First Amendment News

Yale history professor Timothy Snyder, The New York Times Magazine, January 9, 2021, provides the analysis, context and details of former president Donald Trump’s use of the Big Lie to radicalize a large segment of the public that resulted in the January 6 insurrection. With the acquiescence of Republican members of Congress Trump established himself as the only reliable source of truth. Everyone else lies. His coup failed for lack of military support, but the

In the face of scores of local newspaper shutdowns, nonprofit local initiatives are prospering. Report for America, providing journalists for local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities, is one of the finalists for a MacArthur award of $100,000. The non-profit ProPublica established affiliates in Illinois and Texas and worked with local newspapers on various projects, last year helping the Anchorage Daily News win a Pulitzer. (Poynter, January 26, 2021, by Rick Edmonds) The

Legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein, Asharq Al-Awsat, January 17, 2021, argues that the government can help regulate the social media without censorship. He notes that under the First Amendment there is speech that is not protected, lies and false information that cause serious harm. He suggests that warnings could be attached to lies, “This statement is FALSE.” Governments might consider building on existing approaches, says Sunstein, perhaps by enacting into law the best social media

Despite pledges of transparency about the virus, California Governor Gavin Newsom is withholding key information behind decisions to close or open businesses. Health officials say the information is too complex and if released would only confuse and mislead the public. (Associated Press, January 22, 2021, by Don Thompson) Republicans are already protesting. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA) said about the decision, “Not only does this logically not make sense, it suggests Newsom doesn’t think

President Joe Biden wasted no time in replacing Trump allies running the Voice of America. With the blessing of the Trump administration the VOA leadership was engaged in reassigning, demoting and firing staff for what employees said were political reasons. (NBC News, January 22, 2021, by Dan De Luce) Biden fired Michael Pack, head of the VOA oversight agency, who was instrumental in allegedly attempting to make the VOA and other U.S.-owned networks into Trump