith traditions to which they apply. tinyurl.com/3h697z5a
Supreme Court to hear religious-freedom case that unites both sides of church-state divide
Landor's case illustrates that minority religions should have as much protection under the First Amendment as larger faiths.
tinyurl.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Landor v. Louisiana stands out because it underscores the complexity and far-reaching nature of religious freedom laws in the United States and the increasingly diverse faith traditions to which they apply. tinyurl.com/3h697z5a
A divided federal appeals court in Ohio ruled against the state’s fourth-largest school district on Nov. 6 in a case that pitted its gender-pronoun policies against the rights of students who say there are only two genders. tinyurl.com/bdenryts
Appeals court sides with parent group in fight over Ohio school district's pronoun policy
The 6th Circuit found the district "has fallen far short" of meeting the standard that allowing such speech would "materially and substantially disrupt" school activities or infringe the legal "rights...
tinyurl.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 PM
A divided federal appeals court in Ohio ruled against the state’s fourth-largest school district on Nov. 6 in a case that pitted its gender-pronoun policies against the rights of students who say there are only two genders. tinyurl.com/bdenryts
With the Pentagon’s press room largely cleared of mainstream reporters, conservative activist and presidential ally Laura Loomer says she has been granted a credential to work there. tinyurl.com/4p9tpdj6
Conservative activist Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, says she has new Pentagon press pass
Although Trump has downplayed Loomer's influence, the president last spring fired a handful of National Security Council officials after she had presented him with evidence of their supposed disloyalt...
tinyurl.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
With the Pentagon’s press room largely cleared of mainstream reporters, conservative activist and presidential ally Laura Loomer says she has been granted a credential to work there. tinyurl.com/4p9tpdj6
The law gives educators the impression that they could be charged with discrimination “if they expose their students to ideas, information, and instructional materials that may be considered critical of the State of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism,” the complaint says. tinyurl.com/3zyw3jhv
Arab-American group sues over new Calif. antisemitism law
The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, does not define antisemitism but gives educators the impression that they could be charged with discrimination.
tinyurl.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The law gives educators the impression that they could be charged with discrimination “if they expose their students to ideas, information, and instructional materials that may be considered critical of the State of Israel and the philosophy of Zionism,” the complaint says. tinyurl.com/3zyw3jhv
“I was struck by how much of what didn’t air from the interview were the parts that seemed more rant-filled and often confusing,” wrote journalist Rick Ellis, who painstakingly compared transcripts of the full interview and what CBS broadcast for the website All Your Screens. tinyurl.com/47eec3wz
Anatomy of a news story: ‘60 Minutes’ invites audience into the editing process with Trump interview
Transcript offered viewers a rare look inside the editing process at one of journalism’s best-known institutions, showing the dozens of decisions on clarity and newsworthiness that go into telling the...
tinyurl.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
“I was struck by how much of what didn’t air from the interview were the parts that seemed more rant-filled and often confusing,” wrote journalist Rick Ellis, who painstakingly compared transcripts of the full interview and what CBS broadcast for the website All Your Screens. tinyurl.com/47eec3wz
“This lack of access has limited the public’s ability to obtain information from independent observers about execution proceedings in Tennessee,” the lawsuit says. tinyurl.com/4sxrcwnv
Media coalition sues Tenn. prison officials to get more access to executions
They're seeking a judgment that the protocols are unconstitutional and an injunction to allow the press to see the full execution process.
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November 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
“This lack of access has limited the public’s ability to obtain information from independent observers about execution proceedings in Tennessee,” the lawsuit says. tinyurl.com/4sxrcwnv
“In a direct assault on the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, IU fired James Rodenbush when he refused the directive to censor student work in the campus newspaper and print only fluff pieces about the upcoming homecoming festivities,” the complaint reads. tinyurl.com/4jc2faj2
Fired Indiana University student newspaper adviser claims free-speech violation in federal lawsuit
Editors of the Indiana Daily Student announced yesterday that the university had backtracked on its decision to cut future print editions for the rest of the school year.
tinyurl.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:32 PM
“In a direct assault on the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, IU fired James Rodenbush when he refused the directive to censor student work in the campus newspaper and print only fluff pieces about the upcoming homecoming festivities,” the complaint reads. tinyurl.com/4jc2faj2
“China will work with the U.S. to properly resolve issues related to TikTok,” China’s Commerce Ministry said after the meeting. tinyurl.com/ya343m6d
China says it 'will work with U.S.' to resolve issues related to TikTok
China gave no details on any progress toward ending uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the U.S.
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October 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
“China will work with the U.S. to properly resolve issues related to TikTok,” China’s Commerce Ministry said after the meeting. tinyurl.com/ya343m6d
“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests,” the lawsuit says. tinyurl.com/53wj9u2r
D.C. police detained man for protesting National Guard patrol with Darth Vader song, lawsuit says
The lawsuit accuses police of violating Sam O'Hara's First Amendment rights to free speech and his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizures and excessive force.
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October 29, 2025 at 11:19 PM
“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests,” the lawsuit says. tinyurl.com/53wj9u2r
Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was being held Oct. 27 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was detained by ICE officers at San Francisco International Airport, according to federal officials. tinyurl.com/44w8fya7
British political commentator detained by ICE at Calif. airport
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was being held Oct. 27 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was detained by ICE officers at San Francisco International ...
tinyurl.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Sami Hamdi, a British political commentator, was being held Oct. 27 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was detained by ICE officers at San Francisco International Airport, according to federal officials. tinyurl.com/44w8fya7
“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said NPR's president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.” tinyurl.com/mry6cc3u
PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts
Donations exceed expectations in some places, but some stations are already making the difficult decisions of cutting staff.
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October 27, 2025 at 7:55 PM
“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said NPR's president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.” tinyurl.com/mry6cc3u
“It was an honor to be recognized by the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, an organization that relentlessly fights for the public’s right to know. Shining a light on increasingly secretive government is essential work,” Paulson said in remarks. tinyurl.com/2fze4e6n
Paulson wins Voice of Freedom Award
"It was an honor to be recognized by the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, an organization that relentlessly fights for the public's right to know. Shining a light on increasingly secretive gov...
tinyurl.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
“It was an honor to be recognized by the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, an organization that relentlessly fights for the public’s right to know. Shining a light on increasingly secretive government is essential work,” Paulson said in remarks. tinyurl.com/2fze4e6n
“Plaintiffs have a presumptive First Amendment right of access to newly filed complaints, which attaches upon the court’s receipt of such complaints,” the judge wrote in the ruling. tinyurl.com/murnz55z
Federal judge says Vt. judiciary can't delay making public court documents filed in civil cases
According to the legal action, the timely access to the filings allows for the public to understand what's happening in the court system, provides for accountability and informs people about matters o...
tinyurl.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
“Plaintiffs have a presumptive First Amendment right of access to newly filed complaints, which attaches upon the court’s receipt of such complaints,” the judge wrote in the ruling. tinyurl.com/murnz55z
“In the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics. And the protection for political speech doesn’t give a student carte blanche to use vulgarity at school — even when that vulgarity is cloaked in innuendo or euphemism,” said judges John Nalbandian and Karen Nelson Moore. tinyurl.com/3z3easn8
Appeals court backs Mich. school in banning 'Let's Go Brandon' shirts
The school said it wasn't prohibiting political messages, just vulgar ones.
tinyurl.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
“In the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics. And the protection for political speech doesn’t give a student carte blanche to use vulgarity at school — even when that vulgarity is cloaked in innuendo or euphemism,” said judges John Nalbandian and Karen Nelson Moore. tinyurl.com/3z3easn8
Tension between Indiana University and its student newspaper flared last week with the elimination of the outlet’s print editions and the firing of a faculty adviser, who refused an order to keep news stories out of a homecoming edition. tinyurl.com/4htut6rb
Indiana University fires student newspaper adviser who refused to block news stories
Advocates for student media, Indiana Daily Student alumni and high-profile supporters including billionaire Mark Cuban have blasted the school for stepping on the newspaper's independence.
tinyurl.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Tension between Indiana University and its student newspaper flared last week with the elimination of the outlet’s print editions and the firing of a faculty adviser, who refused an order to keep news stories out of a homecoming edition. tinyurl.com/4htut6rb
“The attempts to promote religion in the classroom and the abuses of power that the Oklahoma State Department of Education engaged in under Walters’ tenure should never happen in Oklahoma or anywhere in the United States again,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement. tinyurl.com/2p9n9pwx
New Okla. schools superintendent rescinds mandate for Bible instruction
Many schools districts across the state had decided not to comply with the Bible mandate.
