Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech

“I Want that Deterrence Message”: Did Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin Just Go Full Kurtz?

This election, Democrats have careened to the far left with calls to pack the Supreme Court, unleash a flurry of impeachments, and investigate Republicans. Few, however, have been as honest as Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.) about the purpose of such threats. Slotkin recently said the quiet part out loud in an interview at my alma mater, the University of Chicago, admitting she wants to deter young people from even considering supporting the Administration… if they know what is good for them. Slotkin seemed to go full Col. Walter Kurtz in the middle of the interview.

Continue reading ““I Want that Deterrence Message”: Did Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin Just Go Full Kurtz?” →

Academia, Media, Politics, Society

Columbia’s Political Review Joins Attack on Students for Expressing Views of Cornell Rape Case

I recently wrote a column on the cancellation of a free press event at Columbia University where student journalists had the temerity to offer their own views on the coverage of the alleged Cornell rape case. Now other “student journalists” are joining the outcry for action after the column’s publication. The Columbia Political Review joined the mob to denounce the authors and the Sundial staff for an essay that “perpetuates a culture of campus violence, rape, and assault.” As depressing as this latest example of viewpoint intolerance is in higher education, there is one redeeming element. The staff editor of the Sundial, Shoshana Aufzien, wrote a magnificent reply to these critics that gives some of us hope that there remain young journalists who understand the essence of free speech.

Continue reading “Columbia’s Political Review Joins Attack on Students for Expressing Views of Cornell Rape Case” →

Academia, Media, Society

Columbia Group Cancels “Press Freedom” Event After Student Column Criticizes the Cornell Case Coverage
Academia, Constitutional Law

Professor Roy Little Responds to Turley Column on the AR-15 Ban Case

Recently, I wrote a column addressing an argument by Professor Rory Little of UC Law (San Francisco) that the historic decision in District of Columbia v. Heller contains an important but often overlooked limitation on gun rights. Professor Little has now responded, and his new column makes salient and intriguing arguments in favor of a narrower reading of Heller and the Second Amendment. While I remain unconvinced, I wanted to share a link to the column for those interested in Second Amendment jurisprudence. Our discussion was triggered by the upcoming argument over the ban on AR-15s in Viramontes v. Cook County.

Continue reading “Professor Roy Little Responds to Turley Column on the AR-15 Ban Case” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Torts

Marc Elias Legal Team Threatens Media with a Lawsuit for Questioning the Health of Democrat Roy Cooper
(MSNBC/via YouTube)

Marc Elias has long been at the center of controversial election tactics, including criminal investigations. If lawyers had to take an oath to first do no harm, the court-sanctioned Democratic lawyer would leave Hippocrates gobsmacked.  Well, Elias is back and his legal team is threatening the media with what appears an entirely meritless defamation lawsuit on behalf of former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. Continue reading “Marc Elias Legal Team Threatens Media with a Lawsuit for Questioning the Health of Democrat Roy Cooper” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech

“We have a Zero-Tolerance Policy”: High School Student “Punished” for Expressing Support for the “Cornell 7”

We have previously discussed high school administrators and teachers who engage in censorship and speech regulation, often targeting religious and conservative students. These cases cost school districts millions in court costs, but the school officials never seem to face any consequences. In California, Piner High School has joined this ignoble effort, punishing the high school football captain for expressing support for the “Cornell 7” on his own Instagram page. Other students then protested not to support free speech but to demand further punishment for the student. I wonder where they learned that repressive view of free speech? Continue reading ““We have a Zero-Tolerance Policy”: High School Student “Punished” for Expressing Support for the “Cornell 7”” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

Sherrod Brown Goes Full Jaime West: “We’re Not Confirming …Trump Judges”

In Ohio, Sherrod Brown went full Jaime West this week in his U.S. Senate campaign. West is the Indiana candidate who became a viral sensation for pledging to “fire all Republicans” because “I just don’t like them.” Brown appears to be eager to jump on the same rage train and pledged that he will vote against any Republican judicial nominee regardless of their qualifications or background. Continue reading “Sherrod Brown Goes Full Jaime West: “We’re Not Confirming …Trump Judges”” →

Congress, Courts, Media, Politics, Supreme Court

Borked or Just Business? Supreme Court Hears Challenge to the Sharing of Viewing Records on Free Sites

Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a major case pitting privacy advocates against media companies. By any measure, Salazar v. Paramount Global is a blockbuster case in the making. At issue is the use of viewing habits by companies offering free subscriptions and material to the public. These companies make money by then using that history for tailored marketing programs. Michael Salazar is arguing that a Blockbuster-era law should prevent such sharing of his viewing history, a ruling that would have a massive impact on media and entertainment companies.

Continue reading “Borked or Just Business? Supreme Court Hears Challenge to the Sharing of Viewing Records on Free Sites” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

Harper’s Magazine to Honor NPR CEO Katherine Maher with First Amendment Award

Harper’s Magazine appears to be competing with The Onion in satire this week. It is awarding its First Amendment prize to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. It is akin to awarding a Second Amendment prize to Gavin Newsom. Maher has long been the very symbol of advocacy journalism and bias. Ironically, she is being given an award after steering NPR into the rocks to keep her job and its ideological bias. Continue reading “Harper’s Magazine to Honor NPR CEO Katherine Maher with First Amendment Award” →

Academia, Free Speech, Politics, Religion, Society

Religiously Woke: Dean of Students Warns that Saying “In Christ Alone” Constitutes “White Privilege”

My recent USA Today column discusses how the Democrats have suddenly discovered God in elections after recruiting various far-left ministers to run on faith-based anti-Trump messages. I discussed how Divinity Schools have shown the same trend as other departments in higher education with a radical shift to the left. That was evident in a controversy this week at Point Loma Nazarene University, where Dean of Students Jason Cha told student leaders that identifying as being “in Christ alone” is a sign of “white privilege.” Continue reading “Religiously Woke: Dean of Students Warns that Saying “In Christ Alone” Constitutes “White Privilege”” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics

The Coming Out of Jack Smith: A Former Special Counsel Joins the “No Kings” Movement

Below is my column in The Hill on the appearance of Jack Smith in a “No Kings” T-Shirt just days after his testimony on Capitol Hill, claiming to have had no bias or agenda against Trump. Smith must have known that his presence and dress at the “Power to the People” concert would be widely circulated on the Internet. His message was clear, but entirely unnecessary given his record as Special Counsel.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The Coming Out of Jack Smith: A Former Special Counsel Joins the “No Kings” Movement” →

Hikes, Travel Blog

The Magic of Colorado Springs in the Fall

I had the pleasure of speaking on Rage and the Republic this weekend in Colorado Springs. As many of you know, Colorado is one of my favorite places for hiking and I was able to take a day to hike around the gorgeous Seven Falls area. I wanted to share some photos from a perfect Fall day. The hike reached around 7,000 feet and it offered some spectacular views of the area. Continue reading “The Magic of Colorado Springs in the Fall” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

Foul Call: New York Times Calls for Canceling Sophie Cunningham in The Athletic

The New York Times demonstrated again this week that it remains solidly part of the cancel campaign culture. The Athletic, owned by the Times, joined the mob in calling for the Indiana Fever to dump Sophie Cunningham for publicly opposing biological males playing in women’s sports — a position shared by the vast majority of citizens. Continue reading “Foul Call: New York Times Calls for Canceling Sophie Cunningham in The Athletic” →

Animals, Constitutional Law, Courts, Environment, Torts

All Wrong for the Right Whale: Maine Lobstermen Lose Claims Against Aquarium Over Group Libel

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued an interesting torts decision yesterday on group libel. In Bean Maine Lobster, Inc. v. Monterey Bay Aquarium Found., a unanimous appellate panel ruled that the Maine lobster industry could not sue the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation for saying that Maine lobstering is all wrong for the right whale.

Continue reading “All Wrong for the Right Whale: Maine Lobstermen Lose Claims Against Aquarium Over Group Libel” →