Year: 2024

Academia, Free Speech, International, Media

A New Year’s Resolution: Let’s Get the United States Out of the Censorship Business

On this New Year’s Eve, billions of people will gather with friends to ring in 2025 with the hope of a better year to come.  For the first time in many years, free-speech advocates have a reason to celebrate.

With 2024, we will say goodbye to one of the most reviled offices in the Biden Administration: The Global Engagement Center. I discuss the Center in my recent book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage as one of the most active components in the massive censorship system funded by the Biden Administration.  The demise of the GEC is a good start. However, like weight loss resolutions, it will take much more of a commitment if we are going to restore free speech in the United States.  It is time to make the ultimate resolution to rip out the censorship root and stem from our government. Continue reading “A New Year’s Resolution: Let’s Get the United States Out of the Censorship Business” →

Columns, Free Speech

Silence of the Labs: How a Censorship Campaign Failed to Kill a COVID Origin Theory

Below is my column in The Hill on the recent Wall Street Journal report on the Biden Administration’s resistance to experts who voiced support for the lab theory on the origins of COVID-19. As with many academics in higher education, government experts were warned not to question the natural or zoonotic theory. In the meantime, figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci said little to support other experts who were being censored and targeted for opposing views. Call it the Silence of the Labs. The effort to marginalize such figures continues this week as pandemic hawks circle Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in anticipation of his confirmation as head of the National Institutes of Health.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Silence of the Labs: How a Censorship Campaign Failed to Kill a COVID Origin Theory” →

Politics

The Passing and Lessons of Jimmy Carter

This morning, the nation is mourning the loss of one of the most genuinely decent men ever to sit in the Oval Office. Even for his critics, Jimmy Carter was a model of empathy and integrity as an American president. After his presidency, he proved an even greater role model, working tirelessly to help those without homes or hope. He gave us 100 years of a life committed to helping others and a lasting lesson on what it means to be truly a public servant. Continue reading “The Passing and Lessons of Jimmy Carter” →

Academia, Free Speech

Pandemic Hawks Circle Dr. Jay: Pundits Launch Attacks on Bhattacharya Ahead of his Confirmation Hearings

For those who opposed the censorship and cancel campaigns during the pandemic, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya became an iconic figure of resistance. Unfortunately, the same can be said of the anti-free speech movement and pandemic hawks. Bhattacharya, who co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration and was a vocal critic of COVID-19 policies, has been nominated as the next head of the National Institutes of Health. As I wrote this weekend in my column, the nomination was heralded by many as a turning point for the NIH. It is also a rallying cry for those who supported the earlier measures, as shown by a hit piece in Scientific American, accusing him of being a danger to the very lives of American citizens. Continue reading “Pandemic Hawks Circle Dr. Jay: Pundits Launch Attacks on Bhattacharya Ahead of his Confirmation Hearings” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Grinch Grand Theft: FedEx Worker Charged with Dumping Christmas Gifts in the Woods
Mugshot of former FedEx worker Latavion Lewis.

There is an interesting criminal case out of Florida in which FedEx driver Latavion Lewis was charged with grand theft, illegal dumping, and an organized scheme to defraud. Yet, in this case, the grand theft was to throw out packages rather than deliver them. It is a type of Grinch Grand Theft charge that only raises questions about the handling of a certain case in 1966.

Continue reading “Grinch Grand Theft: FedEx Worker Charged with Dumping Christmas Gifts in the Woods” →

Criminal law

“Decidedly Not Credible”: Federal Court Rejects Spousal Immunity in Criminal Case

This week, Judge Mary Dimke of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington issued an interesting ruling. In United States v. Bolen, she rejected spousal immunity in a criminal case where she believed the couple got hitched for evidentiary rather than romantic reasons. Continue reading ““Decidedly Not Credible”: Federal Court Rejects Spousal Immunity in Criminal Case” →

Congress, Media, Politics

Our Lying Eyes: New Photo Shows Biden with Hunter ‘s Business Associates Despite Past Denials

“Lies.” That response was a mantra for President Joe Biden, who denied ever meeting or knowing about his son’s foreign dealings. Despite the pronounced lack of interest by most media outlets in the alleged multimillion dollar influence-peddling scheme, the House and conservative groups have doggedly pursued the matter and found overwhelming evidence that the President has repeatedly lied about his interactions with foreign clients. Now, a new photo further contradicts the President, who recently pardoned his son for any crimes committed over a ten-year period. Continue reading “Our Lying Eyes: New Photo Shows Biden with Hunter ‘s Business Associates Despite Past Denials” →

Courts, Free Speech, Politics

Minnesota Doctor Wins Key Free Speech Appeal in the Eighth Circuit

Dr. Tara Gustilo won a significant free-speech victory this week before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit against the Hennepin Healthcare System in Minnesota. She was removed from her position after criticizing Black Lives Matter, Critical Race Theory, and certain COVID narratives. An appellate panel rebuked U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson for usurping the function of a jury in assuming facts and failing to apply the correct test for the free-speech claims in the case. Continue reading “Minnesota Doctor Wins Key Free Speech Appeal in the Eighth Circuit” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

MSNBC Contributor: Biden Proved He is the “Standard Bearer” for the Founders By Vetoing the Judges Act

In an age of advocacy journalism, April Ryan has long been a standout. Ryan routinely engaged in diatribes in White House press conferences during the Trump Administration and has openly opposed all things Republican or conservative. Now, the MSNBC contributor and Grio White House correspondent has declared that President Joe Biden was a “standard-bearer for what the Founding Fathers put in place.” The reason? His much-criticized and partisan veto of The Judges Act. While even stalwart Biden allies like Delaware Sen. Chris Coons criticized the President for vetoing the badly needed, bipartisan measure to add new judges, Ryan declared it the work of a modern George Washington. Continue reading “MSNBC Contributor: Biden Proved He is the “Standard Bearer” for the Founders By Vetoing the Judges Act” →

Bizarre

It’s a Wonderful Hour: Amazon Shortens Christmas Classic By Cutting Key Scenes

Amazon Prime Studios is under fire for shortening the classic Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life by cutting out the key scenes where George Bailey sees what life would have looked like if he was never born. The suggested reasons have varied from removing disturbing scenes for modern sensibilities to a copyright dispute. Continue reading “It’s a Wonderful Hour: Amazon Shortens Christmas Classic By Cutting Key Scenes” →

Politics, Society

Biden’s Curious Capital Punishment Stance is Vintage Biden

The decision of President Joe Biden to clear the federal death row has caused an uproar in some quarters and praise in others. There are good-faith arguments on both sides. However, there was a curious element to the Biden pardons for 37 people on death row. There were 40 people on death row. Three remain.

Continue reading “Biden’s Curious Capital Punishment Stance is Vintage Biden” →

Criminal law, Politics

“This Orange County…They Don’t Play”: California’s Tougher Shoplifting Law Receives Curious Endorsement

Bodycam video of theftProposition 36, which increases punishments for some retail theft and drug possession offenses, overwhelmingly passed in California despite the opposition of Gov. Gavin Newsom and most Democrats.  Newsom denounced the measure as something that “takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration.” Despite discussing her tough-on-crime record in the election, Vice President Kamala Harris refused to support the measure or even state if she voted for it. Now, however, two shoplifters may have given the law the greatest endorsement.

Continue reading ““This Orange County…They Don’t Play”: California’s Tougher Shoplifting Law Receives Curious Endorsement” →

Columns, Congress, Politics

The Joy is Gone: A Liberal Hate-Fest for the Holidays

Below is my column in The Hill on the rising rage of the holiday on the left as we approach the second Trump inauguration. From looking forward to harassment at restaurants to the purchase of Antifa-themed Christmas gifts, some appear to be planning for a hate-fest in the New Year.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The Joy is Gone: A Liberal Hate-Fest for the Holidays” →

Politics

Bye and Bye: Washington State Moves Toward a “Wealth Tax” As the Wealthy Move to Leave the State

Washington State’s unofficial state motto has long been “Al-ki” which means either “bye and bye” or “by and by” in Chinook. The former meaning now seems official as Gov. Jay Inslee pushes for a “wealth tax.” Wealthy citizens are already saying bye to the state in anticipation of what one Democratic billionaire recently called a “boneheaded” move. The problem is that rich people can move. Unlike fixed assets like a mansion, they can take their wealth and taxes to other states without such laws. Continue reading “Bye and Bye: Washington State Moves Toward a “Wealth Tax” As the Wealthy Move to Leave the State” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks