Category: Free Speech

Columns, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

Biden’s Disinformation Nanny: Why Nina Jankowicz is “Practically Perfect in Every Way.”
YouTube Screenshot

Below is a slightly expanded version of my column in The Hill on the appointment of Nina Jankowicz as the new head of the federal government’s announced Disinformation Governance Board. This Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured CNN viewers that there is nothing to fear from his new Disinformation Governance Board, which will “gather together best practices in addressing the threat of disinformation.” I think we can guess what the “best practice” might be from one of the most vocal advocates of corporate and state censorship.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Biden’s Disinformation Nanny: Why Nina Jankowicz is “Practically Perfect in Every Way.”” →

Academia, Free Speech

GWU Student Association Demands Suspension of Conservative Group Over Offensive Tweets

The George Washington University (where I teach) has a new free speech controversy after the Student Association Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on school officials to suspend the campus chapter of the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) for alleged four “transphobic” tweets. Continue reading “GWU Student Association Demands Suspension of Conservative Group Over Offensive Tweets” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media

Time Columnist Denounces Free Speech as a White Man’s “Obsession”

It has become depressingly common to read unrelenting attacks on free speech in the Washington Post and other newspapers. The anti-free speech movement has been embraced by Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, as well as academics who now claim “China was right” on censorship. However, a Time magazine column by national correspondent Charlotte Alter was still shocking in how mainstream anti-free speech views have become. Alter denounces free speech as basically a white man’s “obsession.”

Continue reading “Time Columnist Denounces Free Speech as a White Man’s “Obsession”” →

Bizarre, Free Speech

“There is No Clear Incentive”: Twitter Employees Complain About Life Without Censorship

Twitter LogoThere was a revealing “town hall” meeting of Twitter employees this week where they joined executives in open panic over what life would be like without their ability to censor others. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal attempted to calm the obvious angst that (perish the thought) free speech could return to Twitter.

Continue reading ““There is No Clear Incentive”: Twitter Employees Complain About Life Without Censorship” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

“Trust Me, I’m [Now] The Government”: Jankowicz Pledges to Protect Free Speech Rights

There is an old fable of a scorpion who wants to cross a river and convinced a hesitant frog to carry him on its back. After all, if he stung the frog in the river, they both would die. That seemed logical so the frog agreed to do so only to have the scorpion deliver a lethal sting halfway across. When the frog asked why the scorpion would doom them both, the scorpion replies: “I am sorry, but I couldn’t resist the urge. It’s in my nature.”

The story came to mind this week when the new head of the Disinformation Governance Board, Nina Jankowicz, pledged to protect free speech despite a career dissing and dismissing the right. After withering criticism of her appointment, Jankowicz declared the new board at Homeland Security will “maintain the Dept’s committment [sic] to protecting free speech.” She has spent a career denouncing “first amendment zealots” like myself who believe in a robust view of free speech.

Continue reading ““Trust Me, I’m [Now] The Government”: Jankowicz Pledges to Protect Free Speech Rights” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics

The Sweet Sound of Censorship: The Biden Administration Seeks the Perfect Pitch for Disinformation Governance
YouTube Screenshot

Many politicians and pundits are in full panic over Elon Musk’s threat to restore free speech values to Twitter.  While Hillary Clinton has called upon Europeans to step in to maintain such censorship and Barack Obama has called for U.S. regulations, the Biden Administration has created a new Disinformation Governance Board in the Department of Homeland Security. It appointed an executive director, Nina Jankowicz, who is literally pitch perfect as an advocate for both corporate and state censorship.

Continue reading “The Sweet Sound of Censorship: The Biden Administration Seeks the Perfect Pitch for Disinformation Governance” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

“Before it’s too Late”: Democrats Shift From Corporate Censorship to State Censorship

Twitter LogoBelow is my column in USA Today on how the Musk purchase of Twitter has forced politicians and pundits to move from corporate censorship to calls for good old-fashioned state censorship. Indeed, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) has declared Musk’s pledge to restore free speech values on social media as threatening Democracy itself. She has promised that “there are going to be rules” to block such changes. She is not alone. Former President Obama has declared “regulation has to be part of the answer” to disinformation. For her part, Hillary Clinton is looking to Europe to fill the vacuum and called upon her European counterparts to pass a massive censorship law to “bolster global democracy before it’s too late.”

Here is the column:

Continue reading ““Before it’s too Late”: Democrats Shift From Corporate Censorship to State Censorship” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

“There are Going to be Rules”: Warren Pledges Wealth Tax and Social Media Regulations After Musk Twitter Deal

Twitter LogoIn response of Elon Musk buying Twitter with a pledge to restore free speech values to the company, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass) joined many on the left in declaring that our very democracy is now in danger. However, last night Warren went further with MSNBC’s host Ari Melber to pledge to hit Musk and others with a wealth tax and “new rules” limiting what he can do with his new company.

The choice of interviewers was notable since Melber has been under fire for warning that Twitter could be used to “secretly ban” or “turn down the reach” of a political party or candidate. That is apparently worse than Twitter openly banning candidates and suspending accounts of conservatives for years. Melber emphasized “this thing matters a ton.” That is a ton more than it mattered for the last six years. Continue reading ““There are Going to be Rules”: Warren Pledges Wealth Tax and Social Media Regulations After Musk Twitter Deal” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media

The First Amendment Option: An Easy Way For Musk To Restore Free Speech on Twitter

Twitter LogoBelow is my column in the Hill on one way for Elon Musk to re-introduce free speech values on his newly acquired social media platform. Pro-censorship advocates like former President Barack Obama may have given Musk a roadmap for restoring free speech on Twitter.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “The First Amendment Option: An Easy Way For Musk To Restore Free Speech on Twitter” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech

“Better Off Just Keeping His Mouth Shut”: University of Central Florida Hit With Major Free Speech Ruling

There is a major victory for free speech out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit this week. An appellate panel ruled that the discriminatory-harassment and bias response team policies at the University of Central Florida (UCF) likely violate the First Amendment. The policies have many of the common ambiguous terms discussed on this blog from other schools as chilling free speech. The decision in Speech First v. Cartwright also contains an unenviable reliance on UCF’s own counsel for proving that his client is curtailing free speech.

Continue reading ““Better Off Just Keeping His Mouth Shut”: University of Central Florida Hit With Major Free Speech Ruling” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

“This Thing Matters a Ton”: MSNBC’s Melber Issues Dire Twitter Warning That Seems Oddly Familiar

MSNBC host Ari Melber had a revealing moment on Monday that seemed almost a clinical (if not comical) example of transference. Melber warns that Elon Musk might actually use Twitter to “secretly ban” or “turn down the reach” of a political party or candidate. That is apparently worse than Twitter openly banning candidates and suspending accounts of conservatives for years. Melber is warning the left that Twitter could be used against them . . . the way it has been used against their opponents. He emphasized “this thing matters a ton.” That is a ton more than it mattered for the last six years.

Continue reading ““This Thing Matters a Ton”: MSNBC’s Melber Issues Dire Twitter Warning That Seems Oddly Familiar” →

Academia, Free Speech

Harvard Cancels British Romanticism Scholar Due to Her Views on Gender Issues

Harvard University is under fire this week after canceling a talk by philosopher Devin Buckley on British Romanticism.  That is usually not a protest-inspiring subject. The Lyrical Ballads of  William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge do not usually trigger riotous reactions. However, Harvard decided to cancel this talk not because of Dr. Buckley’s world-renowned expertise but because of her political views and associations. She is a member of the Women’s Liberation Front, a feminist organization that has opposed transgender policies as inimical to women’s rights. That was enough for Harvard, which shattered any pretense of free speech and viewpoint diversity on its campus. Wordsworth once wrote that “all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” In this case, powerful feelings proved the end to good poetry. Continue reading “Harvard Cancels British Romanticism Scholar Due to Her Views on Gender Issues” →

Academia, Free Speech

Dartmouth Under Fire Over Cancellation of In-Person Event with Journalist Andy Ngo

We have previously discussed how universities have used security fees and concerns to effectively block conservative speakers. Dartmouth College, however, is embroiled in a bizarre such controversy after it not only pushed a speech from an in-person event to an online event, but then demanded the school’s chapter of College Republicans pay a $3,600 “security fee” for an online event.  The claims made by the College are now being challenged not only by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), but also by the Hanover Police Department.

Continue reading “Dartmouth Under Fire Over Cancellation of In-Person Event with Journalist Andy Ngo” →

Columns, Free Speech, Media, Politics

Selling Censorship: Could the Twitter Board Trigger Shareholder Lawsuits Over ESG and Anti-Free Speech Policies?

Twitter LogoLast week, Twitter’s Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawal sounded more like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in rallying his troops to defy the existential threat of Elon Musk while pledging that they will not be “held hostage.” The threat, however, was not a private buyout but the threat that Twitter might be forced to respect free speech on the site. The problem for the Board members is that they could find themselves in court if their anti-free speech stance continues to stand in the way of shareholder profits.  Such a lawsuit could be a bellwether for shareholder opposition to boards pursuing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies over profits.

Continue reading “Selling Censorship: Could the Twitter Board Trigger Shareholder Lawsuits Over ESG and Anti-Free Speech Policies?” →

Columns, Free Speech, Media

Twitter Faces the “Nightmare” of Being Forced into Free Speech

Twitter LogoBelow is my column in the Hill on the bid of Elon Musk to buy Twitter and its implications for free speech. The increasingly alarmist arguments of the left have continued to mount. On MSNBC, Democratic strategist Danielle Moodie declared “I’m going to be honest, Elon Musk is a danger to Twitter and to freedom of speech.” In other words, more free speech is the death of free speech. She is not alone in such Orwellian takes on the Musk bid for Twitter.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Twitter Faces the “Nightmare” of Being Forced into Free Speech” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks