Podcasts about first amendment

Article of amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as part of the Bill of Rights, placing limits on governmental restriction of freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition of government

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The Atheist Experience
The Atheist Experience 29.06 with Godless Engineer and Jmike

The Atheist Experience

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 115:51


In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, JMike, The Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin take on a variety of challenging and fun calls. Tommi in Portugal wants to talk about the problem of evil and considers it to be the greatest challenge to the Christian faith. Does god desire to have evil in this world? Is it possible for an agent to always make a good choice? Why did god fail in substantiating a world where all the agents always do good? Why is there unnecessary suffering in this world that an omni god created? Is it justice for god to cast a magical incantation on all of humanity just because he got man at someone for eating something? Why does god just not pick the file where everyone makes the right choice?GB in CA has a question about what effect the White House Faith Office will have on the country. It is a direct violation of the First Amendment and irresponsible to have an office of faith where faith leaders can have influence on our policies. This will result in policies being made that are in alignment with the Bible. How would you feel if decisions were being made based on other faiths like Islam? What if a member of the atheist community influenced the government to allocate religious communities less funding than others? Or make it unlawful to go to church? What parallels can be drawn between the current subject and The Handmaid's Tale? Yoshi in TX who is sometimes an atheist and sometimes a theist depending on the definition of god. Being an atheist in respect to a specific god is fine but saying that god is everything is a way to change the subject. Why do we have to rename something god that is already labeled? Defining god in a way that we can neither prove or disprove turns into a semantic game. Hannah in MS wants to provide a moral argument for the Jewish religion as a foundation for an ethical society. Doesn't this depend on how much god is worshiped by the society? How can this be explained without using continental philosophy? What context is it okay for an all powerful deity to do what he commanded in Numbers 31:17-18?  There is no context where genocide is okay. When everything happens for a reason, things like the Holocaust happen because they ought to happen.  Kelley Laughlin, our backup host, relieves JMike before taking our next caller, Blaine, an atheist in Ca. He asks about people using religion as a cover for bad behavior by cherry picking. This all depends on how they are using their religion. If the religion is used to judge other people or shield bad actions, then it can be problematic as opposed to when people keep it private. When do you think humanity will get to a point where we don't need magical thinking? Cade in TX asks for advice on how to deal with the recent loss of his father and dealing with the comments of theists. Kelley shares a personal experience with similar challenges and offers support with empathy. People are just trying to deal with it the best they can and tell you what worked for them to try and provide comfort. Maybe just thanking them for their kind thoughts is all that is needed. Thank you for tuning in this week! Prompt of the week is: If god is so smart, then why is it____?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

The New Yorker Radio Hour
Trump's Boogeyman: D.E.I.

The New Yorker Radio Hour

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 26:32


Many of the most draconian measures implemented in the first couple weeks of the new Trump Administration have been justified as emergency actions to root out D.E.I.—diversity, equity, and inclusion—including the freeze (currently rescinded) of trillions of dollars in federal grants. The tragic plane crash in Washington, the President baselessly suggested, might also be the result of D.E.I. Typically, D.E.I. describes policies at large companies or institutions to encourage more diverse workplaces. In the Administration's rhetoric, D.E.I. is discrimination pure and simple, and the root of much of what ails the nation. “D.E.I. is the boogeyman for anything,” Jelani Cobb tells David Remnick. Cobb is a longtime staff writer, and the dean of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. “If there's a terrible tragedy . . . if there is something going wrong in any part of your life, if there are fires happening in California, then you can bet that, somehow, another D.E.I. is there.” Although affirmative-action policies in university admissions were found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, D.E.I. describes a broad array of actions without a specific definition. “It's that malleability,” Cobb reflects, that makes D.E.I. a useful target, “one source that you can use to blame every single failing or shortcoming or difficulty in life on.”

Keen On Democracy
Episode 2329: Ethan Zuckerman on how the United States learned to love online censorship

Keen On Democracy

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 48:30


Internet scholar and activist Ethan Zuckerman is horrified by the American ban on TikTok. As a self-described “progressive” with a long and distinguished career advocating for internet freedom, Zuckerman expresses alarm at how the U.S. has moved from defending unfettered access to information in the 1960s to now being willing to ban popular Chinese platforms like TikTok and perhaps even DeepSeek. He suggests the ban stems from the anti-China hysteria and exaggerated fears about social media's impact on young people fueled by paranoid critics like Jonathan Haidt. If this trend toward online censorship continues, Zuckerman warns, America will become indistinguishable from other authoritarian states in its disdain for digital freedom. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from the interview with Zuckerman:* The TikTok ban represents a dramatic shift in American values - Zuckerman points out that the US has moved from defending unfettered access to information (even Communist propaganda) in 1965 to now being willing to ban popular platforms. He sees this as contradicting core First Amendment principles.* Anti-China sentiment and social media fears are driving policy - The push to ban TikTok stems from a combination of paranoia about Chinese influence and exaggerated concerns about social media's effects on youth. Zuckerman argues there's little evidence supporting claims of Chinese manipulation or widespread social media harm.* Young people view the TikTok ban as evidence of institutional disconnect - Students see the ban as proof that lawmakers don't understand modern technology or youth culture. Their response of moving to other Chinese platforms demonstrates their cynicism toward government actions.* Social media platforms have become too powerful to easily abandon - Despite disagreeing with the politics of platforms like Facebook and X, users remain because of network effects. Zuckerman himself confesses to still using these platforms to maintain connections, even while advocating for alternatives.* "Middleware" could offer a solution - Rather than banning platforms or creating new ones, Zuckerman (like Frank Fukuyama) advocates for tools that let users modify how they interact with existing platforms. However, he warns, major platforms like Meta actively resist these efforts through legal threats and technical barriers.Ethan Zuckerman is an associate professor of public policy, communication, and information, as well as director of the UMass Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, focused on reimagining the Internet as a tool for civic engagement. His research focuses on civic media, online community governance, digital public infrastructure, quantitative studies of media attention, technology, and social change. Before coming to UMass, Zuckerman was at MIT, where he served as director of the Center for Civic Media and as associate professor of practice in media arts and sciences at the MIT Media Lab. His research focuses on the use of media as a tool for social change, the role of technology in international development, and the use of new media technologies by activists. The author of Rewire: Digital Cosmopolitans in the Age of Connection, he will publish a new book, Mistrust: Why Losing Faith in Institutions Provides the Tools to Transform Them (W.W. Norton), in early 2021. In 2005, Zuckerman cofounded Global Voices, which showcases news and opinions from citizen media in more than 150 nations and 30 languages. Through Global Voices, and as a researcher and fellow for eight years at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, Zuckerman has led efforts to promote freedom of expression and fight censorship in online spaces. In 1999, Zuckerman founded Geekcorps, an international, nonprofit, volunteer organization that sent IT specialists to work on projects in developing nations, with a focus on West Africa. Previously, he helped found Tripod.com, one of the web's first "personal publishing" sites. In addition to authoring numerous academic articles, Zuckerman is a frequent contributor to media outlets such as The Atlantic, Wired, and CNN. He received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and, as a Fulbright scholar, studied at the University of Ghana at Legon.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Legal AF by MeidasTouch
Fed Judge ISSUES SCATHING ORDER against Trump

Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 20:41


A DC Federal Judge, finding that the Trump Administration has “attempted to manipulate the judicial process through false pretenses” has entered a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent Trump from cutting off grants and other funding to all non-for-profits, including those focused on children's health, poverty, and those he declares to be “woke,” in violation of the Constitution's “appropriations” clause, the Administrative Procedures Act and the First Amendment. Michael Popok ties it together with the earlier injunction in Rhode Island and explains what happens next. For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to https://3DayBlinds.com/LEGALAF Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
Nico Perrino: What the Trump-Musk Alliance Means for Free Speech

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 63:00


FIRE's executive V.P. discusses the Biden administration's failures, Donald Trump and Elon Musk's influence on free speech, and the most pressing First Amendment issues facing the U.S. today.

