Gabe Walters
@gabewalters.bsky.social
Free speech lawyer at FIRE. Formerly at PETA. UVA Law grad. Licensed in DC and NY. Opinions are my own.
smdh
Hey @nytimes.com, do you have literally *any* First Amendment experts on staff, because this is embarrassing.
Glad you're speaking up about this, but feels like you should... not make basic mistakes like this?
cc: @kenwhite.bsky.social
Glad you're speaking up about this, but feels like you should... not make basic mistakes like this?
cc: @kenwhite.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
smdh
Reposted by Gabe Walters
As a favor to me, if you write about this Administration’s free speech positions, avoid giving them too much credit by calling the “hypocrites.” They were NEVER SINCERE about freedom of speech as a value. It was only occasionally a useful cudgel for them to preserve societal and official power.
September 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
As a favor to me, if you write about this Administration’s free speech positions, avoid giving them too much credit by calling the “hypocrites.” They were NEVER SINCERE about freedom of speech as a value. It was only occasionally a useful cudgel for them to preserve societal and official power.
Reposted by Gabe Walters
Trump:
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
September 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Trump:
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
Reposted by Gabe Walters
Push back against the apathy, against the failure of imagination that leads some to say, "this is not a big deal." I'm really scared for our country's future. Our freedom to speak, and especially to criticize those who govern us, is in grave danger. 2/2
September 18, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Push back against the apathy, against the failure of imagination that leads some to say, "this is not a big deal." I'm really scared for our country's future. Our freedom to speak, and especially to criticize those who govern us, is in grave danger. 2/2
Reposted by Gabe Walters
ABC has spinelessly and swiftly responded to the government pressure and suspended Kimmel indefinitely.
My statement on this disappointing update:
My statement on this disappointing update:
September 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
ABC has spinelessly and swiftly responded to the government pressure and suspended Kimmel indefinitely.
My statement on this disappointing update:
My statement on this disappointing update:
Reposted by Gabe Walters
Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared to rebuke calls to target “hate speech” in an apparent swipe at Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Every time I listen to a lawyer-trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way, I think to myself, that law school failed,” said Sotomayor.
“Every time I listen to a lawyer-trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way, I think to myself, that law school failed,” said Sotomayor.
Sotomayor rebukes calls to ‘criminalize free speech’ in apparent swipe at Pam Bondi
The justice, in public remarks, didn’t name the attorney general, who has come under fire for comments to target people over “hate speech.”
www.politico.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared to rebuke calls to target “hate speech” in an apparent swipe at Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Every time I listen to a lawyer-trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way, I think to myself, that law school failed,” said Sotomayor.
“Every time I listen to a lawyer-trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way, I think to myself, that law school failed,” said Sotomayor.
Reposted by Gabe Walters
“White House Plans to Create One-Party State”
Pretty crazy how "America is a legit, no bullshit fascist country" is now a NYT headline.
White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups
www.nytimes.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
“White House Plans to Create One-Party State”
Reposted by Gabe Walters
They used Kirk’s podcast to praise his alleged commitment to free speech, while announcing that they’ll be using the full force of the federal government to silence the left.
Just so we’re clear on how disingenuous this is: Vance mentioned Soros by name. Soros has never promoted violence.
Just so we’re clear on how disingenuous this is: Vance mentioned Soros by name. Soros has never promoted violence.
White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups
www.nytimes.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
They used Kirk’s podcast to praise his alleged commitment to free speech, while announcing that they’ll be using the full force of the federal government to silence the left.
Just so we’re clear on how disingenuous this is: Vance mentioned Soros by name. Soros has never promoted violence.
Just so we’re clear on how disingenuous this is: Vance mentioned Soros by name. Soros has never promoted violence.
Reposted by Gabe Walters
1/ This week, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer demanded that the Wikimedia Foundation hand over information on editorial policies & individual contributors to help the committee investigate "propaganda" on Wikipedia.
These demands are offensive to 1st Amendment values
These demands are offensive to 1st Amendment values
August 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
1/ This week, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer demanded that the Wikimedia Foundation hand over information on editorial policies & individual contributors to help the committee investigate "propaganda" on Wikipedia.
These demands are offensive to 1st Amendment values
These demands are offensive to 1st Amendment values
I couldn’t care less if influencers get paid, or if they coordinate messaging with each other or funders, or even with candidates. At the end of the day, it’s all First Amendment-protected political speech. And that’s why Citizens United was correctly decided.
August 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I couldn’t care less if influencers get paid, or if they coordinate messaging with each other or funders, or even with candidates. At the end of the day, it’s all First Amendment-protected political speech. And that’s why Citizens United was correctly decided.
Hey Dems, can we finally stop pretending that Citizens United portends democracy’s demise?
apple.news/AKTtXtnJzSYi...
apple.news/AKTtXtnJzSYi...
A Dark Money Group Is Secretly Funding High-Profile Democratic Influencers — WIRED
An initiative aimed at boosting Democrats online offers influencers up to $8,000 a month to push the party line. All they have to do is keep it secret—and agree to restrictions on their content.
apple.news
August 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Hey Dems, can we finally stop pretending that Citizens United portends democracy’s demise?
apple.news/AKTtXtnJzSYi...
apple.news/AKTtXtnJzSYi...
Reposted by Gabe Walters
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
August 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
Unitary executive for me, major questions doctrine for thee
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The umpire who picked a side: John Roberts and the death of rule of law in America
The chief justice of the US has painted himself as a modern institutionalist over the past 20 years. Experts say he’s emboldening Trump’s drive toward authoritarianism
www.theguardian.com
August 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Unitary executive for me, major questions doctrine for thee
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Gabe Walters
VICTORY! In a win for student expression on campus, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a lower court's decision, sided with FIRE’s clients, and blocked West Texas A&M University’s unconstitutional ban on drag shows.
August 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
VICTORY! In a win for student expression on campus, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a lower court's decision, sided with FIRE’s clients, and blocked West Texas A&M University’s unconstitutional ban on drag shows.
Reposted by Gabe Walters
BREAKING: FIRE is suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the laws he is using to target lawfully present noncitizens for speech protected by the Constitution.
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
LAWSUIT: FIRE challenges unconstitutional provisions Rubio uses in crusade to deport legal immigrants over protected speech
FIRE seeks a landmark ruling that the First Amendment forbids the government from deporting lawfully present noncitizens for constitutionally protected speech
www.thefire.org
August 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
BREAKING: FIRE is suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the laws he is using to target lawfully present noncitizens for speech protected by the Constitution.
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
The most unbelievable part of Fantastic Four: First Steps? Nations cooperating and individuals making personal sacrifices in the face of a global existential threat.
July 28, 2025 at 2:55 AM
The most unbelievable part of Fantastic Four: First Steps? Nations cooperating and individuals making personal sacrifices in the face of a global existential threat.
In a country of JD Vance Catholics, be a Stephen Colbert Catholic.
July 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
In a country of JD Vance Catholics, be a Stephen Colbert Catholic.
Reposted by Gabe Walters
“Superman is too woke!”
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
July 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
“Superman is too woke!”
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Jim Ryan’s a good man and a good leader. I wish him the best. It’s heartbreaking that he was railroaded out of office by people who disagree with him on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
June 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Jim Ryan’s a good man and a good leader. I wish him the best. It’s heartbreaking that he was railroaded out of office by people who disagree with him on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I stand with Jim Ryan against this thuggery. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/u...
Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I stand with Jim Ryan against this thuggery. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/u...
Ok but how does Dick Cheney feel about Trump now? Is Paul Wolfowitz calling Marco Rubio for a job? Is somebody dusting off Richard Perle?
June 22, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Ok but how does Dick Cheney feel about Trump now? Is Paul Wolfowitz calling Marco Rubio for a job? Is somebody dusting off Richard Perle?
Con law profs: new presidential powers final exam hypo unlocked www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/b...
‘Golden Share’ in U.S. Steel Gives Trump Extraordinary Control
www.nytimes.com
June 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Con law profs: new presidential powers final exam hypo unlocked www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/b...
I’m old enough to remember when the GOP at least pretended to be pro-federalism and pro-localism.
June 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I’m old enough to remember when the GOP at least pretended to be pro-federalism and pro-localism.
If you think Counterman and Elonis were wrongly decided, consider this good those cases are doing: theintercept.com/2025/06/04/f...
How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters
New filings reveal how the FBI tried to unmask the Columbia students’ Instagram account and got blocked in court on free speech grounds.
theintercept.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
If you think Counterman and Elonis were wrongly decided, consider this good those cases are doing: theintercept.com/2025/06/04/f...
My autistic father was proud of me. I’m proud of my autistic son. You know whose father would be ashamed of him? RFK Jr.
April 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
My autistic father was proud of me. I’m proud of my autistic son. You know whose father would be ashamed of him? RFK Jr.