donal brown

The reelection campaign for President Donald Trump is threatening television stations in key states with lawsuits if they do not withdraw liberal PAC ads claiming that Trump said the coronavirus was a hoax. Fact-checkers said it’s misleading to claim Trump called the virus a hoax. The full quote shows that he instead was referring to Democrats’ politicizing the virus. (The Hill, March 25, 2020, by Jonathan Easley) Mark Joseph Stern, Slate, March 26, 2020, called

The First Amendment Coalition and other advocacy organizations sent a letter to California’s Chief Justice to urge her and the court system to maintain courtroom access for the press during the pandemic even as they close their doors to the public. FAC and friends asked that they use telephone hearings on conference lines, use video to allow the public to follow court proceedings and continue making records available in the usual way and to also

California is among the number of states in which news publishers and broadcasters are allowed to continue their work as other businesses are ordered to shut down as nonessential. (New Media Alliance, March 26, 2020, by Staff) But with local businesses closing and withdrawing ads, local newspapers are laying off reporters and asking others to work without pay. At a time when they are needed to cover the pandemic, local news is struggling for survival.

President Donald Trump will have to face charges of violating free press rights by revoking press badges and security clearances. Federal judge Lorna Schofield ruled that PEN America could proceed with hits claim that Trump used his authority to punish The Washington Post, CNN, NBC, and the press corps covering the White House. (The Hollywood Reporter, March 24, 2020, by Eriq Gardner) Schofield said the charges were credible in that Trump had denied reporters access

With no permanent inspector general for Health and Human Services, oversight falters for the Trump administration’s performance regarding the coronavirus pandemic. While watchdog groups say the acting inspector general Christi Grimm is doing her best, she doesn’t have the independence to resist pressure from the administration. In this vacuum, it may be left to whistleblowers to step up with critical information.(Government Executive, March 20, 2020, by Courtney Buble) The Electronic Frontier Foundation and 100 other