Teleforum
Litigation Update: Mid Vermont Christian School v. Saunders

Teleforum

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 55:56


From the Olympics to San Jose State, each month we hear of new controversies where biological men are competing in women’s sports. Most of those situations relate to college, international, or public school competitions. But how do policies that permit transgender athlete participation impact private religious schools, both now and in the future? How do such schools’ sincerely-held religious beliefs about these issues change what state actors can and can’t do? In Mid Vermont Christian School v. Saunders, the Vermont Principals Association (VPA), a state-sponsored sports league, removed Mid Vermont from its athletic association because the school forfeited a girls’ playoff basketball game against another team with a male athlete who identified as female. The Christian school declined to play the game because of its religious beliefs about sex, yet the VPA imposed this punishment while still allowing forfeits for secular reasons. Although the VPA has historically prohibited boys from playing on girls’ sports teams “to protect opportunities for girl athletes,” it recently adopted policies that allow males who identify as female to participate in girls’ sports and demanded Mid Vermont’s girls’ teams play against teams with male athletes or not play at all. Mid Vermont and some of its families sued in response. In June 2024, a federal district court applied rational-basis review and denied Mid Vermont’s motion for preliminary injunction. The case is currently pending at the Second Circuit, where the court will resolve whether, while the case proceeds below, Mid Vermont will be allowed to rejoin the state athletic association it competed in for close to 30 years. Join us for a discussion of this case, the religious liberty issues implicated, and the larger consequences state nondiscrimination laws may have on religious schools going forward.Featuring:David A. Cortman, Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation, Alliance Defending Freedom(Moderator) Eric W. Treene, Senior Counsel, Storzer and Associates; Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

Giant Monster Messages
GMM: Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991)

Giant Monster Messages

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 34:22


Giant Monster Messages: Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991) In our episode for the 1991 film Alligator 2: The Mutation, we discuss pay toilets in America.  Time 01:30 History 08:50 Plot 15:30 Talking Points 26:05 Messages 31:30 Final Thoughts 32:00 Listener Feedback Contact us at: Discord https://giantmonstermessages.com/ GiantMonsterMessages@gmail.com BlueSky Main Theme and Stingers Written by Matthias Fluor https://mfluor.ch/ Podcast Art by Laser 'lizard' Lluis Special Thanks to: Teachers everywhere Authors of the First Amendment

Chicago's Afternoon News with Steve Bertrand
Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez: ‘5 hours of debate for absolutely nothing'

Chicago's Afternoon News with Steve Bertrand

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025


Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez joins Lisa Dent to discuss comments made in a City Council meeting over an art installment. This after tempers flared when arguing over First Amendment rights.

Broken Law
Episode 167: TikTok, Adult Content, and the First Amendment's Big Month at the Court

Broken Law

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 42:52


The Supreme Court recently heard two cases that could have significant implications for the way we live our lives online.  Gautam Hans joins Lindsay Langholz to reflect on the arguments made to the Court, how to interpret the TikTok v. Garland decision and chaotic aftermath, and why we should all care about broad restrictions on adult content websites. Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Lindsay Langholz, Senior Director of Policy and ProgramGuest: Gautam Hans, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Clinic, Cornell Law SchoolLink: Brief of First Amendment and Internet Law Professors, TikTok v. GarlandLink: How Samuel Alito got canceled from the Supreme Court social media majority, by Joan BiskupicLink: ACS Supreme Court Preview 2024-2025Visit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube-----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2024.

Slam the Gavel
Family Court Cases and Cancel Culture; With Richard Luthmann

Slam the Gavel

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 64:48


    Slam the Gavel welcomes Investigative Journalist Richard Luthmann to the podcast. We discussed the case of Monica Ciardi who has been jailed in Essex County, New Jersey Correctional Facility. WHY is this 110 lb. woman STILL jailed over 180 days in Essex County, the seat of Newark NJ, one of worst jail population and not being treated medically? What happened was, Judge Peter Bogaard, in Morris County, NJ, had stated in family court to Monica, "If you don't do what I say, you'll never see your children again." Monica then quoted him on Facebook, but forgot to put the phrase in quotations. Judge Bogaard took it as a "terroristic threat" against his own children. She was then arrested and now jailed unlawfully for exercising her First Amendment rights. Monica is not in good health while she sits in jail at taxpayers expense on the whim of a judge. The family court judges have a habit of not looking at evidence, disregarding Pro Se's and relying on hearsay.    We discussed Cancel Culture and how it evolved, which explains how society has deteriorated and families being torn apart.To Reach Richard Luthmann: Luthmann.Substack.com and Richard.luthmann@protonmail.com***** Supportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)Maryann Petri: dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryannpetriFacebook:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpeace/Pinterest: Slam The Gavel Podcast/@guitarpeaceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-petri-62a46b1ab/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536  Twitter https://x.com/PetriMaryannEzlegalsuit.com*DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Not financial, medical nor legal advice as the content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user's should consult with the relevant professionals. Reproduction, distribution, performing, publicly displaying and making a derivative of the work is explicitly prohibited without permission from content creator. Podcast is protected by owner. The content creator maintains the exclusive right and any unauthorized copyright infringement is subject to legal prosecution. Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

Egberto Off The Record
Ali Velshi schools MAGA on tariffs. Sanders urges independent press to report without fear.

Egberto Off The Record

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 58:00


Thank you Madam Luffy, Carolyn Schmidt, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.* Ali Velshi schools MAGA on how tariffs will ultimately be detrimental to all: Ali Velshi went through all the machinations to enlighten those who would listen on exactly how tariffs work. The bottom line is it is a tax on us. [More]* Sanders Urges 'Independent Press That Reports the Truth Without Fear' of Trump Retribution: "If major media outlets succumb to intimidation from the Trump administration, the First Amendment is in serious danger." [More]* Pastor pushed out after parishioners complained about the focus on racial justice: The congregation, including the board of deacons, the church's governing body, gave Boswell a standing ovation. Several weeks later, the board met on Zoom. They voted 17-3 to ask Boswell to step down. NPR obtained the audio. [More] To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

Legal AF by MeidasTouch
BREAKING Legal News… Trump ATTACK on USA

Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2025 81:58


Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok are back on the top rated Legal AF podcast and discuss the chaos that has engulfed the first 12 days of the Trump Administration, including the attempt to gut the US economy; the leadership of all federal agencies responsible for our safety and security and welfare; how attorneys general are winning on various of federal courts against Trump; how mainstream media is giving up on the First Amendment and just giving cash to Trump to avoid being fined and losing their licenses, as attorneys and judges fight to protect democracy, and so much more at the intersection of US law and politics. Support Our Sponsors: Laundry Sauce: For 20% off your order head to https://LaundrySauce.com/LEGALAF20 and use code LEGALAF20 Uplift: Elevate your workspace and energize your year with Uplift Desk. Go to https://upliftdesk.com/legalaf for a special offer exclusive to our audience. Tushy: Over 2 million butts love TUSHY. Get 10% off Tushy with the code LEGALAF at https://hellotushy.com/LEGALAF! #tushypod Public Rec: Upgrade your wardrobe instantly and save 20% OFF at https://publicrec.com/LEGALAF when you use promo code: LEGALAF #publicrecpod Check out the NEW Popok Firm: https://thepopokfirm.com Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ralph Nader Radio Hour
SLAPPing Down Protest

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 93:44


Ralph welcomes Deepa Padmanabha, senior legal advisor to Greenpeace USA, to discuss that organization's looming trial against Energy Transfer Partners (builder of the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock) that threatens the constitutionally protected First Amendment right of citizens and citizen groups to protest. Plus, Josh Paul, former State Department employee, who resigned in protest over the Biden Administration's policy of sending weapons to support Israel's genocide in Gaza, returns to tell us about an organization he co-founded called “A New Policy,” which as the name suggests envisions an American policy toward the Middle East more in line with the “foundational principles of liberty, equality, democracy, and human rights; advancing American interests abroad; and protecting American freedoms at home.”Deepa Padmanabha is Senior Legal Advisor at Greenpeace USA, where she works closely with environmental activists seeking to exercise their First Amendment rights to promote systemic change. In September 2022, she testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Greenpeace USA's experience with legal attacks from extractive industries and the importance of federal anti-SLAPP legislation. And her work has focused on defending Greenpeace entities in the US against two SLAPP lawsuits attempting to silence the organization's advocacy work.This was not a Greenpeace campaign—and that was very intentional. And so our very limited involvement was solidarity with the Indigenous tribes, the Indigenous water protectors that were carrying this fight…Personally, I don't think that Energy Transfer likes the optics of going after Indigenous people. I think that it's much easier to go after the “Big Greens”, the “agitators”, things like that—and they probably would be dealing with a much more difficult PR campaign if they went after members of tribes.Deepa PadmanabhaBack in 2016 and 2017, when the original civil RICO cases were filed against the Greenpeace entities (all of these fights started out as RICO), many groups across issue areas were deeply concerned that this would be the new tactic used to go to attack labor, to attack human rights, to attack every kind of organization imaginable. And so what we did at that time (Greenpeace USA was a part of it as well as other groups) is we've created a coalition called Protect the Protest. Protect the Protest is a coalition of organizations to provide support for individuals who are threatened with SLAPPs, who receive cease-and-desist letters, who might want help either finding a lawyer or communication support. Because we know that the individuals bringing these lawsuits want the fights to happen in silence. So a big part of the work that needs to be done—and that we do—is to bring attention to them.Deepa PadmanabhaPast SLAPP lawsuits by corporations intended to wear down the citizen groups, cost them all kinds of legal fees. There have been SLAPP lawsuits for citizen groups just having a news conference or citizen groups being part of a town meeting. Or in the case of Oprah Winfrey, who was sued by at Texas meat company because she had a critic of the meat industry on her show that reached millions of people. That case was settled. So, this is the furthest extension of suppression of free speech by these artificial entities called corporations.Ralph NaderJosh Paul is co-founder (with Tariq Habash) of A New Policy, which seeks to transform U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He resigned from the State Department in October 2023 due to his disagreement with the Biden Administration's decision to rush lethal military assistance to Israel in the context of its war on Gaza. He had previously spent over 11 years working as a Director in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which is responsible for U.S. defense diplomacy, security assistance, and arms transfers. He previously worked on security sector reform in both Iraq and the West Bank, with additional roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Army Staff, and as a Military Legislative Assistant for a Member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.I think that the time for quitting in protest over Gaza, unfortunately, in many ways, is greatly behind us. I think there will be a significant number of State Department officials who will be leaving in the coming days, weeks, and months. And this is a result of a push from the Trump administration to gut America's diplomatic corps, much as they did at the start of the previous Trump administration, but even more so this time around. What I'm hearing from former colleagues in the State Department is a sense of immense despair as they see freezes being placed on U.S. foreign assistance programs—including programs that do an immense amount of good around the world—and just a concern about the overall and impending collapse of American diplomacy.Josh PaulWe have to acknowledge the precedent set by President Biden. Not only in his unconditional support for Israel and its attacks on Gaza, its violations of international humanitarian law, but also in President Biden and Secretary Blinken's willingness to set aside U.S. laws when it came to, in particular, security assistance and arms transfers in order to continue that support. That is a precedent that I think all Americans should be concerned about regardless of their thoughts on the conflict itself.Josh PaulI would say that what we face in America is a problem set that runs much deeper than any change in administration, than any political party. There is an entrenched dynamic within American politics—an entrenched set of both political and economic incentives across our electoral system—that are maintaining U.S. unconditional support for Israel, regardless of what the American people might want.Josh PaulNews 1/31/251. Our top stories this week have to do with the betrayal of the so-called “Make America Healthy Again” or “MAHA” movement. First up, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health of Human Services – found himself in the hot seat Wednesday as his confirmation hearings began. Kennedy, who is facing opposition both from Democrats who regard his anti-vaccine rhetoric as dangerous and Republicans who view him as too liberal, struggled to answer basic questions during these hearings. Perhaps most distressingly, he shilled for the disastrous Medicare privatization scheme known as “Medicare Advantage,” at one point saying that he himself is on a Medicare Advantage plan and that “more people would rather be on Medicare Advantage.” Kennedy went on to say most Americans would prefer to be on private insurance. As Matt Stoller of the American Economic Liberties Project writes, this is “basically Cato [Institute] style libertarianism.”2. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is signaling they intend to scrap a proposed EPA rule to ban “forever chemicals” from Americans' drinking water, per the Spokesman-Review out of Spokane, Washington. Per this piece, “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, abbreviated PFAS, are a set of man-made chemicals used in thousands of products over the decades. High levels of them have…been linked to cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, low birth weight and other diseases.” Shelving PFAS regulation was high on the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 wish list, though the Trump team had previously sent mixed messages on the topic. Trump's pick to oversee regulation of dangerous chemicals is Nancy Beck, a longtime executive at the American Chemistry Council.3. As if those betrayals weren't enough, Trump has also selected Ms. Kailee Buller as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the past year, Buller has served as president & CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association. More simply put, she is the top seed oil lobbyist in the nation. This is perhaps the most illustrative example of the MAHA bait and switch. Not only is the Trump administration spitting in the face of their own supporters and doing the opposite of what they promised in terms of cracking down on ultra-processed, unhealthy food – they are doing so in an openly and brazenly corrupt manner. Under Trump, regulatory agencies are on the auction block and will be sold to the highest bidder.4. In more health news, legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has come out with a new story – and it's a doozy. According to Hersh's sources, the Trump administration mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic long before the public knew anything about the virus. He writes “I learned this week that a US intelligence asset at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where the Covid virus was first observed…provided early warning of a laboratory accident at Wuhan that led to a series of infections that was quickly spreading and initially seemed immune to treatment.” Hersh continues “early studies dealing with how to mitigate the oncoming plague, based on information from the Chinese health ministry about the lethal new virus, were completed late in 2019 by experts from America's National Institutes of Health and other research agencies.” Yet, “Despite their warnings, a series of preventative actions were not taken until the United States was flooded with cases of the virus.” Most damningly, Hersh's sources claim that “All of these studies…have been expunged from the official internal records in Washington, including any mention of the CIA's source inside the Chinese laboratory.” If true, this would be among the most catastrophic cases of indecision – and most sweeping coverup – in modern American history. Watch this space.5. Meanwhile, in more foreign affairs news, Progressive International reports that “For the first time in history,” Members of the United States Congress have joined with Members of Mexico's Cámara de Diputados to “oppose the escalating threats of U.S. military action against Mexico” and call to “strengthen the bonds of solidarity between our peoples.” This move of course comes amid ever-rising tensions between the United States and our southern neighbor, particularly as the GOP has in recent years taken up the idea of a full-blown invasion of Mexico. This letter was signed by many prominent U.S. progressives, including Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Summer Lee, AOC, Greg Casar and Raul Grijalva, as well as 23 Mexican deputies. One can only hope that this show of internationalism helps forestall further escalation with Mexico.6. Turning to the issue of corruption, former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that included him acting as an unregistered agent of the Egyptian government, per the DOJ. Until 2024, Menendez had served as the Chairman or Ranking Member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee – an ideal perch for a crooked politician. During sentencing, Menendez broke down and weepily begged the judge for leniency. Yet, almost immediately after the sentence was handed down, Menendez changed his tune and started sucking up to Trump in a transparent attempt to secure a pardon. Axios reports Menendez said “President Trump was right…This process is political, and it's corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.” Unfortunately, Trump's fragile ego makes him particularly susceptible to just this sort of appeal, so it would be no surprise if he does grant some form of clemency to the disgraced Senator.7. Likewise, New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears to feel the walls closing in with regard to his corrupt dealings with his Turkish benefactors. And just like Menendez, Adams' strategy appears to be to ingratiate himself with Trump world. On January 23rd, the New York Daily News reported that Adams had pledged to avoid publicly criticizing Trump. Adams has previously called Trump a “white supremacist.” Adams' simpering seems to having the intended effect. On January 29th, the New York Times reported “Senior Justice Department officials under President Trump have held discussions with federal prosecutors in Manhattan about the possibility of dropping their corruption case,” against Adams. This story notes that “The defense team is led by Alex Spiro, who is also the personal lawyer for Elon Musk.”8. Our final three stories this week have to do with organized labor. First, Bloomberg labor reporter Josh Eidelson reports Trump has ousted National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo. This alone is a tragedy; Abruzzo has been nothing short of a crusader on behalf of organized labor during her tenure. Yet, more troubling news quickly followed: Trump has unlawfully sacked Gwynne Wilcox a Democratic member of the labor board with no just cause. As Eidelson notes, the law forbids “firing board members absent neglect or malfeasance.” Wilcox was the first ever Black member of the NLRB and her unlawful removal gives Trump a working majority at the board. Expect to see a rapid slew of anti-worker decisions in the coming days.9. In some good news, independent journalist Ken Klippenstein reports that union collective bargaining agreements have successfully “thwart[ed]…Trump's return to work order.” Instead, the administration has been forced to issue a new order, stating “Supervisors should not begin discussions around the return to in-person work with bargaining unit employees until HHS fulfills its collective bargaining obligations.” In other words, even while every supposed legal guardrail, institutional norm, and political force of gravity wilts before Trump's onslaught, what is the one bulwark that still stands strong, protecting everyday working people? Their union.10. Our final story is a simple one. Jacobin labor journalist Alex Press reports that in Philadelphia, the first Whole Foods grocery store has voted to unionize. The nearly-300 workers at the store voted to affiliate with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1176. Whole Foods was sold to Amazon in 2017 and since then the e-tail giant has vigorously staved off unionization. Could this be the first crack in the dam? Only time will tell.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Progress Texas Happy Hour
Daily Dispatch 1/31/25: Start Watching Avocado Prices - Trump Tariffs On Mexico Start Sunday, and More

Progress Texas Happy Hour

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 10:06


Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Donald Trump says he plans to follow through with applying a 25% tariff to all goods imported from Mexico starting Sunday - consumers in border states like Texas will feel the pinch immediately: https://thehill.com/business/5117233-trump-mexico-canada-tariffs-threat/ East Texas freshman GOP State Rep. Brent Money has filed legislation that would define life as beginning at fertilization - rendering illegal IVF, IUD's and Plan B: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/breaking-brent-money-bill-to-criminalize ...All while hundreds of Texans have been fleeing the state to get abortion care - lately including at least six girls under the age of 12: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-abortion-ban-teens-20047622.php More puzzlement, considering the massive federal immigration intervention underway, over Texas Republicans' apparent plan to keep staffing and funding Operation Lone Star: https://www.tpr.org/military-veterans-issues/2025-01-30/as-more-federal-troops-deploy-to-the-border-the-fate-of-texas-state-military-mission-is-unclear ...Schools are no longer safe - a Conroe parent is furious that her daughter was grilled for her immigration status by her Spanish teacher: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/conroe-schools-immigration-20065867.php ...Churches are no longer safe, and experts say that's both a tragic backslide into prior historical injustices, and an erosion of the First Amendment: https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-churches-christianity-constitution-trump/ Governor Abbott is set to give a statewide address to outline his legislative priorities on Sunday evening at 5pm: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/31/greg-abbott-state-of-the-state-speech/ Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you! https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/ The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson
Examining an executive order that would affect international college students 

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 10:33


Hosts: Adam Gardiner and Greg Skordas  This week, President Trump signed an executive order that could affect international students on college campuses. The primary motivation? The antisemitic protests on college campuses during the Israel/Hamas war. Inside Sources discusses potential issues this could have due to things like the First Amendment. 

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson
Inside Sources Full Show January 31st, 2025: 'Eye on the Hill', Tariffs going into effect, Legislation on fentanyl in Utah

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 73:41


Hosts: Adam Gardiner and Greg Skordas  On the Hill 2025: The latest on the bill to ban public labor union collective bargaining  One of the hottest bills on Utah’s Capitol Hill so far this session has been on removing the ability for public labor unions to do collective bargaining with their employers. We’ve covered it a bit on Inside Sources already but today – after already passing the House – the Senate decided to ‘circle’ the bill, which effectively pauses it for a time. Hosts Adam Gardiner and Greg Skordas explain where it goes from here.    On the Hill 2025: Legislation regarding the privacy of signatures gathered for a political candidate  The 2024 primary election brought a bit of controversy over the privacy of signatures gathered for political candidates. A new bill – which was just publicly released – looks to address this kind of situation. We wanted to get the latest on what the bill will do, so State Representative Mike Kohler joins Inside Sources to explain.    On the Hill 2025: Legislation that could remove publication requirements for proposed constitutional amendments  In 2024, Amendments A and D were tossed from the ballot partially due to missing a publication deadline requirement as stipulated in the Utah Constitution. During this Legislative Session... one State Representative is looking at ways to remove that same publication requirement specific to proposed constitutional amendments. State Representative Anthony Loubet walks listeners through his proposal on Inside Sources.    On the Hill 2025: Legislation addressing law enforcement’s use of artificial intelligence  “Disclose it if you use it” -- that’s the major takeaway of a new bill on Capitol Hill that addresses how law enforcement could use artificial intelligence. State Senator Stephanie Pitcher says there needs to be some kind of guidelines put in place before it becomes an issue. She joins hosts Greg Skordas and Adam Gardiner to share more insights into SB180.    Tariffs on Mexico and Canada go into effect this weekend  Following through on his campaign promise, President Donald Trump is instituting 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada -- as well as a 10% duty on goods from China -- starting tomorrow. The White House hasn’t released a lot of specifics yet, but be prepared to pay more... starting almost immediately. The Inside Sources have a lot of thoughts on this; they share them during this segment.    Examining an executive order that would affect international college students  This week, President Trump signed an executive order that could affect international students on college campuses. The primary motivation? The antisemitic protests on college campuses during the Israel/Hamas war. Inside Sources discusses potential issues this could have due to things like the First Amendment.    On the Hill 2025: Legislation to slow the flow of fentanyl movement in Utah  Fentanyl has become more and more prevalent on Utah streets, and it’s become deadlier too. State Representative, and current chief of police in Roy, Matthew Gwynn is looking at several ways to help control the flow of fentanyl. He joins us to talk more about legislation he’s working on and the funding he’s asking for to make things happen.    

Supreme Court Opinions
TikTok Inc. v. Garland

Supreme Court Opinions

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 33:22


In this case, the court considered this issue: Does the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, as applied to TikTok, violate the First Amendment? The case was decided on January 17, 2025. In a per curiam opinion, the Court held that the challenged provisions of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act do not violate TikTok's First Amendment rights. First, the Court determined that intermediate scrutiny applies because the law is content-neutral; it targets TikTok not based on the content of speech on the platform, but because of China's ability to access sensitive data from 170 million U-S users through its control of ByteDance. While laws that discriminate among different speakers often raise First Amendment concerns, TikTok's unique characteristics—its massive scale and susceptibility to foreign adversary control—justify treating it differently from other platforms. The law does not reflect a preference for certain content or viewpoints, so it is subject to intermediate scrutiny. In other words, the law must further an important government interest unrelated to the suppression of free expression and not burden substantially more speech than necessary to further that interest. Under that test, the law was sufficiently tailored to serve the government's important interest in preventing China from collecting vast amounts of sensitive user data. Congress had substantial evidence of the extensive personal information TikTok collects and China's ability to compel Chinese companies to surrender data. Rather than banning TikTok outright, the law allows the platform to continue operating if ByteDance divests it to eliminate Chinese control. While there may be less restrictive alternatives like disclosure requirements or data sharing restrictions, Congress retains latitude to choose its preferred regulatory solution so long as it does not burden substantially more speech than necessary to achieve its goal. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote separately concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote an opinion concurring in the judgment. The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you. 

Politicology
Foreign Agents

Politicology

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 45:56


For the full and ad-free version of this episode, subscribe to Politicology+ at https://politicology.com/plus In this episode, Ron talks to  Casey Michel (Director of the Combating Kleptocracy Program at the Human Rights Foundation) about his book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World and how foreign money  influences our politics. They discuss: (01:46) The shadow world of foreign lobbying  (03:45) Ivy Lee and Paul Manafort  (07:36) The First Amendment and foreign influence  (10:23) Understanding FARA  (13:28) How Paul Manafort shaped modern lobbying  (15:49) Legal loopholes and foreign influence in politics  (18:11) The case of Viktor Pinchuk (22:13) The Trump Administration's impact on foreign lobbying  (27:19) How Universities and Think tanks are the new frontier of influence  (33:05) Colorful characters in foreign lobbying  (41:39) The Biden Family and foreign influence accusations  (45:27) Contrasting foreign influence on Trump and Clinton  (49:00) Proposed reforms  Read Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World: https://bit.ly/4giHjBK Check out the HRF's Combatting Kleptocracy Program: https://bit.ly/4hAAQTJ Follow Ron and Casey  on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/cjcmichel Email your questions to podcast@politicology.com or leave us a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ctrl-Alt-Speech
This Episode has Masculine Energy

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 54:46 Transcription Available


In this week's roundup of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Mike is joined by guest host Renee DiResta, associate research professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. They cover:The new free speech crisis hiding in plain sight (MSNBC)‘Free Speech' Warrior RFK Jr. Has Been Trying To Censor a Blogger for Years (Who What Why)In motion to dismiss, chatbot platform Character AI claims it is protected by the First Amendment (TechCrunch)Trump Signs Agreement Calling for Meta to Pay $25 Million to Settle Suit (WSJ)Meta's Free-Speech Shift Made It Clear to Advertisers: ‘Brand Safety' Is Out of Vogue (WSJ)X refuses to remove stabbing video watched by Southport killer (Financial Times)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

The Todd Herman Show
Obama Is Very, VERY Upset with you; Two Women Prove Some People Should NEVER Handle Guns Ep-2033

The Todd Herman Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 41:29


Wisdom Nutrition https://trywisdomnow.com/toddStock up on Wisdom for 33% off plus free shipping. Visit trywisdomnow.com/toddAlan's Soaps https://www.alansartisansoaps.comUse coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizers https://Bioptimizers.com/ToddEnter promo code TODD to get 10% off any order.Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/toddMake Bonefrog Cold Brew at home!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com)Don't miss the next live Webinar Thursday January 30th at 3:30pm pacific.  Sign up today by calling 866-779-RISK or go to KnowYourRiskRadio.com.Renue Healthcare https://renue.healthcare/toddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit renue.healthcare/ToddTwo women prove that some women, people, shouldn't handle guns - and one's a cop! Obama is very very upset with you and I beecause “democracy”. Which is worse? A prayer that kids would get wrong sex hormones and treatment, or the baptism of a man who claims he's Jesus?Episode Links:Obama is upset that people don't seem to care about "democracy" as much as he thought.Just two months ago, DC Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Paulette Harlow who is 75-year-old and in poor health to 2 years in prison for praying outside an abortion clinic. When her husband begged for mercy for fear she would die in prison due to poor health, the Judge mocked their Christian faith saying: "maybe you should make an effort to remain alive because that is a tenet of your religionBREAKING: President Donald J. Trump grants pardons to peaceful pro-life protesters prosecuted by the Biden administration over exercising their First Amendment rights.E-girl twitch streamer displays poor muzzle discipline, (Possibly for views?)  may be a story to followup on laterOfficer Girl Boss Strikes Again"What?"  - Seconds before being baptized, a young man claims to BE Jesus Christ in the flesh, prompting a very confused pastor to quickly reorient himself and wisely cancel proceedings.At St. John's Episcopal Church, Roanoke, Va, we see prayers for intersex children while this impastor beats up on faithful churches for rejecting their LGBTQ hysterics and revisionist theology.

On with Kara Swisher
Social Media's Original Gatekeepers On Moderation's Rise And Fall

On with Kara Swisher

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 70:35


Since the inception of social media, content moderation has been hotly debated by CEOs, politicians, and, of course, among the gatekeepers themselves: the trust and safety officers. And it's been a roller coaster ride — from an early hands-off approach, to bans and oversight boards, to the current rollback and “community notes” we're seeing from big guns like Meta, X, and YouTube. So how do the folks who wrote the early rules of the road look at what's happening now in content moderation? And what impact will it have on the trust and safety of the platforms over the long term? This week, Kara speaks with Del Harvey, former Twitter VP of trust and safety (2014- 2021); Dave Willner, former head of content policy at Facebook (2010-2013); Nicole Wong, a First Amendment lawyer, former VP and deputy general counsel at Google (2004-2011), Twitter's legal director of product (2012-2013), and deputy chief technology officer during the Obama administration (2013-2014). Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram and TikTok @onwithkaraswisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freedom One-On-One with Jeff Dornik
First Episode Back: Big Tech, A.I., and the Maverick Broadcasting Network Relaunch

Freedom One-On-One with Jeff Dornik

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 39:12


The Jeff Dornik Show is officially BACK! After months off, we're kicking things off with a bang in this first episode of the new daily format, live every weekday at 10am PT. Mondays through Thursdays, I'll be breaking down the most important issues of the day, while Fridays are reserved for exclusive interviews—starting this week with Senator Ron Johnson, which you absolutely don't want to miss. Today, I'm sharing the vision for the show's new direction, the launch of my new social media platform Pickax, and the relaunch of Freedom First Network as the Maverick Broadcasting Network in partnership with Matt Couch. We're also setting the stage for this week's hard-hitting episodes exposing the true agenda behind Big Tech, A.I., and mRNA technology. Let's dive in!Follow Jeff Dornik on Pickax: https://pickax.com/jeffdornikFollow Maverick Broadcasting Network on Pickax: https://pickax.com/maverickbroadcastingJoin the ranks of the wise who secure their assets against government overreach and economic instability, with their 3-step, tax-free process for setting up your Gold IRA. Click here to get your FREE Gold and Silver Guide. Be sure to mention that you heard about it on The Jeff Dornik Show! https://mygoldguy.comWith the government pushing experimental shots and Big Pharma censoring alternatives, the Contagion Emergency Kit from The Wellness Company puts your health back in your hands. Packed with Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine, and other essentials banned by the establishment, it's your ultimate defense against the next "planned crisis." Use code JEFF for 10% off and stay prepared. https://twc.health/mbn

Tiers of Scrutiny w/ Eva Eapen & Pari Sidana
Privacy, Porn, and the First Amendment: A Constitutional Crossroads (Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton)

Tiers of Scrutiny w/ Eva Eapen & Pari Sidana

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 11:51


Happy Monday, folks! On today's episode, Pari and I discuss Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case in which SCOTUS must decide the correct scrutiny test to apply to age verification laws on porn sites. Other questions we touch on...Should governments be able to require that porn websites verify viewers' ages? Do such laws infringe on First Amendment protections and anonymity? This is a case that will have significant implications for free speech protections regarding sexual/obscene content. We recorded this episode before the Supreme Court heard arguments in this case, so we've linked the January 15th arguments for you below--alongside a host of resources if you're interested in learning more. See you in two weeks! Eva & Pari https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122 https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122 https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/ https://ballotpedia.org/Free_Speech_Coalition,_Inc._v._Paxton#:~:text=Ketanji%20Brown%20Jackson-,Free%20Speech%20Coalition%20v.,court's%20October%202024%2D2025%20term.&text=The%20issue%3A%20The%20case%20concerns%20people's%20access%20to%20protected%20speech https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/scotus-attorney-general-ken-paxton-defends-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-measures-pornography#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Ken%20Paxton%20filed,children%20from%20obscene%20online%20material https://www.aclu.org/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton https://www.freespeechcoalition.com/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326045/20240916160337719_Petitioners%20Merits%20Br.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/311950/20240530120355427_23-1122%20Brief%20in%20Opposition.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326689/20240923183221800_23-1122tsacUS_Free_Speech_Coal_Final.pdf

Power Line
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Getting Right with Free Speech

Power Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 65:18


The 3WHH bartenders raise their glasses high for the first 100 hours of Trump II, which bid to replace FDR's famous "Hundred Days" for breathtaking executive action. You'd think that this is Trump's first term, and metaphysically, Steve argues, it is. In just the way we've come to expect of Trump in all things, he may have turned the usual presidential cycle on its head. Even John, champion of executive power, is impressed. And one more miracle: he actually gets rare praise from Lucretia for his Newsweek article concluding than Biden's pardons were much worse than Trump's blanket pardons or all the J6 protesters. From there we get to the main event, a three-part discussion of a single issue—in this case free speech and how to understand the First Amendment correctly. Steve argues back to first principles, in which the freedom of conscience and thus free expression was grounded in reason, that is, free speech was essential to deliberation about right and wrong, and how we should be governed. By nearly imperceptible degrees, in the 20th century the protection of "free expression" was re-grounded in moral skepticism (if not nihilism), which is why nude dancing and F-bombs on t-shirts became "protected speech." This is not progress.From there we move on to wondering if the time has come to revisit the libel standard of New York Times v. Sullivan, which has enabled our mainstream media to behave with increasing recklessness. And we think: Yes! Yes it is.And along the way, some digressions into Animal House, Spongebob Squarepants, and other cultural totems. And we depart briefly from our new proprietary bumper music from Cosigner to use a very topical old tune (from lefties!), "Immigration Man." 

Supreme Court Opinions
Moody v. NetChoice

Supreme Court Opinions

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 110:25


In this case, the court considered this issue: Do Florida S.B. 7072's content-moderation restrictions comply with the First Amendment, and do the law's individualized-explanation requirements comply with the First Amendment? The case was decided on July 1, 2024. The Supreme Court held that The judgments are vacated, and the cases are remanded, because neither the Eleventh Circuit nor the Fifth Circuit conducted a proper analysis of the facial First Amendment challenges to the Florida and Texas laws regulating large internet platforms. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion of the Court. Under precedents like Miami Herald v Tornillo, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v Public Utilities Commission, Turner Broadcasting v FCC, and Hurley v Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston, when a private entity engages in expressive activity, including curating others' speech, government interference with that activity implicates the First Amendment. Specifically, the First Amendment protects entities engaged in expressive activities, including compiling and curating others' speech, from being forced to accommodate messages they prefer to exclude. This protection applies even when the compiler includes most items and excludes only a few. The government cannot justify interfering with a private speaker's editorial choices merely by claiming an interest in improving or balancing the marketplace of ideas. These principles likely apply to the content moderation practices of social media platforms like Facebook's News Feed, indicating that state laws regulating these practices may face significant First Amendment hurdles. However, this analysis may not apply to all of the laws' applications, so it is important for courts to conduct a thorough examination of the laws' full scope and their constitutional and unconstitutional applications in a proper facial challenge analysis. Texas's regulation of social media platforms' content moderation policies aims to alter the speech displayed on these platforms, reflecting the state's disapproval of the platforms' current content selection and moderation practices. However, under the First Amendment, Texas cannot impose its preferences on how private entities curate and present speech, as this would amount to government control over the expression of ideas. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the majority opinion in full and authored a separate concurrence. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the majority opinion in part and authored a separate concurrence. Justice Clarence Thomas authored an opinion concurring in the judgment. Justice Samuel Alito authored an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined. The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you. 

The WorldView in 5 Minutes
Trump pardoned 23 pro-lifers; Bishop confronted Trump on homosexuals & illegals, 5 Pakistani Muslims abducted 14-year-old Christian girl

The WorldView in 5 Minutes

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025


It's Friday, January 24th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 5 Pakistani Muslims abducted 14-year-old Christian girl On January 9th, five Muslims abducted a 14-year-old Christian girl from outside her home in Pakistan, reports Morning Star News. Sharif Masih, of the Punjab Province, said he fears the kidnappers may try to forcibly convert his daughter, Saneha, to Islam and force her to marry one of the Muslim suspects. He said, “Saneha was lured out of the house by a Muslim girl whose family had recently moved to our neighborhood.” Please pray that God would protect Saneha from harm and return her to her family. According to Open Doors, Pakistan is the eighth most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. Congress: Deport criminal illegals On January 22nd, in a vote of 263-156, Congress passed The Laken Riley Act which will be the first bill President Trump signs into law. The act was named after the Georgia nursing student who was brutally raped and murdered by an illegal alien with a long criminal record. This legislation requires criminal illegal aliens to be held for deportation. Gary Bauer, Director of American Values,  wrote, “This is not a controversial idea. In fact, a recent New York Times poll found solid majorities in favor of mass deportations. There was overwhelming support (87%) for deporting criminal illegal aliens.” Bauer concluded, “Kicking out criminals is just common sense. But 73% of House Democrats and 74% of Senate Democrats voted against the Laken Riley Act. The rot in the Democrat Party is deep.” Trump pardoned 23 pro-lifers On Thursday afternoon, President Trump pardoned the 23 pro-lifers imprisoned during Joe Biden's presidency for their attempts to save unborn babies, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart." TRUMP AIDE: “Next, we have a set of pardons for peaceful pro-life protesters who were prosecuted by the Biden administration for exercising their First Amendment right.” TRUMP: “Do you know how many?” TRUMP AIDE: “I believe it's 23, sir.” TRUMP: “Twenty-three people were prosecuted. They should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted. This is a great honor to sign this. (he signs the order) They'll be very happy. So, they're all in prison now?” TRUMP AIDE: “Some are. Some are out of custody.” TRUMP: “It's ridiculous!” The now-pardoned pro-lifers include Joan Bell, Coleman Boyd, Joel Curry, Jonathan Darnel, Eva Edl, Chester Gallagher, Rosemary “Herb” Geraghty, William Goodman, Dennis Green, Lauren Handy, Paulette Harlow, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, Jean Marshall, Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, Justin Phillips, Paul Place, Bevelyn Beatty Williams, and Calvin, Eva, and James Zastrow. I urge you to take a listen to the powerful testimonies of 11 of these brave pro-lifers, who urged abortion-minded pregnant women to choose life in March 2021 at a pro-life rescue at a Mt. Juliet, Tennessee abortion mill, through a series of conversations at StifledCry.com. That's StifledCry.com. Trump signs Executive Order releasing final JFK assassination files In addition, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 23, releasing additional government files associated with the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reports The Epoch Times. TRUMP AIDE: “Lastly sir, we have an Executive Order ordering the declassification of files relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” TRUMP: “That's a big one. A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed.” The order calls for the National Intelligence Director and the Attorney General to present a plan to the president within 15 days for the “full and complete release” of the remaining JFK assassination records and 45 days for the RFK and King records. Trump and former President Joe Biden previously released thousands of documents related to JFK's killing. Roughly 99 percent of the assassination files have been released as of 2023, according to the National Archives. Episcopal Bishop confronted Trump on homosexuals and illegal aliens And finally, on Tuesday, a female Episcopal Church bishop directly confronted President Donald Trump at a worship service held at the Washington National Cathedral, where she pleaded with him to “have mercy” on homosexuals, transgenders, and illegal immigrants, reports The Christian Post. Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington delivered the sermon at the Service of Prayer for the Nation at the cathedral. Near the end of her sermon, Budde directly addressed Trump, who was seated in the front row alongside his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance. BUDDE: “Let me make one final plea. Mr. President, millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat-packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals. They, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, Gurdwara, and temples. “I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.” Fox News commentator Greg Gutfeld brought clarity to the conversation. GUTFELD: “She's talking about behaviors. And she's cloaking these behaviors under the false guise of compassion. I mean, she's lecturing a guy who got shot about being in danger. Who is she implying that is putting these people in danger? Are there guys in MAGA hats that are mutilating healthy children and removing their genitals. No, that's her team!” And Liz Storer, Sky News Host in Australia, was equally horrified with the Episcopalian Bishop. STORER: “For shame! So, there you are. I don't know much about the Episcopalian Church, but there's your bishop in Washington, pleading with the new President of the United States to, I don't know, do what? -- for what the Scriptures very clearly call a lifestyle of abomination. “So, I don't know where this woman is coming from. This ‘our God' that she's referring to certainly is not the Christian God!” Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” And regarding her reference to illegal immigrants, President Trump spoke out on Truth Social. He wrote, “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard-line Trump hater. She brought her church into the world of politics in a very ungracious way. … “She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. … She and her church owe the public an apology!” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 24th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Shake the Dust
Bonus Episode: How to Stay Politically Educated as the Media Gives in to MAGA

Shake the Dust

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 17:54


This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.ktfpress.comOn this month's bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy are talking political education in this new era of traditional and social media bowing to Trump and the MAGA movement. We get into:- The beliefs about free speech behind the changes at Meta that Mark Zuckerberg recently announced- How our understanding of healthy discourse differs from those beliefs- And tips for staying politically educated in this new environmentCredits- Follow KTF Press on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Subscribe to get our bonus episodes and other benefits at KTFPress.com.- Follow host Jonathan Walton on Facebook Instagram, and Threads.- Follow host Sy Hoekstra on Mastodon.- Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra – listen to the whole song on Spotify.- Our podcast art is by Robyn Burgess – follow her and see her other work on Instagram.- Transcripts by Joyce Ambale and Sy.- Editing by Sy.- Production by Sy and our incredible subscribersTranscript[An acoustic guitar softly plays six notes in a major scale, the first three ascending and the last three descending, with a keyboard pad playing the tonic in the background. Both fade out as Jonathan Walton says “This is a KTF Press podcast.”]Sy Hoekstra: The moderation isn't really a problem, it's sort of the greed behind the companies. Like, the people who have realized, “Oh, I can make a ton of money by making people super angry [laughs]. And I don't care what that does to our public discourse, because it makes me money.” That's the real problem to me. It's not actually the fact that somebody has said, “I will not let people say anti-Semitic things on my platform. “[The song “Citizens” by Jon Guerra fades in. Lyrics: “I need to know there is justice/ That it will roll in abundance/ And that you're building a city/ Where we arrive as immigrants/ And you call us citizens/ And you welcome us as children home.” The song fades out.]Sy Hoekstra: Hello, hello, everybody. This is Sy. Jonathan and I are still recording these monthly bonus episodes on Substack live. Thank you if you were able to join us for the live recording this time around. I'm just here to tell you that the recording cut off the very, very beginning of what I said when we started. So if I just dropped you in, it wouldn't make any sense. What I'm gonna do is seamlessly transition us from this to the live recording. Now ready? Here we go. Welcome to this bonus episode of Shake the Dust, seeking Jesus, confronting injustice. [transition to live recording] I'm Sy Hoekstra.Jonathan Walton: And I'm Jonathan Walton. Welcome again to this bonus episode recorded live on Substack. Thank you to everyone who is joining and watching right now and watching later, and again, thanks for being a subscriber to this podcast. We appreciate you.Sy Hoekstra: We are going to be talking today, as the headline says, about how to be politically educated, how to keep yourself politically educated in this new era of Trump. And not just Trump, but also both legacy and social media platforms, kind of bowing the knee to him and doing his bidding [laughs]. Political education has always been central to what we talk about at KTF Press, and our reasons for doing it and what we're trying to accomplish haven't changed, but the way that you go about doing it is actually starting to change in significant ways. So we thought we would take some time to talk about kind of the reasons behind the changes that are happening in the media and how that means we need to be paying attention going forward in order to remain people who are informed and who can be helpful and who can serve the kingdom of God in our politics.So we're kind of merging the whole show together. Normally, we have our conversation and then we do separately the Which Tab Is Still Open, which is where we have a segment where we talk about diving deeper into one of the things from our newsletter, one of the highlights that one of us brought out from the news in our newsletter. When we were talking about this conversation, I was like, “I wanna talk about the Meta stuff and Mark Zuckerberg and those announcements that he made.” And as we had the conversation, we sort of realized that's actually the whole episode [laughter].Jonathan Walton: Yeah, exactly.Sy Hoekstra: We're doing a whole episode of Which Tab Is Still Open. I will explain those of you who don't know, give a brief summary of what it is that Mark Zuckerberg said exactly last week, and then we will get into the meat of the conversation. And then we'll be talking about how to find trustworthy sources and how to better understand the political and news climate that we are in in this new Trump era. So this is gonna be a really good conversation. I'm sure you'll all enjoy it. Jonathan, though, before we get started, it's your turn to talk [laughter].Jonathan Walton: Yeah. Well, if you're listening to this live, please consider becoming a paid subscriber and supporting this work so we can do more of it. If you become a paid subscriber, you'll get access to this video, audio and all of our live and bonus episodes from like [laughs] the last four years. You also get access to archives of everything that we've done, our Zoom calls as well. So please, please, do become a paid subscriber. You'll also get the ability to comment and interact with us more, and you'll be supporting everything that we're doing as we push for just political discipleship and education and leave behind the idols of the American church. Welcome to all y'all who just signed on.For everybody, if you do like Shake the Dust, definitely go to Apple, Spotify, give a great review. That helps people discover the show and lets us know that y'all appreciate what we're doing, and we are so excited to jump into this conversation today. Go for it, Sy.Sy Hoekstra: All right, let me get us caught up. And for the people who are live, feel free to comment or question in the chat at any point, and Jonathan will be monitoring that. We will incorporate that into our discussion. And join us live, by the way, if you wanna have that opportunity, if you're listening later. So like I said, what I'm gonna do is explain just the brief bullet points of everything that Mark Zuckerberg said in his reel last week [laughter].Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And all of the changes that are happening at Meta, which is Facebook and Instagram and Threads.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And then we will get into the conversation about it after I go into that. Like I said, Which Tab Is Still Open right at the top of the show. So here are the announcements that he made, and they're all about content moderation and filtering content and everything on Facebook and Instagram and Threads. So the first thing, he has six announcements. I'll go through them really quickly. One is they are ending their fact checking program [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: They are completely getting rid of all of their mostly third party fact checkers and replacing them with community notes like they have on Twitter, meaning users will be doing the fact checking and trying to post notes to correct disinformation on Facebook, instead of having professional fact checkers doing that. He will be limiting moderation on certain subjects. He specifically mentioned immigration and gender. People who have subsequently reported about the policy changes have said there are also things about race and some other subjects that will not be moderated. And this is like basically saying that censorship on those subjects is out of touch with mainstream discourse now.All of this he made pretty clear, was revolving around Trump's election. They're gonna be focusing their content filters, like their automatic, not the actual people doing the fact checking or the humans doing the moderation, but the robo content filters [laughs] on illegal content and high severity violations, as he described them. So that's stuff like drugs and terrorism and child exploitation, that sort of thing. And then anything that is not on those subjects, in order for the filters to act in any way, people will have to affirmatively report them. The filters won't act preemptively. They're gonna bring back what they call civic content, which is like their political content.They had been, as a lot of you probably know, sort of hiding it. You had to go into your settings and say that you specifically wanted to see it to get it in your feed. So they're taking away that filter, that'll be back in your feed. And then the [laughs], there's two more. One is the safety and content moderation teams. They are moving to Texas, where they're, as Mark Zuckerberg put it, “where there will be less concerns about their biases.” They are currently in California, so that tells you which biases [laughs] he cares about and which he doesn't. Also, by the way, other reporters have said a lot of their content, there's some of their content moderation teams are already in Texas, but…Jonathan Walton: It's true.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah [laughs].Jonathan Walton: It's a hand wave, yeah.Sy Hoekstra: Exactly. The rest of them will be moving to Texas.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: And then finally, he said he'll be working with Trump and the US government to push back on governments, he specially named Europe, Latin America and China, who want Facebook to be doing more moderation and content filtering, which he always refers to as censorship, to push back against them, combined with the power of the American federal government. Specifically noting that over the last four years, it has been difficult, because the American government was asking for more censorship.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And all of this he justifies under kind of a heading of giving people a voice and allowing people to share their real experiences and free speech. He mentions the constitution and just our culture of free speech and discourse. Those are kind of the, I don't know, bigger ideological points that he gives behind it. I will just note before we start, this is very similar to the moves that Twitter has made and, important for us, this is similar to what Substack has been the whole time. Substack has been a non-moderation, almost entirely unmoderated platform for a very long time. They only moderate material that is either illegal in some way or pornographic. They have pretty much let everything else be, which has caused some controversy.So we will get into it, Jonathan. As I said, anybody can comment or ask questions as we go. But Jonathan, before we jump into what we think good political education is in the midst of changes, like what's happening at Meta, I wanna talk a little bit about kind of the ideology, the world view behind this, what the politics and economics behind this way of thinking are, because that will inform how we think that you move forward. So tell us what you think about what the world view is, what the ideology is behind these sorts of changes, and how does yours differ from that worldview [laughter]? Because spoilers, it does differ.Jonathan Walton: Yeah. I mean, I've got a significant amount of disagreement with all of this.Sy Hoekstra: [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Lots of dissonance that I feel around it. And there's a meme that someone put out really, there's amazing art happening right now around the different things that are happening in culture, particularly around war, injustice, violence, et cetera. So if you're not following amazing artists on Instagram or, we'll dive into how to use social media a little bit more later, but find some great art, find some great photos, find some things. And I found one that basically showed Trump sitting on a throne with a stream of visibly cartoonish but totally recognizable CEOs dropping million dollar coins at his feet to signify the reality that there are many, many CEOs right now, basically tithing a million dollars paying tribute to our new leader.And I think that is what we need to hold as the reality, is that all of this is subservient to the reality that these CEOs are trying to make as much money as possible and to protect the empires that they're building, and there is no larger framework of engaging in a social good. The reality is wherever the wind blows that's going to be the most profitable for their company, that is where they're going. And I think this is signified by how Morning Brew Daily, one of the most popular podcasts on the planet, talks about how Elon Musk invested money in the election. That was how they framed it.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah.Jonathan Walton: He “invested” $227 million in Trump becoming president. We should not call election manipulation and subversion of democracy an investment. But I think that's exactly how the powers that be see and engage with our current political system downstream of Citizens United in 2010 and all that kind of stuff. So I think we have to remember that we sit on stolen land that's set up in an exploitative, capitalistic system, and the moves that are being made are to protect the accumulation and the unbridled accumulation of that capital. And I think pretty explicitly now and enshrined into law, like with Citizens United, is this political and economic marrying which has ballooned into just all kinds of campaign finance violations that are no longer violations, and secret organizations and all those kinds of things that I wish were different, but am recognizing, praying and working against so that they actually will be.Sy Hoekstra: It's interesting to me that you mentioned those things in particular, because as we have said with Donald Trump in so many other arenas, he is not particularly unique in… like everybody always donates to presidents' inaugurations. Companies have always donated money to senatorial campaigns or to whatever.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: That's not new. The idea that your whole goal of your company is to maximize wealth for your shareholders is not new. It's just as usual with everything else. Trump magnifies things and puts them out in the open, not just him, but the whole culture around him, puts them out in the open in a way that they weren't before. And that's the chief thing that surprises people about him a lot is just how brazen he is.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: But, yeah, no, I agree with you. And I think the things, part of what we're maybe uncovering there is the things that change in how you politically educate yourself are not about radically new ideas that are coming down the pike. They're just about things crystallizing and elevating in a new way, and that's why we have to change. But, yeah, you're right. It's a cohesive thing. It makes sense with how we've had 40 years or so of sort of Republican orthodoxy being the purpose of a corporation is primarily to maximize shareholder value, maximize the value for people who own the company, and then that will in turn, be in the best interest of society, which is sort of an article of faith, that those interests will be aligned, that it is useful for people [laughs] who want to make a lot of money to propagate that faith.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: Yeah, go ahead.Jonathan Walton: No, I was gonna say, how about you? What are some of the things standing out for you as we engage?Sy Hoekstra: Oh, there's so much, Jonathan. There's too much.Jonathan Walton: [laughs].Sy Hoekstra: I have so many things written down [laughter]. So I will pause and allow you to talk as I go through this.Jonathan Walton: Yeah.Sy Hoekstra: So I think you're right in what you're talking about is the motivations behind what CEOs are doing, but more broadly, the reason that things like what Zuckerberg or Elon Musk or other people are saying about their social media platforms, there's ideologies that justify those things in the minds of people who aren't making money off of them [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And one of those values or one of those, I don't know, it's a phrase, it's an idea that a lot of people have, is the marketplace of ideas. So this is a big part of our, quote- unquote, First Amendment or free speech culture in America. It's the idea that if you just put all your ideas out there in the world and all the justifications for them, the best ones will win out. Like products. You have a bunch of companies competing selling similar products. People are gonna buy the products that are the best at the best price, and the other ones will not do as well as whoever manages to provide the best product at the best price. It's the same. It is the marketplace of ideas.You provide the best ideas with the best justifications, you get them out there, they will beat all the other worse ideas, and the good ideas will dominate society. And so I say that that's important because that's kind of the reason that people say so there should be no moderation.Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: Nobody should be blocking anybody's content, because actually, the way to defeat ideas is by presenting better ideas, not by destroying them or censoring or moderating them. Now I'm not in favor of censorship [laughter]. I'm not in favor of shutting people down in oppressive, authoritarian regimes. I just think the notion that better ideas, if they're put out there, will just automatically be bad ones is absurd [laughter]. And that bad ideas can be propagated through things like money and advertising and political power and whatever. You can do things short of all out censorship and oppression that are bad for our civic discourse [laughter].Jonathan Walton: Yes.Sy Hoekstra: That is a thing that I firmly believe. It is not that there's one bad guy of censorship, and as long as we defeat that, then everything will be, all the conditions will be perfect for beautiful, productive public discourse [laughs].Jonathan Walton: Right.Sy Hoekstra: And I think part of the problem is that the idea, doesn't really account for either emotions or power dynamics

Ctrl-Alt-Speech
The TickTock on TikTok

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 53:02 Transcription Available


In this week's round-up of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Mike and Ben cover:Application Of Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act To TikTok (The White House)Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship (The White House)America Is No Longer the Home of the Free Internet (The Atlantic)Good morning, America: Why India banned TikTok 5 years back (India Today)Facebook, X, YouTube to do more against online hate speech, EU says (Reuters)Commission welcomes the integration of the revised Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the Digital Services Act (European Commission)Bluesky 2024 Moderation Report (Bluesky)Bluesky's 2024 moderation report shows how quickly harmful content grew as new users flocked in (Engadget)The Technological Poison Pill: How ATProtocol Encourages Competition, Resists Evil Billionaires, Lock-In & Enshittification (Techdirt)We need to protect the protocol that runs Bluesky (MIT Technology Review)If you're in London on Thursday 30th January, join Ben, Mark Scott (Digital Politics) and Georgia Iacovou (Horrific/Terrific) for an evening of tech policy, discussion and drinks. Register your interest.This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals
Trump's No Longer the Joke, He's the Status Quo w/ journalist Will Potter (G&R 355)

Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 62:26


In our latest, we talk with author and journalist Will Potter about the new status quo that will be the second Trump administration. We discuss the threats to immigrant communities and the First Amendment that protects journalists and activists. We discuss the fracturing of society, and the fracturing of left movements. We also discuss the impact of Trump on the far right, and, of course, Luigi Mangione. It's about to be a dark bumpy ride. Buckle up and we'll all do the best we can. Bio// Will Potter (@willpotter) is a thought leader and award-winning investigative journalist and author whose work has focused on social justice movements and attacks on civil rights post-9/11. He has been invited to speak about human rights and political repression before governmental bodies including the U.S. Congress, the Australian Parliament, and the Council of Europe. He was the first investigative journalist to be named a TED Senior Fellow, and his TED talks on anti-protest laws and secret prisons have been viewed nearly 10 million times. His book, Green Is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege, exposed the targeting of nonviolent protest groups by the FBI and was awarded a Kirkus Star for "remarkable merit." Will was awarded the prestigious Knight-Wallace Fellowship in Law Reporting, and is the inaugural civil rights fellow and distinguished journalist-in-residence at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. His new book, Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth, from Farm to Fable, is now available for pre-order from City Lights. --------------------------------- Outro- "Funhouse" by the Stooges Links// + Will's website: https://www.willpotter.com/ + Little Red Barns: Hiding the Truth, from Farm to Fable (https://bit.ly/40HiYRq) Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast⁠⁠⁠ +Our rad website: ⁠⁠⁠https://greenandredpodcast.org/⁠⁠⁠ + Join our Discord community (https://discord.gg/uvrdubcM) +NEW: Follow us on Substack (https://greenandredpodcast.substack.com) +NEW: Follow us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgreenred.bsky.social) Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast +Or make a one time donation here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/DonateGandR⁠⁠⁠ Our Networks// +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.laborradionetwork.org/⁠⁠ +We're part of the Anti-Capitalist Podcast Network: linktr.ee/anticapitalistpodcastnetwork +Listen to us on WAMF (90.3 FM) in New Orleans (https://wamf.org/) This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). Edited by Isaac.

THE FYX with Krysta Huber
THE FYX 187: TikTok on the Clock? Where We Stand on the Ban & The Platform's Future

THE FYX with Krysta Huber

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 55:36


Drawing from her experience studying in China and understanding of social media dynamics, Krysta analyzes the implications of TikTok's potential U.S. ban. From national security concerns to business impacts, she explores how this could reshape digital content creation and consumption. In this episode we discuss: - The balance between national security and free speech in social media - How creators and businesses can prepare for platform changes - Why email lists and platform diversification matter more than ever Understanding the Ban - Legal considerations behind the potential TikTok ban - The role of ByteDance and Chinese ownership - First Amendment implications - Timeline and Supreme Court involvement Impact on Content Creation - Platform diversification strategies - The importance of owned media channels - How other platforms may adapt - Shifts in content consumption patterns Looking Forward - Alternative platforms for creators - Changes in user behavior and attention spans - The potential return to longer-form content - Building sustainable audience connections True audience connection transcends any single platform - focus on building relationships that can survive platform changes. Apply for 1:1 Coaching with The Fitness FYX⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: why not guarantee 2025 to be your best year with added support and accountability? FOLLOW KRYSTA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thefyx.officialpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check us out on Youtube

Marketing Expedition Podcast with Rhea Allen, Peppershock Media
Navigating Free Speech in the World of Content Creation with Carl Unegbu | Marketing Expedition Podcast

Marketing Expedition Podcast with Rhea Allen, Peppershock Media

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 45:33


Carl Unegbu is a New York attorney, editor of the Comedy Beat website, and author of the popular blog O'Carl's Law, which explores the intersection of comedy and law. He also hosted Comedy Dialogue, a quarterly forum in Manhattan that combined stand-up performances with engaging panel discussions. In his new book, Comedy Goes to Court: When People Stop Laughing and Start Fighting, Carl provides essential guidance for comedy professionals, helping them avoid disputes, contractual errors, and behaviors that could lead to costly lawsuits. He also tackles the critical question of how far comedians can go while staying protected under the First Amendment.00:00 - 00:18 " If you're a content creator, this is so important to you because, you know, comedians are just like our canary in the mine, our dog in the fight. They don't have any special advantages or position than any of the rest of us. So what happens to them gives us a sense of what's going to happen to us. How freely you can swing your arms in the area of free speech.” — Carl Unegbu00:19 - 00:37 Welcome to Peppershock Media's Marketing Expedition Podcast00:38 - 02:46 Carl's Background02:47 - 08:17 Marketing Essentials Moment: How to Market an Event08:18 - 10:20 Welcome to the show, Carl!10:21 - 15:02 Book Development: From Blog to Book15:03 - 18:29 Legal Boundaries: Free Speech and Defamation18:30 - 25:22 Case Studies25:23 - 28:02 Cultural Sensitivity28:03 - 29:02 Hello Audio is the best format for creating a connection between you and your audience and allows them to access your zone of genius at the click of a button.29:03 - 33:08 Strategic Lawsuits33:09 - 37:00 Free Speech in America: Legal Protections37:01 - 39:02 Parodies: Legal Protections and Impact39:03 - 41:09 AI and Content Creation: Emerging Legal Issues41:10 - 43:07 Book Availability: How to Get “Comedy Goes to Court”43:08 - 43:58 Reach out to Carl43:59 - 44:47 Thank you so much, Carl! Share this podcast, give us a review, and enjoy your marketing journey!44:48 - 45:33 Join the Marketing Expedition Community today! Like what you hear, but need more information?Meet with Rhea Allen#ContentCreation #ContentMarketing #CaseStudies #MarketingEssentialsMoment #EventMarketing #FreeSpeech #LegalProtections #BooDevelopment #FreshMarketingStrategy #MarketingTips #AITools #AITrends Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trending with Timmerie - Catholic Principals applied to today's experiences.
Good News in the Gender Debate For Parents: A Hopeful Turn! (Special Podcast Highlight)

Trending with Timmerie - Catholic Principals applied to today's experiences.

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 5:35


Trending with Timmerie just delivered some fantastic updates on the gender debate: and there’s hope on the horizon! Timmerie is buzzing about how the conversation around gender is shifting across the U.S., even in places like California (yes, California!). Parents’ rights, teachers’ freedoms, and the truth about our God-given identity as male and female are gaining traction. The Big Deal in California: Mirabelli v. Olson There’s a HUGE court case brewing in California that could change the game for everyone. Mirabelli v. Olson challenges policies that force teachers to keep parents in the dark if their child is struggling with gender dysphoria or questioning their identity. Yes, this is a thing: teachers are actually being told to lie to parents. BUT here’s the good news: District Court Judge Roger Benitez (a total rockstar) is standing up for parents’ rights. He’s made it crystal clear that teachers don’t have to follow these deceitful policies. Judge Benitez even said that parents have a constitutional right to know what’s going on with their child because they are the primary caretakers. He called out these policies as a violation of the First Amendment. Why This Matters This isn’t just a win for California. If this case makes waves, it could influence similar situations across the country. It’s part of a growing movement that’s challenging the idea that kids have more privacy rights than parents, especially when it comes to life-altering decisions like gender identity. What’s the Catholic Take? We know the truth of male and female as created by God (Genesis 1:27). Timmerie is encouraging us not to back down or shy away from sharing the truth about gender. It’s about lovingly helping kids embrace their God-given identity, while holding schools accountable to respect parental authority and behave lawfully. Other Encouraging Signs Timmerie also mentioned similar movements happening in Ohio and other states. It’s clear: people are waking up to the reality that this whole gender ideology experiment isn’t working. Families are uniting, laws are being challenged, and truth is making a comeback. Be Encouraged! Speak Truth! Timmerie gave you a call to action: Don’t be afraid to speak the truth about gender, even if it feels like you’re the only one. Guess what? You’re not. There are so many people (even in unlikely places) who agree with the beauty and truth of male and female but just aren’t vocal yet. You could make the difference! Final Thought: Stay hopeful, stay prayerful, and keep fighting for the truth. This is a battle worth fighting: not just for our kids, but for the future of a culture rooted in God’s design. “The truth will set you free.” —John 8:32 Let’s keep the momentum going.

Giant Monster Messages
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze (1991)

Giant Monster Messages

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 54:44


Giant Monster Messages II: Secret of the Ooze (1991) We talk of giant dandelions and bad science in our episode for the 1991 classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze.  Time 01:58 History 10:40 Plot 18:55 Talking Points 44:00 Messages 51:10 Final Thoughts 53:20 Listener Feedback   References   Turtle Tracks  Episode 96 https://podbay.fm/p/turtletrackspodcast/e/1705439724   Contact us at: Discord https://giantmonstermessages.com/ GiantMonsterMessages@gmail.com BlueSky Main Theme and Stingers Written by Matthias Fluor https://mfluor.ch/ Podcast Art by Laser 'lizard' Lluis Special Thanks to: Teachers everywhere Authors of the First Amendment

BYU-Idaho Devotionals
Workmen of All Kinds | Josh Figueira | January 2025

BYU-Idaho Devotionals

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025


Joshua Figueira was born to Kevin and Sherry Figueira. His family hails from Kailua, Oahu in Hawaii, but he was raised primarily in Bountiful, Utah. Josh served in the South Korea Seoul West Mission. He holds a B.A in English language from Brigham Young University, a Master of Religion in Contemporary Society from King's College London, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. Josh worked as BYU-Idaho legal counsel for seven years. Prior to that, he practiced First Amendment law with an emphasis on religious organizations. Josh is married to his wife Elsie Smith Figueira, and is father to three active, precocious children. He is currently serving as stake Young Men's secretary. His hobbies include reading, writing, soccer, ukulele, and restoring and playing drums.