Columns, Courts, Media, Politics, Supreme Court

Poetic License: How Press and Pundits are Reframing Personalities to Fit Our Politics

Below is my column in The Hill on the sudden embrace of bipartisanship in Washington … by some of the most partisan figures in our political system. Press and pundits are suddenly reframing Vice President Kamala Harris as a moderate while heralding Justice Amy Coney Barrett for her independence. It is enough to give you vertigo from the media and political spin. Update: GovTrack has responded to the column, which is discussed at the end of the column.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Poetic License: How Press and Pundits are Reframing Personalities to Fit Our Politics” →

Columns, Free Speech, Politics

How Democrats Make Republicans: RFK Should Be A Wake Up Call for the Party
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Below is my column in the New York Post on the withdrawal of Robert Kennedy, Jr. from the presidential race and his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s speech resonated with many long-time Democrats who have found themselves estranged from the party. While Kennedy remains an independent, it is a cautionary tale that is being missed in the “joy” theme of the Democratic National Convention. The fact is that new Republicans are often not the product of ideology and association but anxiety and exclusion. Democrats make Republicans.

Here is the column: Continue reading “How Democrats Make Republicans: RFK Should Be A Wake Up Call for the Party” →

Academia, Criminal law, Free Speech

George Washington Monument Vandalized By Pro-Palestinian Protesters
In 2020, I wrote about the toppling of the monument to George Washington on the campus of George Washington University, where I teach. The university was silent on the vandalism by far left groups. Now, after George was restored, protesters have again vandalized the monument by spray painting pro-Palestinian slogans on its base. It is a continuation of property damage seen recently on Capitol Hill, including the defacing of the Columbus statue in front of Union Station as police watched. A pro-Palestinian group heralded the property damage on GW campus this week and pledged more such action until the university cuts ties with Israel. Continue reading “George Washington Monument Vandalized By Pro-Palestinian Protesters” →
Free Speech, International

Rowling Reportedly Sued by Olympic Boxer Over Gender Criticism
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We have previously discussed the cancel campaigns targeting JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. Rowling was not only the greatest selling author of all time but a wildly popular writer until she publicly opposed certain transgender policies as inimical to the advances in feminism. Now, she is the target of a lawsuit by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, the gold-medal winning athlete who had previously failed a gender test to confirm that she is a female fighter.  We previously discussed that global debate, but Khelif is now accusing Rowling out of many thousands of critics of being a cyberbully. X owner Elon Musk has also been named in the lawsuit.

Continue reading “Rowling Reportedly Sued by Olympic Boxer Over Gender Criticism” →

Free Speech, International

“It’s Not OK Any More”: The United Kingdom Cracks Down on Free Speech
The crackdown on free speech continues in the United Kingdom as officials use recent rioting to justify a roundup of citizens who they view as “pushing harmful and hateful beliefs.” The government is ramping up arrests of those with “extremist ideologies” in the latest wave of arrests.  The crackdown includes those accused of misogynist views.In my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” I discuss how difficult it is to get a free people to give up freedoms. They have to be afraid, very afraid. For that reason, governments tend to attack free speech during periods of public anger or fear. Continue reading ““It’s Not OK Any More”: The United Kingdom Cracks Down on Free Speech” →
Columns, Free Speech, Politics

Shut Out in Chi-Town: Jewish Groups Blocked from Marching During the Democratic National Convention

Below is my column in the New York Post on the complaints of Jewish groups that they were denied permits to march in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention while other groups, including pro-Palestinian groups, were allowed to do so. There is a crushing irony in Chicago given the decision in 1978 to allow Nazis to march in nearby Skokie, but Jews could not march in Chicago in 2024.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Shut Out in Chi-Town: Jewish Groups Blocked from Marching During the Democratic National Convention” →

Criminal law, Free Speech, International

“Keyboard Warrior”: British Crackdown Results in Three-Year Sentence Over Anti-Migrant Postings

Three years ago, we discussed the conviction of a British man for “toxic ideologies,” under the draconian laws criminalizing inciteful or dangerous speech. The erosion of free speech appears to have only accelerated in the UK. As is often the case, the attacks on free speech increase during periods of unrest, anger or fear. With the recent anti-immigration riots, British authorities have used their laws to round up a large number of citizens expressing anti-immigrant views and some have already been convicted. Those cases include Wayne O’Rourke, 35, who has been sentenced to three years in prison for “stirring up racial hatred.” Continue reading ““Keyboard Warrior”: British Crackdown Results in Three-Year Sentence Over Anti-Migrant Postings” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Politics

The EU Just Declared War on Free Speech in America. It is Time to Fight Back

Below is my column in The Hill on the move of the European Union to force Elon Musk to censor X users, including political speech leading up to the 2024 election. The column discusses this Rockwell painting, which we often use in discussing free speech controversies.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The EU Just Declared War on Free Speech in America. It is Time to Fight Back” →

Travel Blog

A Walk Through Beantown: Why Visiting Boston Never Gets Old

I just returned from a trip to Boston with my wife and one of my kids. Boston has always held a natural appeal for me as a city heavily steeped in history. I never get tired visiting the city and I wanted to share a few travel blog entries and pictures. I could not recommend a visit to the city more highly, but give yourself a few days to take in everything that Beantown has to offer. Continue reading “A Walk Through Beantown: Why Visiting Boston Never Gets Old” →

Media

The Curious Story of Taylor Lorenz … and Belated Concerns of the Washington Post

There is a rather curious controversy brewing over one of the Washington Post’s most controversial writers, Taylor Lorenz. The “tech columnist” for the Post has drawn continual criticism over public meltdowns and alleged doxxing. However, the Post seemed to value her notoriety…until she posted a picture of President Joe Biden with “war criminal” on it. Lorenz appeared to suggest that others added those words before various mainstream media outlets contradicted her account. She is now denying that she denied it was her words and the Post is investigating. What is most curious, however, is what it takes for the Post to investigate alleged false claims by its columnists. Continue reading “The Curious Story of Taylor Lorenz … and Belated Concerns of the Washington Post” →

Academia, Free Speech, Politics

“A Fighting Organization”: AAUP Elects New President Who Doubles Down on an Anti-Conservative Agenda
For years, many of us have been writing about the decline in viewpoint diversity and the rise of an academic orthodoxy in higher education. It is one of the focuses of my new book, The Indispensable Right. Despite the calls for greater tolerance, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) just elected a new president who has been criticized for being overtly hostile to conservative viewpoints and candidates. Todd Wolfson, a Rutgers University anthropologist, is an ally for those who continue to oppose intellectual diversity in favor of ideological orthodoxy in higher education. Continue reading ““A Fighting Organization”: AAUP Elects New President Who Doubles Down on an Anti-Conservative Agenda” →
Media, Torts

CNN Loses Another Motion in Defamation Case as Court Orders Tapper to Appear

We previously discussed the defamation lawsuit against CNN and the curious effort to use Taliban law to dismiss the lawsuit by Navy veteran Zachary Young. The litigation has not been going well for the network and it just lost another key motion to block an effort to depose Jake Tapper. Worse yet, the court appears to have questioned the veracity of the host in a sworn deposition on his lack of knowledge over the financial subject matter of the deposition. Continue reading “CNN Loses Another Motion in Defamation Case as Court Orders Tapper to Appear” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Free Speech

Want More Freedom of Speech? Try Less Government.

Below is my column in The Hill on my call for a bill that would bar federal funding of any program and grant to censor, blacklist, or target individuals or sites based on their content. It is time to get the U.S. government out of the censorship business. The column discusses the proposal in my new book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” to block any further funding for the current system of corporate, academic, and government programs targeting opposing or dissenting views. Continue reading “Want More Freedom of Speech? Try Less Government.” →

Free Speech, Media

“An America Issue”: Washington Post Reporter Calls on White House to Censor Trump for America

In my new book on free speech, I discuss at length how the mainstream media has joined an alliance with the government and corporations in favor of censorship and blacklisting. The Washington Post, however, appears to be taking its anti-free speech campaign to a new level with open calls for a crackdown. The newspaper offered no objection or even qualification after its reporter, Cleve Wootson Jr., appeared to call upon the White House to censor the interview of Elon Musk with former President Donald Trump. Under the guise of a question, Wootson told White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that censoring its leading political opponent is “an America issue.” Continue reading ““An America Issue”: Washington Post Reporter Calls on White House to Censor Trump for America” →

Free Speech, International

“We are Monitoring”: EU Censor Threatens Musk Ahead of the Trump Interview

In my new book on free speech and various columns, I write about the European Digital Services Act (DSA) as one of the greatest assaults on free speech in history. One of the most notorious anti-free speech figures in the world is European Commissioner for Internal Markets and Services Thierry Breton. Where some censors express reluctance in their work, Breton is chillingly enthusiastic in threatening those with opposing views with charges and financial ruin. The latest is Elon Musk for his decision to interview former President Donald Trump. Continue reading ““We are Monitoring”: EU Censor Threatens Musk Ahead of the Trump Interview” →