tinyurl.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
“The attempts to promote religion in the classroom and the abuses of power that the Oklahoma State Department of Education engaged in under Walters’ tenure should never happen in Oklahoma or anywhere in the United States again,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement. tinyurl.com/2p9n9pwx
“Today’s ruling is a victory not only for our plaintiffs, but all of those who express themselves on college campuses across Texas,” said FIRE Senior Supervising Attorney JT Morris. tinyurl.com/4aw7hpt6
VICTORY: Federal court halts Texas’ ‘no First Amendment after dark’ campus-speech ban
Passed after protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Senate Bill 2972 would have forced public universities to ban “expressive activities” from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., which it defined as “any spee...
tinyurl.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
“Today’s ruling is a victory not only for our plaintiffs, but all of those who express themselves on college campuses across Texas,” said FIRE Senior Supervising Attorney JT Morris. tinyurl.com/4aw7hpt6
“It’s sad, but I’m also really proud of the press corps that we stuck together,” said Nancy Youssef, a reporter for The Atlantic who had had a desk at the Pentagon since 2007. tinyurl.com/ymypktem
Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules
It is unclear what practical impact the new rules will have, as news organizations vowed they'd continue robust coverage of the military no matter the vantage point.
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October 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“It’s sad, but I’m also really proud of the press corps that we stuck together,” said Nancy Youssef, a reporter for The Atlantic who had had a desk at the Pentagon since 2007. tinyurl.com/ymypktem
The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by U.S. officials to have made derisive comments or made light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month. tinyurl.com/2s6vcrhr
U.S. revokes visas for 6 foreigners over anti-Charlie Kirk speech
The six foreigners who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa. They were not identified.
tinyurl.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners deemed by U.S. officials to have made derisive comments or made light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month. tinyurl.com/2s6vcrhr
Fox News, the former employer of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has joined a near-unanimous outpouring of news organizations rejecting new rules for journalists based in the Pentagon. tinyurl.com/5dr2b3zy
News organizations, including Hegseth's former employer Fox News, reject new Pentagon reporting rules
The news organizations that have rejected the rules all say they will continue covering the U.S. military, even without being permitted on the Pentagon grounds. Barring a change from either side, the ...
tinyurl.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Fox News, the former employer of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has joined a near-unanimous outpouring of news organizations rejecting new rules for journalists based in the Pentagon. tinyurl.com/5dr2b3zy
President Trump is claiming that his executive order attempt to criminalize burning of the American flag negated a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing free-speech protection for such protests. tinyurl.com/rjrhmpjw
Trump claims that flag burning is now illegal
President Donald Trump said his administration ‘took the freedom of speech away’ as it relates to flag burnings, an activity that the Supreme Court has ruled is protected under the First Amendment.
tinyurl.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
President Trump is claiming that his executive order attempt to criminalize burning of the American flag negated a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing free-speech protection for such protests. tinyurl.com/rjrhmpjw
“The court ruled in AP’s favor — in a strong opinion in support of free speech — and the government is appealing,” AP spokesman Patrick Maks said. “As we’ve said throughout, the press and the public have a fundamental right to speak freely without government retaliation.” tinyurl.com/4fz4zczr
Associated Press disputes Trump's false characterization of its legal fight over access
In fact, the AP won its case against Trump, but the president won a delay in getting the ruling enforced before the U.S. Court of Appeals considers the issue.
tinyurl.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“The court ruled in AP’s favor — in a strong opinion in support of free speech — and the government is appealing,” AP spokesman Patrick Maks said. “As we’ve said throughout, the press and the public have a fundamental right to speak freely without government retaliation.” tinyurl.com/4fz4zczr
Paramount said Oct. 7 that it had bought the news and commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, saying it believes the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based. tinyurl.com/42d868f9
Bari Weiss is new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website
Weiss has worked in opinion journalism and has little background in broadcast journalism. She has described herself politically as a centrist and wrote a column for The New York Post in 2021 headlined...
tinyurl.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Paramount said Oct. 7 that it had bought the news and commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, saying it believes the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based. tinyurl.com/42d868f9