Free Speech, International, Media, Politics

Five Steps to Save Free Speech on Twitter: A Musk Roadmap

Twitter Logo

According to reports, Elon Musk is now expected to take over as the temporary CEO of Twitter as soon as his financing of the purchase is finalized. It is good news because buying Twitter may prove a mere skirmish in comparison to the coming battle. Political forces in the United States and abroad are already aligning to resist his effort to restore free speech to social media.

If history has shown one thing, it is that it is easier to lose rights than to regain them. Musk has a product in demand but neither governments nor many of his own employees want to be sold. If Musk is to fulfill his pledge, he will need to take five specific steps to secure free speech protections.  Given the interests allied against him, Musk must move quickly if he wants to not only reintroduce but to maintain free speech on Twitter. Continue reading “Five Steps to Save Free Speech on Twitter: A Musk Roadmap” →

Free Speech, International

Stay Calm and Censor On: Musk Summoned to Parliament to Answer for his Pledge to Restore Free Speech

I previously wrote about Hillary Clinton’s call on European countries to pass censorship laws to force social media companies like Twitter to regulate speech even after Elon Musk’s pledge to restore free speech to Twitter. Now the Parliament has called on Musk to testify and to explain his alarming pledge to restore free speech.

Continue reading “Stay Calm and Censor On: Musk Summoned to Parliament to Answer for his Pledge to Restore Free Speech” →

Columns, Constitutional Law

Supreme “Stench”: How Politics Replaced Principle in the High Court

Below is my column in USA Today on the leaking of the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. I previously discussed the “stench” raised by Justice Sotomayor and how it smelled like mendacity to blame her three new colleagues. Now that stench is overwhelming not only due to the intentional leaking of the opinion but the defense of the leaker by many in the press. The leaker is being called “brave” and a “hero” by many on the left. While denouncing what they see as the Court abandoning its principles, they are celebrating someone who violated every ethical and professional principle in leaking this draft opinion.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Supreme “Stench”: How Politics Replaced Principle in the High Court” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

No, Justices Did Not Commit Perjury in Their Confirmation Hearings When Asked About Roe

The response to the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade has unleashed a torrent of outrage on the left. While many are calling for marches and sweeping new legislation, some are focused on calling out the justices in the majority for alleged “perjury” or “lying” in their confirmation hearings, particularly Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch. In reality, they did not lie in testimony in referencing Roe as established precedent.  The suggestion of perjury is utter nonsense. Continue reading “No, Justices Did Not Commit Perjury in Their Confirmation Hearings When Asked About Roe” →

Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Supreme Court

Leaked Draft Opinion Rocks the Court and Washington

The leaking of a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has rocked the Court and Washington. The 98-page draft opinion is dated Feb. 10, 2022 and authored by Associate Justice Samuel Alito. I have two columns (in USA Today and The Hill) today on the opinion and the disgraceful leak from within the Court. Continue reading “Leaked Draft Opinion Rocks the Court and Washington” →

Uncategorized

Res Ipsa Hits 58,000,000

crowd vj dayRes Ipsa yesterday passed the 58,000,000 mark in views on the blog. We have used these moments to give thanks for our many regular readers around the world and give you an idea of the current profile of readers on the blog and our readership around the world. As always, I want to offer special thanks for Darren Smith, who has continued to help manage the blog and help out folks who encounter posting problems.  I also want to thank Kristin Oren who continues to do an amazing job proofing posts on a daily basis to remove my embarrassing typos.  Finally, I would like to thank our regular readers who alert me to typos or any violations of the civility or copyright policies on the blog. Continue reading “Res Ipsa Hits 58,000,000” →

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” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks