Podcasts about masterpiece cakeshop

After 12 years of legal battles, the Colorado Supreme Court rules in favor of Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, marking the end of a long fight over free speech and religious freedom. Get the facts first on Morning Wire.Netsuite: Make better business decisions with NetSuite. https://www.NetSuite.com/MORNINGWIRE

Author and journalist Nico Lang's new book “American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era” tells the stories of eight trans and nonbinary teenagers from across the United States, highlighting their triumphs and struggles (interviewed by Daniel Huecias). And in NewsWrap: about one in 20 Kiwis came out in New Zealand's first Census to count LGBTQIA+ people, the Toyota Motor Corporation is latest company in the U.S. backpedaling on its DEI policies and withdrawing support from queer events, Colorado rightwing Christian baker Jack Phillips loses a state Supreme Court appeal in another Masterpiece Cakeshop anti-LGBTQ bias lawsuit, Arkansas Christian nationalist Republican politician Jason Rupert says the queer movement is “of the devil,” U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris touts her pro-queer credentials and warns about the tenuous status of LGBTQ rights on a presidential campaign visit with Howard Stern, and more international LGBTQ news reported by John Dyer V and Ava Davis (produced by Brian DeShazor).  All this on the October 14, 2024 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/ NOTE TO RADIO STATIONS: Beginning in October, 2024, the weekly program uploaded to SoundCloud will include a pitch for This Way Out/Overnight Productions (Inc.). Stations can download a pitch-free version from radio4all.net or Pacifica's AudioPort.Org. For more information, contact Brian@ThisWayOut.org.

This week America’s most attractive audio engineer and her host make the case for doing right despite the current political environment. Find out if Jack Phillips at Masterpiece Cakeshop is ofCalvin Buarif the hook, whether or not Calvin Buari was … Continue reading →

Josh Hammer explains the importance of the latest legal victory for the besieged Jack Phillips, owner of Lakewood, Colorado-based Masterpiece Cakeshop. When will SCOTUS finally put an end once and for all to these evil "bake the damn cake, bigot!"-style lawsuits? Today's "closing argument" then flags an important Mitch McConnell-penned op-ed railing against a new proposed judicial deep state power grab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thursday, October 10th, A.D. 2024. 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 Jonathan Clark Iranian Christian released from prison 5 years early Church in Chains reports that authorities in Iran released a Christian convert from Evin Prison in Tehran last week. Mehdi Akbari had already spent nearly five years in prison out of his 10-year sentence. Thankfully, a court reduced his sentence.  Officials arrested him in 2019 on charges of “acting against national security by forming an illegal evangelical Christian group.”  Mansour Borji with Article 18, a non-profit religious liberty group, welcomed Mehdi's release. He said, “We call now for the immediate release of the other at least 20 Christians still in prison only on account of their beliefs and the peaceful outworking of these beliefs, such as Armenian citizen Hakop Gochumyan, who is also serving a ten-year sentence only because he visited some churches and was in possession of a handful of Bibles.” Irish legislature drops ambiguously worded “hate speech” bill The Irish legislature dropped “hate speech” elements from proposed legislation last month. The Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences Bill 2022 is currently stuck in the Irish Senate. The bill originally would criminalize the possession of material considered “likely” to incite hatred with up to five years in jail. The bill did not clearly define “hate.” This left many concerned that Christians could face jail time for simply affirming a Biblical understanding of sexuality. Alliance Defending Freedom International noted, “With the world watching, the people of Ireland said ‘no' to state censorship, and it's working.” Colorado Supreme Court dismissed case again Christian baker Jack Phillips In the United States, the Colorado  Supreme Court sided with a Christian baker on Tuesday. Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop has faced years of harassment for his biblical beliefs about marriage and sexuality.  The state's high court dismissed the latest case against him. The case started in 2017 when Phillips refused to bake a cake to celebrate someone pretending to be the opposite sex. Senior Counsel Jake Warner with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “Enough is enough. Jack has been dragged through courts for over a decade. It's time to leave him alone. Free speech is for everyone. As the U.S. Supreme Court held in 303 Creative, the government cannot force artists to express messages they don't believe.” Psalm 14:4 asks, “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and do not call on the LORD?”  Toyota ends participation in sexually deviant corporate index Toyota told its U.S. employees last Thursday that it will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. The Equality Index, run by the radical, pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign, measures how supportive companies are of sexually perverted lifestyles. Toyota will reportedly no longer participate in events that celebrate such lifestyles. The Japanese car maker will also focus its community activities on workforce readiness and education in science, technology, engineering, and math. 10 states have abortion on the ballot Voters across 10 states will vote on ballot initiatives involving abortion this coming November. Those states are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota. In most cases, the initiatives would support abortion up to birth. U.S. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri addressed the 2024 Pray Vote Stand Summit last week on the ballot initiatives. Listen. HAWLEY: “As the people go to the polls, let's be clear, as conservatives and yes, as Republicans, that we advocate life, that we urge our fellow Americans to support life.  We will do everything we can to protect life in the law all across this country. This is absolutely foundational!” Barna: 32 million Christians unlikely to vote in presidential election Dr. George Barna  released a report on the voting practices of people of faith. The survey found that 104 million people who identify with some religion are unlikely to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Sadly, this includes 32 million self-identified Christians who attend church regularly. People said they were unlikely to vote because they weren't interested in elections, disliked the major candidates, or didn't think their vote would make a difference. William Tyndale's momentous life and death And finally, this week is the anniversary of William Tyndale's death, traditionally commemorated on October 6. Tyndale faced arrest and later death in 1536 for alleged heresy. However, he had worked tirelessly to translate the Bible into English. It was his devotion to Scripture that brought him into conflict with church and civil leaders. In response to an assertion of the supremacy of the Pope, Tyndale famously said, “I defy the Pope and all his laws; and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!” Tyndale's final words, spoken at the stake with a fervent zeal, and a loud voice, were reported later as "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes." Then, Tyndale was strangled to death  while tied at the stake, and then his dead body was burned.   Copies of Tyndale's translation were smuggled into England by the thousands. His work would form the basis of the Great Bible, edited by Miles Coverdale which made its way into every parish church just three years after Tyndale's death. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, October 10th, in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.

VIDEOS: 1. Coffman 2. 60 Minutes President Trump keeps another promise and is coming to Aurora Colorado this week for a huge rally. The visit will highlight the dangerous situation in Aurora where criminal illegal alien gangs are terrorizing citizens, and dealing in drug and sex trafficking. Plus a huge victory for Masterpiece Cake Shop owner Jack Phillips.

Trump's coming to Colorado, the court hands Masterpiece Cakeshop a victory and CBS humiliates itself with fake edit on Kamala interview.

VIDEOS: 1. Coffman 2. 60 Minutes President Trump keeps another promise and is coming to Aurora Colorado this week for a huge rally. The visit will highlight the dangerous situation in Aurora where criminal illegal alien gangs are terrorizing citizens, and dealing in drug and sex trafficking. Plus a huge victory for Masterpiece Cake Shop owner Jack Phillips.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (10/08/2024): 3:05pm- Ron DeSantis vs Kamala Harris. On Tuesday, NBC News reported that Governor Ron DeSantis has been ignoring phone calls from Vice President Kamala Harris as Florida prepares for Hurricane Milton. During a press conference, DeSantis flatly denied ever ignoring Harris's attempts to reach him and insisted “this is not a time for politics.” Meanwhile, Harris publicly accused DeSantis of not putting the people of Florida first. But on Tuesday President Joe Biden came to DeSantis's defense—applauding his performance during the crisis, saying the governor is doing a great job. So, why is Harris lying and purposefully politicizing Hurricane Milton? 3:30- While appearing on “60 Minutes,” Kamala Harris delivered a lengthy, nonsensical response to one of host Bill Whitaker's questions. But don't worry—the program went back and edited the audio to make the answer seem coherent. 3:40pm- Despite help via the editor, Kamala Harris's “60 Minutes” interview was still a mess. She struggled to answer questions about the U.S. border, grocery prices, and foreign policy. Similarly, her appearance on The View was not without errors. At one point she explained that she would not have changed any of President Joe Biden's policies. So, how exactly can she continue to call herself the candidate of change? According to National Review, Harris realized her mistake and attempted to draw a distinction between her hypothetical presidency and Biden's—but all she could come up with was promising to appoint a Republican to her cabinet. Rich and Matt think it's safe to presume she isn't planning to appoint Mike Lee or Rand Paul. 3:50pm- Colorado Supreme Court Dismisses Transgender-Cake Lawsuit Against Christian Baker Jack Phillips. David Zimmermann of National Review writes: “The Colorado supreme court on Tuesday dismissed the latest lawsuit against Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, who was accused in the most recent suit of discriminating against a transgender attorney by refusing to bake a gender-transition cake. While ruling in favor of the Christian baker, the state supreme court did not weigh in on Phillips's free-speech rights. Rather, it dismissed the case on a technicality: Plaintiff Autumn Scardina, a man identifying as a woman, did not file the lawsuit correctly in Colorado.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/colorado-supreme-court-dismisses-transgender-cake-lawsuit-against-christian-baker-jack-phillips/ 4:05pm- Abel Maldonado—Former Lieutenant Governor of California & Surrogate for Donald Trump—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Kamala Harris's appearance on The View where she bizarrely stated she wouldn't change any of President Joe Biden's policies. Maldonado also reacts to polling which indicates Trump is surging in popularity within the Hispanic community. PLUS Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law banning local governments from requiring identification to vote in California. 4:30pm- Democrats Want to Kill the Filibuster Because John Legend Told Them To. Kristina Peterson, Tarini Parti, and Lindsay Wise of The Wall Street Journal report: “It wasn't a topic Senate Democrats were expecting musician John Legend to ask them about. But during a 2019 donor event held at Legend's California home, the pop star pressed lawmakers on how they would actually pass the policies they were proposing—given the hurdle of the Senate filibuster. That rule requires 60 votes for most bills to advance, rather than a simple majority, and Legend wanted Democrats to end it.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/filibuster-senate-kamala-harris-election-2024-0c407e48?mod=hp_lead_pos11 4:40pm- While speaking with Howard Stern, Kamala Harris claimed that if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, he'll jail journalists and critics. Stern doubled down on the conspiracy theory and said Trump will specifically jail comedians J ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- Ron DeSantis vs Kamala Harris. On Tuesday, NBC News reported that Governor Ron DeSantis has been ignoring phone calls from Vice President Kamala Harris as Florida prepares for Hurricane Milton. During a press conference, DeSantis flatly denied ever ignoring Harris's attempts to reach him and insisted “this is not a time for politics.” Meanwhile, Harris publicly accused DeSantis of not putting the people of Florida first. But on Tuesday President Joe Biden came to DeSantis's defense—applauding his performance during the crisis, saying the governor is doing a great job. So, why is Harris lying and purposefully politicizing Hurricane Milton? 3:30- While appearing on “60 Minutes,” Kamala Harris delivered a lengthy, nonsensical response to one of host Bill Whitaker's questions. But don't worry—the program went back and edited the audio to make the answer seem coherent. 3:40pm- Despite help via the editor, Kamala Harris's “60 Minutes” interview was still a mess. She struggled to answer questions about the U.S. border, grocery prices, and foreign policy. Similarly, her appearance on The View was not without errors. At one point she explained that she would not have changed any of President Joe Biden's policies. So, how exactly can she continue to call herself the candidate of change? According to National Review, Harris realized her mistake and attempted to draw a distinction between her hypothetical presidency and Biden's—but all she could come up with was promising to appoint a Republican to her cabinet. Rich and Matt think it's safe to presume she isn't planning to appoint Mike Lee or Rand Paul. 3:50pm- Colorado Supreme Court Dismisses Transgender-Cake Lawsuit Against Christian Baker Jack Phillips. David Zimmermann of National Review writes: “The Colorado supreme court on Tuesday dismissed the latest lawsuit against Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, who was accused in the most recent suit of discriminating against a transgender attorney by refusing to bake a gender-transition cake. While ruling in favor of the Christian baker, the state supreme court did not weigh in on Phillips's free-speech rights. Rather, it dismissed the case on a technicality: Plaintiff Autumn Scardina, a man identifying as a woman, did not file the lawsuit correctly in Colorado.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/colorado-supreme-court-dismisses-transgender-cake-lawsuit-against-christian-baker-jack-phillips/

Send us a textAs Mama Dragons, we often find ourselves in places where we have the opportunity to stand up and advocate for our queer children. Today In the Den, Jen sits down with fierce Mama Dragon Debbie Thomas to talk about her experiences of mothering two LGBTQ+ children, and how she learned to advocate for her child in a big way–all the way to the Supreme Court.Special Guest: Debbie ThomasDebbie Thomas is retired after a career working with the public providing assistance through the State of Wyoming and under the Centers of Medicare Services. She is a Mama Dragon living in Central Wyoming and, like many of us, is just struggling to survive in a conservative state.  She was raised in a high demand religion and has 3 grown sons.  Her oldest two sons are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Her oldest son faced discrimination and was refused services from a bakery in Colorado based on who he loved, which ultimately led to the famous Supreme Court case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Links from the Show: Information on the Masterpiece Cake case: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-111_j4el.pdf More on the Supreme Court case: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-111 Join Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.orgIn the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.  Connect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

“From media reports, Brazil no longer has Elon Musk's X due to attacks on free speech by Alexandre De Moreas, a justice of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court,” writes Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble. “They want to control information, but our companies won't let them.” Even journalist Michael Shellenberger says he is “being criminally investigated by Brazilian authorities for exposing their attempts to censor.” Is this style of authoritarian censorship creeping into America's future? Tom Renz is an attorney from Ohio conducting ‘Lawfare for Freedom' by fighting corruption surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic at state and federal levels. Find out more at https://renz-law.com and follow him at https://x.com/RenzTom Jeremy Tedesco is senior counsel and senior vice president of corporate engagement for Alliance Defending Freedom. He leads efforts to address corporate cancel culture and promote business ethics respecting free speech and religious freedom. His legal career includes arguing before federal appellate courts and contributing to U.S. Supreme Court cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Tedesco earned his J.D. from Regent University School of Law in 2004. Learn more at https://adflegal.org and follow at https://x.com/ADFLegal 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at https://drdrew.com/sponsors  • FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15 • CAPSADYN - Get pain relief with the power of capsaicin from chili peppers – without the burning! Capsadyn's proprietary formulation for joint & muscle pain contains no NSAIDs, opioids, anesthetics, or steroids. Try it for 15% off at https://drdrew.com/capsadyn • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at https://twc.health/drew 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://twitter.com/firstladyoflove). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of Retire in Texas, Darryl Lyons, CEO and co-founder of PAX Financial Group, dives into the significant work of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in safeguarding religious freedoms across various spheres. Highlighting notable cases and personal stories, Darryl illustrates the challenges and triumphs of defending deeply held convictions in today's socio-political climate. Key highlights include: *The case of Jack Phillips and the legal battles faced by the Masterpiece Cakeshop owner. *ADF's role in ensuring medical professionals' rights are protected against mandates that violate their beliefs. *The impact of ADF's work on pregnancy care centers and their fight against censorship and vandalism. *Real-life examples of parental rights being defended in school settings and the broader implications for families. *Insights into how ADF supports individuals and organizations facing discrimination based on their religious beliefs. Tune in to this week's episode to gain a deeper understanding of the vital role of Alliance Defending Freedom in protecting free speech and religious liberties. If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave a comment and share the show with a friend! Disclaimer: Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm.

It may be easier to just bake the cake, but Christians have a higher calling.    ___________ Reserve your place at the Great Lakes Symposium at greatlakessymposium.org. 

For Donald Trump, he must anticipate the question from CNN moderators about whether or not he now accepts the results of the 2020 election. For Joe Biden, it is likely he will be asked whether he acknowledges his son Hunter's laptop was, in fact, real after being used as state's evidence in a trial to convict the first son on gun charges. Will Jake Tapper and Dana Bash actually follow through and ask each of these questions on a level playing field?Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cake Shop joins along with attorney Jake Warner from Alliance Defending Freedom with an update on their testimony before the Colorado Supreme Court in yet another chapter in Jack's seemingly neverending religious freedom case.

Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cake Shop, continues his legal battle at the Colorado State Supreme Court on Tuesday, with the help of attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom. Dan contends Jack's name belongs on a mountain or other permanent monument in Colorado, for leading the fight on religious liberty in this state and nationwide.What other great Coloradans should be honored on a Mt. Rushmore of such accomplished citizens from the Centennial State?

Jack Phillips, Owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, author, “The Cost of My Faith” Jake Warner of the Alliance Defending Freedom The Cost of My Faith: How a Decision in My Cake Shop Took Me to the Supreme Court Alliance Defending Freedom The post 1491. Freedom of Conscience – Jack Phillips and Jake Warner, 5/28/24 first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Over the past decade, the tension between First Amendment rights and public accommodations laws has grown, as wedding vendors have refused to serve same-sex weddings pursuant to their consciences. On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which held that the free speech clause prohibits a […]

Over the past decade, the tension between First Amendment rights and public accommodations laws has grown, as wedding vendors have refused to serve same-sex weddings pursuant to their consciences. On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which held that the free speech clause prohibits a state from forcing a website designer to create messages with which the designer disagrees. That said, the Court has yet to issue a clear decision that resolves these issues under the free exercise clause, even though wedding vendors almost invariably object to providing services on religious grounds. Indeed, when the free exercise question was addressed in Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Court largely punted on the issue and resolved the case on very narrow procedural grounds.Wedding-vendor litigation continues to percolate throughout the country and raises important questions for First Amendment jurisprudence, including whether the Supreme Court should reconsider Employment Division v. Smith, whether the free exercise clause extends protection to wedding vendors in a similar way to the free speech clause, and whether the so-called “hybrid rights doctrine” is a viable theory for analyzing religious claims to exemptions. Please join us as we discuss these issues and others with some of the leading scholars and practitioners in this space.Featuring: Prof. Andrew Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of LawProf. Douglas Laycock, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, University of Virginia School of LawJonathan Scruggs, Senior Counsel and the Director for the Center for Conscience Initiatives, Alliance Defending Freedom(Moderator) Austin Rogers, Chief Counsel at Senate Judiciary Committee

Lathan Watts, vice-president of public affairs for Alliance Defending Freedom, joins Dan to discuss his most recent op-ed for National Review, entitled 'The state of Colorado is considering European-style repression of religion,' pertaining to the state's continued persecution and targeting of Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips.Danielle Jurinsky of the Aurora City Council joins Dan to discuss the influx of illegals to Denver spilling over into Aurora and surrounding communities like Lakewood, Monument and others. Unlike Denver, however, Aurora is making it clear that they are NOT a 'sanctuary city' and should cease and desist transporting said illegals into Aurora's city limits immediately.The Denver City Council, by a 7-3 vote, passed a resolution stating, "The City Council affirms remaining a Non-Sanctuary City and asserts the City does not currently have the financial capacity to fund new services related to this crisis and demands that other municipalities and entities do not systematically transport migrants or people experiencing homelessness to the City."

The crusade against Jack Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop continues.  George welcomes Jack Phillips and Alliance Defending Freedom lawyer Jake Warner.  They discuss the latest court case headed to the Colorado Supreme Court.  They reflect on the original case and how the attacks on him have grown in scope and accusation.  Jack's opponents are not looking to put him out of business not actually looking for equality.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Phillips, Owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who in 2018 won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit for declining to bake a custom cake for a same-sex wedding, was sued once again in 2019 for refusing to create a cake celebrating a gender transition. Jack joins us with ADF Senior Counsel Jake Warner to give us the inside story and then we consider beautiful speech!

President, CEO, and general counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom, Kristen Waggoner, joins us for a discussion on freedom of speech and religious liberty. ADF has played various roles in 74 U.S. Supreme Court victories and since 2011, has won cases before the Court 15 times.  According to its website, “ADF is the world's largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.” ADF has litigated many high profile and controversial free speech cases, including the recent Supreme Court case involving a web designer who didn't want to be compelled to design websites for same-sex weddings. Before that, ADF litigated the 2018 Masterpiece Cakeshop case, which involved a cake designer who similarly didn't want to provide his services for same-sex weddings on religious grounds. After the initial conversation was recorded, The Washington Post and The New Yorker released articles critical of ADF. Nico and Kristen recorded an additional, brief conversation to address these articles. That is included at the end of the podcast.    Timestamps: 0:43 - Introduction 6:16 - Kristen's path to ADF 12:54 - ADF's international team 14:20 - Pavi Rasanen controversy 19:24 - What does it mean to be a ministry?/blasphemy laws 22:56 - ADF's Supreme Court cases  26:58 - 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis  28:56 - Public accommodation laws/Masterpiece Cakeshop 40:40 - Pre-enforcement challenges 42:50 - Facial challenges 47:32 - Test cases or fake cases? 49:44 - Yale incident 57:50 - Other campus shoutdowns 1:00:08 - L.M. v. Town of Middleborough  1:14:27 - Kristen addresses WaPo article 1:15:38 - Kristen addresses New Yorker article    Related Articles/Podcasts: “Inside the tactics that won Christian vendors the right to reject gay weddings,” Jon Swaine and Beth Reinhard (The Washington Post) “Are ADF's Cases ‘Made Up'?” Lathan Watts (ADF, response to The Washington Post) “The next targets for the group that overturned Roe,” David D. Kirkpatrick (The New Yorker) FIRE's response to Kristen Waggoner Yale incident  FIRE's response to Anne Coulter Cornell incident FIRE's response to Ilya Shapiro Georgetown incident FIRE's response to Ian Haworth UAlbany incident “The Imperfect Plaintiffs” (“More Perfect” podcast with Julia Longoria)   Cases Discussed: Dubash v. City of Houston (Animal rights activists lawsuit, 2023) Paivi Rasanen (Finnish lawmaker charged with incitement against gay people) 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2022)  Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2017)  Uzuebgunam v. Preczewski (2021)  West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)  Wooley v. Maynard (1997)  Plessy v. Ferguson (1986)  L.M. v. Town of Middleborough (2023)   www.sotospeakpodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freespeechtalk Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/freespeechtalk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotospeakpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freespeechtalk/ Email us: sotospeak@thefire.org  

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. Gravity Jack: Gravity Jack is a full service digital agency specializing in the development of Virtual & Augmented Reality experiences, mobile apps, blockchain and Web3 projects. Founded in 2009 as the first American agency to offer augmented reality, they even patented it; Gravity Jack's digital experiences have been a source of innovation for small business, Fortune 500 Companies, and the US Military. Get your vision in motion at gravityjack.com https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2023/10/08/100000-israeli-troops-mobilized-for-first-declared-war-since-1973-n2629547 Israel Mobilizes 100,000 Troops for Gaza Incursion It might be the worst intelligence failure since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a conflict that almost destroyed Israel after a surprise attack from Syria and Egypt. Israel was on the brink as Syrian forces reclaimed the Golan Heights, and it was by sheer luck that this invading force didn’t move further to capture the key bridges along the Jordan River. Israel’s heartland would’ve been wide open. The game could’ve been over, so Israel continues to respond forcefully against incursion by terrorists and its Arab neighbors since it’s a nation with no strategic depth. How Jerusalem was caught sleeping amid this latest assault by Hamas on October 7 must be investigated since Shin Bet and Mossad are some of the most capable agencies in the world. This attack occurred on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, and like that last war, the assault began during a Jewish holiday. Hamas launched thousands of rockets as cover for a land, sea, and air assault that could only have been made possible with outside help, considering its sophisticated nature. Iran has admitted they helped plan the assault. The death toll has risen to 700, with reports of kidnappings, rapes, and murder of Israeli citizens caught in the fighting. Hamas operatives paraglided into Southern Israel, with other terrorists attacking over two dozen areas along the Gaza border. Some Americans were also kidnapped and murdered by these terrorists. The footprint from Hamas was around 1,000 terrorists who stormed the infiltrated Israeli territory. Border Police and other forces are still fighting to restore order to the security situation in the area, but tanks and troops are being mobilized for a ground assault. Around 100,000 Israeli troops are ready to go into Gaza, with more reservists expected to be called up as Israel expects this to erupt into a multi-front war. Hezbollah has already launched rocket and mortar attacks in the northern Israel (via Associated Press): More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations Monday morning. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel — a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades — and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Israel said it brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters, including two points that militants entered earlier in their attacks. Meanwhile, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza, saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The announcement, though unconfirmed, was the first sign of the scope of abductions. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults — mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The Israeli military said only that the number of captives is “significant.” As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in Saturday morning’s assault, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, speaking on ABC’s “This Week.” The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israel’s occupation and blockade of Gaza. In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells Sunday at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and Israel fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The group’s fighters broke through Israel’s security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities — as many as 22 locations. https://themessenger.com/news/hamas-threatens-to-start-executing-hostages-if-gaza-strikes-continue Hamas Threatens to Start Executing Hostages If Gaza Strikes Continue Hamas on Monday threatened to execute Israeli hostages being held in Gaza if Israel continues to conduct airstrikes without warning. “Any targeting of innocent civilians without warning will be met regretfully by executing one of the captives in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution,” Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, said in a statement to Al Jazeera. Hamas has claimed to be holding more than 100 Israelis prisoner in the Gaza Strip, according to the Qatar-based network. The warning from Hamas came as Israeli Defense Forces intensified a bombardment of Gaza as dusk fell on Monday. Images shown live on CNN showed heavy rocket fire lighting up the sky above Gaza, a Palestinian enclave about the size of Omaha, Nebraska, that's home to some two million people and considered one of the most densely populated places in the world. There are reports that American citizens are among those being held captive in Gaza. The State Dept. said it was working to confirm those reports. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christian-baker-faces-new-lawsuit-over-gender-transition-cake-after-supreme-court Christian baker faces new lawsuit over gender-transition cake after Supreme Court The Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear the case against Christian cake baker Jack Phillips, which he says is the "light at the end of the tunnel" after more than 11 years in court. Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding in a move that sparked a 2012 lawsuit that ultimately landed him at the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, the nine justices ruled that the state of Colorado was hostile to Phillip’s religious beliefs and that the government can’t force anyone to create custom works of art that communicate a message. But in 2018, Phillips faced a second lawsuit, this time from a transgender lawyer who requested a cake celebrating a gender transition. When Phillips declined, he was back in court on grounds that he discriminated against the lawyer. The Colorado Supreme Court just agreed to hear his case. "I hope it is the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m pretty excited about it," Phillips told Fox News Digital in an interview. "The state court turned us down in our first case, but I think they realize now that I serve everybody." "This case is not who I serve, but it’s always the what I’m going to create not the who that’s asking for it. And I hope they get that right this time," said Phillips. Jake Warner, attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) defending Phillips, said that the lawsuit from the beginning was "clearly a set-up" with the intent of "targeting" Phillips and his beliefs. In 2018, Autumn Scardina, who identifies as transgender, asked Phillips to make a cake celebrating a gender transition – pink on the inside, blue on the outside. When Phillips declined, Scardina asked for a cake depicting Satan smoking a marijuana joint – which Phillips also declined. During the trial phase, "Scardina promised Phillips that, were this suit dismissed, Scardina would call Phillips the next day to request another cake and start another lawsuit," legal documents state. Despite being in court for more than a decade, "numerous threatening emails" and death threats, Phillips says the case has helped to "strengthen" his faith. "We just celebrated our 30th anniversary of being in business Labor Day weekend. And so for 30 years we’ve served everybody who’s come into our shop," he said. "But this whole legal battle has helped strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen our family, brought us all closer together. It’s brought together a lot of people who have helped support us in so many ways." Phillips mentioned that a gay man testified on his behalf in court "because he understood that I serve everybody, gladly served him, but he knows that I couldn’t create every cake that people would ask me for." "It’s been an encouraging time to see people stand beside us like that," he said. When it comes to this latest challenge, Phillips said Scardina is "not the enemy" and that he has "nothing to forgive." "This person isn’t fighting against me, this case is against the state and my right to express my religious freedom and do so without fear of punishment in the marketplace," said Phillips. Oral arguments for the case have yet to be set but likely will be scheduled for the springtime next year. ADF will argue that because of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Phillip’s previous case and the latest ruling in 303 Creative vs. Elenis involving a website designer, which determined that the government can’t compel an artist to speak a message with which they disagree, that the law is on Phillips’ side. "What's critical now after 303 is the fact that this cake actually does communicate a message. The trial court found that this cake symbolizes the transition from male to female and went into great detail about the symbolism of the cake. The court found that blue represents male and pink represents female and that this cake communicates a message given the context of how cake artists are often asked to create custom cakes," Warner said. "In light of 303 Creative, the Colorado Supreme Court should reverse the decision below and affirm Jack's right to speak consistently with his beliefs. He shouldn't be punished for declining to create a custom cake promoting a message that goes against his beliefs," Warner added. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/in-depth-us-gives-more-than-4-1-billion-in-grants-for-lgbt-and-transgender-initiatives-worldwide-5498747?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport US Gives More Than $4.1 Billion in Grants for LGBT and Transgender Initiatives Worldwide During the past three fiscal years, $4.1 billion in federal money from taxpayers has been flowing to LGBT initiatives in the United States and around the world, an Epoch Times investigation has revealed. From Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2023, the U.S. government issued more than 1,100 grants to fund LGBT-promoting projects around the world, according to the Epoch Times review of a federal spending website. The scope of projects varies widely. Plans to create a "safe space for LGBTQ youth and adults to seek support and resources" earned a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. government in 2022 for the LGBT Life Center in Norfolk, Virginia. A proposal for encouraging "diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia's workplaces and business communities by promoting economic empowerment of and opportunity for LGBTQI+ people in Serbia" also was a winning plan. To fund it, the U.S. government awarded a Serbian activist group a grant of $500,000. An Armenian activist group, the Pink Human Rights Defender, received $1 million from the United States "to empower the LGBTI community" in Armenia, a tiny country next to Turkey. The federal spending website can be filtered to show entries that include specific keywords. A list of payouts filtered by using the keyword "LGBT" included 1,181 grants, 31 loans, and nine direct payments during the past three fiscal years. Overall, during the past fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government issued 454,821 grants. Government grants provide free money for specific purposes. Federal loans can be repaid over long periods of time at low interest rates. Direct payments from the government give money to groups—they may be unrestricted, or for a specific use. Of grants connected to the keyword "LGBT," individual payouts of at least $1 million totaled more than $3.7 billion combined. Many additional smaller grants also were awarded for LGBT initiatives but were not reviewed. When the list was filtered for grants including the word "transgender," 574 were listed. In that category, grants that paid out at least $1 million totaled nearly $478 million. Seven direct payments and nine loans with the keyword "transgender" also were issued by the U.S. government. Yet money flows to these projects. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) gave $1.2 million to "LGBTQIA+ pride centers" in the San Diego Community College District. Another DOE grant of almost $1.6 million was awarded for North Dakota's “indigenous, LGBTQIA+, rural and underserved school-based mental health needs.” A DOE grant gave $1.4 million to Boston College to study "mechanisms of health promotion in diverse youth through gay-straight alliances." In plain speak, the grant funded the promotion of gay-straight alliance clubs in Massachusetts middle and high schools. "The federal government thumbs their nose at the American people and continues to push this ideology into our schools," "They're doing it all over the world." And that - is your news for today… this has been your CrossPolitic Daily NewsBrief. Just so y’all are aware - this will be the only newsbrief for the next week or so, as I will be out of town for our Fight Laugh Feast Conference at the Ark Encounter - as well as visiting my brother in North Carolina after that… if you liked the show …..

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. Gravity Jack: Gravity Jack is a full service digital agency specializing in the development of Virtual & Augmented Reality experiences, mobile apps, blockchain and Web3 projects. Founded in 2009 as the first American agency to offer augmented reality, they even patented it; Gravity Jack's digital experiences have been a source of innovation for small business, Fortune 500 Companies, and the US Military. Get your vision in motion at gravityjack.com https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2023/10/08/100000-israeli-troops-mobilized-for-first-declared-war-since-1973-n2629547 Israel Mobilizes 100,000 Troops for Gaza Incursion It might be the worst intelligence failure since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a conflict that almost destroyed Israel after a surprise attack from Syria and Egypt. Israel was on the brink as Syrian forces reclaimed the Golan Heights, and it was by sheer luck that this invading force didn’t move further to capture the key bridges along the Jordan River. Israel’s heartland would’ve been wide open. The game could’ve been over, so Israel continues to respond forcefully against incursion by terrorists and its Arab neighbors since it’s a nation with no strategic depth. How Jerusalem was caught sleeping amid this latest assault by Hamas on October 7 must be investigated since Shin Bet and Mossad are some of the most capable agencies in the world. This attack occurred on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, and like that last war, the assault began during a Jewish holiday. Hamas launched thousands of rockets as cover for a land, sea, and air assault that could only have been made possible with outside help, considering its sophisticated nature. Iran has admitted they helped plan the assault. The death toll has risen to 700, with reports of kidnappings, rapes, and murder of Israeli citizens caught in the fighting. Hamas operatives paraglided into Southern Israel, with other terrorists attacking over two dozen areas along the Gaza border. Some Americans were also kidnapped and murdered by these terrorists. The footprint from Hamas was around 1,000 terrorists who stormed the infiltrated Israeli territory. Border Police and other forces are still fighting to restore order to the security situation in the area, but tanks and troops are being mobilized for a ground assault. Around 100,000 Israeli troops are ready to go into Gaza, with more reservists expected to be called up as Israel expects this to erupt into a multi-front war. Hezbollah has already launched rocket and mortar attacks in the northern Israel (via Associated Press): More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations Monday morning. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel — a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades — and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Israel said it brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters, including two points that militants entered earlier in their attacks. Meanwhile, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza, saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The announcement, though unconfirmed, was the first sign of the scope of abductions. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults — mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The Israeli military said only that the number of captives is “significant.” As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were involved in Saturday morning’s assault, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, speaking on ABC’s “This Week.” The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group ruling Gaza, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israel’s occupation and blockade of Gaza. In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group fanned fears that the fighting could expand into a wider regional war. Hezbollah fired rockets and shells Sunday at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border, and Israel fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Israelis were still reeling from the breadth, ferocity and surprise of the Hamas assault. The group’s fighters broke through Israel’s security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip early Saturday. Using motorcycles and pickup trucks, even paragliders and speedboats on the coast, they moved into nearby Israeli communities — as many as 22 locations. https://themessenger.com/news/hamas-threatens-to-start-executing-hostages-if-gaza-strikes-continue Hamas Threatens to Start Executing Hostages If Gaza Strikes Continue Hamas on Monday threatened to execute Israeli hostages being held in Gaza if Israel continues to conduct airstrikes without warning. “Any targeting of innocent civilians without warning will be met regretfully by executing one of the captives in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution,” Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, said in a statement to Al Jazeera. Hamas has claimed to be holding more than 100 Israelis prisoner in the Gaza Strip, according to the Qatar-based network. The warning from Hamas came as Israeli Defense Forces intensified a bombardment of Gaza as dusk fell on Monday. Images shown live on CNN showed heavy rocket fire lighting up the sky above Gaza, a Palestinian enclave about the size of Omaha, Nebraska, that's home to some two million people and considered one of the most densely populated places in the world. There are reports that American citizens are among those being held captive in Gaza. The State Dept. said it was working to confirm those reports. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christian-baker-faces-new-lawsuit-over-gender-transition-cake-after-supreme-court Christian baker faces new lawsuit over gender-transition cake after Supreme Court The Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear the case against Christian cake baker Jack Phillips, which he says is the "light at the end of the tunnel" after more than 11 years in court. Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding in a move that sparked a 2012 lawsuit that ultimately landed him at the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, the nine justices ruled that the state of Colorado was hostile to Phillip’s religious beliefs and that the government can’t force anyone to create custom works of art that communicate a message. But in 2018, Phillips faced a second lawsuit, this time from a transgender lawyer who requested a cake celebrating a gender transition. When Phillips declined, he was back in court on grounds that he discriminated against the lawyer. The Colorado Supreme Court just agreed to hear his case. "I hope it is the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m pretty excited about it," Phillips told Fox News Digital in an interview. "The state court turned us down in our first case, but I think they realize now that I serve everybody." "This case is not who I serve, but it’s always the what I’m going to create not the who that’s asking for it. And I hope they get that right this time," said Phillips. Jake Warner, attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) defending Phillips, said that the lawsuit from the beginning was "clearly a set-up" with the intent of "targeting" Phillips and his beliefs. In 2018, Autumn Scardina, who identifies as transgender, asked Phillips to make a cake celebrating a gender transition – pink on the inside, blue on the outside. When Phillips declined, Scardina asked for a cake depicting Satan smoking a marijuana joint – which Phillips also declined. During the trial phase, "Scardina promised Phillips that, were this suit dismissed, Scardina would call Phillips the next day to request another cake and start another lawsuit," legal documents state. Despite being in court for more than a decade, "numerous threatening emails" and death threats, Phillips says the case has helped to "strengthen" his faith. "We just celebrated our 30th anniversary of being in business Labor Day weekend. And so for 30 years we’ve served everybody who’s come into our shop," he said. "But this whole legal battle has helped strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen our family, brought us all closer together. It’s brought together a lot of people who have helped support us in so many ways." Phillips mentioned that a gay man testified on his behalf in court "because he understood that I serve everybody, gladly served him, but he knows that I couldn’t create every cake that people would ask me for." "It’s been an encouraging time to see people stand beside us like that," he said. When it comes to this latest challenge, Phillips said Scardina is "not the enemy" and that he has "nothing to forgive." "This person isn’t fighting against me, this case is against the state and my right to express my religious freedom and do so without fear of punishment in the marketplace," said Phillips. Oral arguments for the case have yet to be set but likely will be scheduled for the springtime next year. ADF will argue that because of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Phillip’s previous case and the latest ruling in 303 Creative vs. Elenis involving a website designer, which determined that the government can’t compel an artist to speak a message with which they disagree, that the law is on Phillips’ side. "What's critical now after 303 is the fact that this cake actually does communicate a message. The trial court found that this cake symbolizes the transition from male to female and went into great detail about the symbolism of the cake. The court found that blue represents male and pink represents female and that this cake communicates a message given the context of how cake artists are often asked to create custom cakes," Warner said. "In light of 303 Creative, the Colorado Supreme Court should reverse the decision below and affirm Jack's right to speak consistently with his beliefs. He shouldn't be punished for declining to create a custom cake promoting a message that goes against his beliefs," Warner added. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/in-depth-us-gives-more-than-4-1-billion-in-grants-for-lgbt-and-transgender-initiatives-worldwide-5498747?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport US Gives More Than $4.1 Billion in Grants for LGBT and Transgender Initiatives Worldwide During the past three fiscal years, $4.1 billion in federal money from taxpayers has been flowing to LGBT initiatives in the United States and around the world, an Epoch Times investigation has revealed. From Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2023, the U.S. government issued more than 1,100 grants to fund LGBT-promoting projects around the world, according to the Epoch Times review of a federal spending website. The scope of projects varies widely. Plans to create a "safe space for LGBTQ youth and adults to seek support and resources" earned a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. government in 2022 for the LGBT Life Center in Norfolk, Virginia. A proposal for encouraging "diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia's workplaces and business communities by promoting economic empowerment of and opportunity for LGBTQI+ people in Serbia" also was a winning plan. To fund it, the U.S. government awarded a Serbian activist group a grant of $500,000. An Armenian activist group, the Pink Human Rights Defender, received $1 million from the United States "to empower the LGBTI community" in Armenia, a tiny country next to Turkey. The federal spending website can be filtered to show entries that include specific keywords. A list of payouts filtered by using the keyword "LGBT" included 1,181 grants, 31 loans, and nine direct payments during the past three fiscal years. Overall, during the past fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government issued 454,821 grants. Government grants provide free money for specific purposes. Federal loans can be repaid over long periods of time at low interest rates. Direct payments from the government give money to groups—they may be unrestricted, or for a specific use. Of grants connected to the keyword "LGBT," individual payouts of at least $1 million totaled more than $3.7 billion combined. Many additional smaller grants also were awarded for LGBT initiatives but were not reviewed. When the list was filtered for grants including the word "transgender," 574 were listed. In that category, grants that paid out at least $1 million totaled nearly $478 million. Seven direct payments and nine loans with the keyword "transgender" also were issued by the U.S. government. Yet money flows to these projects. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) gave $1.2 million to "LGBTQIA+ pride centers" in the San Diego Community College District. Another DOE grant of almost $1.6 million was awarded for North Dakota's “indigenous, LGBTQIA+, rural and underserved school-based mental health needs.” A DOE grant gave $1.4 million to Boston College to study "mechanisms of health promotion in diverse youth through gay-straight alliances." In plain speak, the grant funded the promotion of gay-straight alliance clubs in Massachusetts middle and high schools. "The federal government thumbs their nose at the American people and continues to push this ideology into our schools," "They're doing it all over the world." And that - is your news for today… this has been your CrossPolitic Daily NewsBrief. Just so y’all are aware - this will be the only newsbrief for the next week or so, as I will be out of town for our Fight Laugh Feast Conference at the Ark Encounter - as well as visiting my brother in North Carolina after that… if you liked the show …..

Mike Pence delivered a pretty horrible take on the attack on Israel as he attacked his Republican primary opponents. Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, declined to create a custom cake for a same-sex wedding and it sparked a 2012 lawsuit that ultimately landed him at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Monday - 10/9/2023 - Hour 3See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy Buffet has passed. Peter reminisces on his history with the singer-songwriter and talks to callers about deaths that deeply affected them.  Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop calls in to talk about the 30th anniversary of his shop's opening. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New from the Colson Center!  Interested in the What Would You Say? video project? Subscribe to be notified when new videos are released at whatwouldyousay.org/subscribe. Watch the latest release and explore the full on-demand library!   _   On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a smashing victory for free speech. Lorie Smith is the founder of 303 Creative, a graphic design company that, among other services, creates custom websites for weddings. Concerned that a Colorado law would force her to design websites for same-sex weddings or take on other projects that would violate her deeply held religious beliefs, Smith filed a pre-enforcement challenge, asking the court to weigh in on whether the law violated her freedom of speech and conscience.  The state decided that Lorie did not have the right to choose which messages she uses her talents to express. It even forbade her, for example, from posting a notice on her website stating she is unable to create websites that express messages contrary to her Christian beliefs, including websites that promote abortion services, celebrate same-sex marriages, or advance a transgender ideology. In July 2021, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Smith and for the state of Colorado.  Friday, on the last day of the 2023 docket, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that decision and ruled in favor of Lorie Smith. Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch, explained:   The First Amendment's protections belong to all, not just to speakers whose motives the government finds worthy. In this case, Colorado seeks to force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance. ... Consistent with the First Amendment, the Nation's answer is tolerance, not coercion. The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands. Colorado cannot deny that promise consistent with the First Amendment.  Kristen Waggoner, general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom who argued the case before the Court, described the win in a press release:  This is a win for all Americans. The government should no more censor Lorie for speaking consistent with her beliefs about marriage than it should punish an LGBT graphic designer for declining to criticize same-sex marriage. If we desire freedom for ourselves, we must defend it for others.  It's not yet clear what implications this decision will hold for others, such as Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips, who are being forced to choose between their businesses and their deeply held religious beliefs. However, unlike the 2018 Masterpiece Cakeshop case, this decision was far broader and clearly dealt with questions of speech, conscience, and government coercion. In the Masterpiece case, the Supreme Court smacked down the state of Colorado for showing clear and extensive animus toward Jack's faith. The state civil rights commission responded by not only showing similar animus again, but by also allowing and enabling another citizen to harass Jack Phillips, beginning on the same day that Jack's first case was approved to be heard by the Supreme Court, and continuing today.  Already, voices as significant as dissenting Supreme Court justices and major media outlets have reported that, in the 303 Creative decision, the Court has allowed business owners to refuse service for LGBTQ people. That is simply not true. In fact, Justice Gorsuch specifically said as much in his majority opinion.   Justice Sonia Sotomayor, however, repeated that falsehood anyway before articulating a revisionist history of LGBTQ rights. For example, she repeated falsehoods about the murder of Matthew Shepard, wrongly claimed that the Colorado law did not affect Lorie Smith's rights “in any meaningful sense,” and neglected the condition established by Smith that she would not refuse service to anyone because of their sexual orientation.   To the dissent, Justice Gorsuch retorted in the majority opinion, “It is difficult to read the dissent and conclude we are looking at the same case.”  Lorie Smith never asked for the right to refuse service to a particular group of people. She asked not to be forced to produce speech that she did not agree with. That's what the Court affirmed on Friday. It is important that, whenever possible, all Americans who are concerned about the rights of conscience, including the freedom of speech, correct the falsehoods about this decision.  As Lorie Smith said in ADF's press release,  This is a victory not just for me but for all Americans across our great country—for those who share my beliefs and for those who hold different beliefs. Whether you're an LGBT graphic designer, a Jewish calligrapher, an Atheist speechwriter, or a pro-life photographer, the government shouldn't force any of us to say something we don't believe. I love people and work with everyone, including those who identify as LGBT. For me, it's always about what message is requested, never the person requesting. I hope that, regardless of what people think of me or my beliefs, everyone will celebrate that the court upheld the right for each of us to speak freely.  Congratulations to ADF and to Lorie Smith.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Heather Peterson. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: The archbishop for military services is speaking out against the provision to allow abortions at the Department for Veterans Affairs medical centers in certain circumstances. The head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, joins to tell us why he felt it was so important to write this letter. Meanwhile, Congress is now officially on the clock to raise the debt ceiling, or face a first-ever default. President Biden has invited the 4 House and Senate leaders to meet with him next Tuesday. Host of 'O'Connor Tonight' on the Salem News Channel, Larry O'Connor, joins to share what he thinks needs to happen for both sides to come together. And the "bring our families home campaign" delivered a message to President Biden. 22 states say they are supporting a Christian bakery owner who is being sued for not making a cake for a gender transition. Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cake Shop and his lawyer, Jake Warner from Alliance Defending Freedom, join to discuss the case. Finally this evening, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is hosting a conference these days to discuss the theme "Communicating the Christian Message in the Plurality of Contemporary Voices." Professor Jim Macnamara from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, joins to tell us more about this seminar. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn

Back in 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case involving a cake shop owner who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In a 7-2 decision, the court found that the state had violated the cake maker's religious objections. Now the court is considering another case out of Colorado that could expand the right to discriminate under the guise of free speech. In the fourth episode of Dissent, Jordan Smith and law professor Hila Keren discuss 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, a challenge to the state's Anti-Discrimination Act brought by Lorie Smith, a website designer seeking to refuse wedding design services to same-sex couples. Unlike Masterpiece Cakeshop, the 303 Creative case has no injured parties; it is a preemptive attempt to allow businesses to practice unfettered discrimination. join.theintercept.com/donate/now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lydia Booth and Jack Phillips are like living epistles to us, offering a picture of what faithfulness to Christ could require in the days to come.

In this episode, Deborah Flora talks with Jake Warner of Alliance Defending Freedom, and Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, to discuss the ongoing legal battle surrounding religious freedom and artistic expression. They also cover the latest legal developments in Jack's case, including his appeal against the activist attorney who sued him in state court.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: While appearing on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused the Biden Administration of acting “contrary to federal law” when it comes to the U.S. southern border. MSNBC's Chris Hayes objected to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's decision to remove Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from the House Intelligence Committee—claiming they did “nothing wrong.” Montage: President Joe Biden forgets names! While appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, actress Jane Fonda claimed that there would be “no climate crisis if it wasn't for racism.” According to National Review's Brittany Bernstein, Christian baker Jack Phillips “lost his appeal in a case that stemmed from his refusal to make a cake for an individual's gender transition.” In 2018, the Supreme Court decided in Jack Phillips' favor in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission when he claimed religious freedom exempted him from creating a same-sex wedding cake. Dr. Deana Murphy—a certified Consulting Positive Psychologist & Executive Wellbeing Advisor—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her new book, “Lead 2 Flourish: An Executive's Guide to Handle Pressure, Prevent Anxiety, and Lead From Your Highest Self.” Get the book at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lead2flourish-deana-murphy/1142830162

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/27/2023):  3:05pm- On Friday, a San Francisco court released police body camera footage of the home invasion which led to Paul Pelosi being assaulted with a hammer. The footage shows police arriving at Pelosi's home moments before he was attacked. According to the New York Times, “[t]he suspect, David DePape, faces numerous felony charges in state court, including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.” 3:15pm- On Thursday, Project Veritas released video footage of James O'Keefe confronting Pfizer's Director of Research and Development Jordan Trishton Walker about comments he made on a hidden camera. Walker claimed Pfizer was “mutating” the COVID-19 virus and suggested they could potentially create “something that just goes everywhere.”  3:40pm- Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant review columnist Craig LaBan wrote an opinion editorial highly critical of the Union League's decision to honor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. LaBan vows that he will no longer dine at the Union League—but he wasn't a member in the first place! We give his editorial: 1 Bell. 4:05pm- In a statement made to The New York Post, Hunter Biden's art dealer George Berges said of his client's work: “Hunter Biden will become one of the most consequential artists in this century because the world needs his art now more than ever. In a world that beats us down, we need art in our lives that reminds of the unrelenting divinity within each of us.” According to the Post, Berges refused to say whether or not he was willing to provide the House Oversight Committee with documents regarding Biden art sales.  4:35pm- Grover Norquist—Founder and Presidents of Americans for Tax Reform—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest editorial in The Atlantic, “A National Sales Tax is a Terrible Idea.” A handful of House Republicans are forcing a vote on the “Fair Tax Act” which would create a national sales tax and eliminate the federal income tax. Norquist explains why this proposal is a “free gift to Democrats.” You can read the full article at: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/national-sales-tax-house-republicans-grover-norquist/672810/ 4:50pm- White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre compared House Republicans—who are asking for spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling—to “hostage” takers.  4:55pm- Can the U.S. Treasury mint a $1 trillion platinum coin and deposit it with the Federal Reserve to circumvent Congressional approval to raise the debt ceiling? In a recent New York Times opinion editorial, Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman endorsed the strategy while simultaneously referring to House Republicans as “economic terrorists.”  5:05pm- While appearing on Fox5 in New York City, Madison Square Garden Entertainment CEO James Dolan defended his arena's utilization of controversial facial recognition software to prevent lawyers who have sued MSG or Dolan from entering. Is it legal?  5:20pm- Pastor Bill Devlin—CEO of Extreme Faith—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to offer us an update in the trial of Mark Houck, a pro-life father charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for protesting outside of an abortion clinic. Houck was notably arrested at his home during an FBI-conducted raid.  5:45pm- The Philadelphia Inquirer has accused Pennsylvania State Representative Amen Brown of leaving a “trail of debt, lawsuits” in business and real estate dealings. Brown is a moderate Democrat running for Philadelphia Mayor. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia media continues to gush over super-progressive John Fetterman and his wife Gisele… 5:55pm- After being removed from the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) posted his first TikTok complaining about it.  6:05pm- While appearing on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused the Biden Administration of acting “contrary to federal law” when it comes to the U.S. southern border.  6:10pm- MSNBC's Chris Hayes objected to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's decision to remove Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from the House Intelligence Committee—claiming they did “nothing wrong.” 6:15pm- Montage: President Joe Biden forgets names! 6:20pm- While appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, actress Jane Fonda claimed that there would be “no climate crisis if it wasn't for racism.” 6:35pm- According to National Review's Brittany Bernstein, Christian baker Jack Phillips “lost his appeal in a case that stemmed from his refusal to make a cake for an individual's gender transition.” In 2018, the Supreme Court decided in Jack Phillips' favor in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission when he claimed religious freedom exempted him from creating a same-sex wedding cake. 6:45pm- Dr. Deana Murphy—a certified Consulting Positive Psychologist & Executive Wellbeing Advisor—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her new book, “Lead 2 Flourish: An Executive's Guide to Handle Pressure, Prevent Anxiety, and Lead From Your Highest Self.” Get the book at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lead2flourish-deana-murphy/1142830162

The Supreme Court recently heard 2.5 hours of oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis-- the case about a Colorado website designer who doesn't want to create wedding websites for gay couples. The arguments were absolutely bonkers, with justices invoking kids in KKK uniforms, Black mall Santas, dating sites for people seeking affairs, and re-education camps. Leah, Kate, and Melissa recap the arguments and what they may portend for the future of LGBTQ rights. 

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: Matt Sharp—Senior Legal Counsel Representing Lorie Smith of 303 Creative | Alliance Defending Freedom—joins The Rich Zeoli Show. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection. Rich figures out how to play sound effects from his studio—it's only been one segment, but Matt is already disgusted. Plus, the Zeoli show relives one of our all-time favorite clips: former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio eating Shake Shack on television. According to a report from The Daily Signal, Assistant Secretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Rachel Levine encouraged doctors to “proactively” campaign on behalf of transgender care for minors, during a September Zoom conference at University of Pittsburgh's Department of Pediatrics. Qatar's beautiful camel contest! Are these camels ACTUALLY beautiful?!?! Matt and Rich disagree. In an opinion editorial featured in The Arizona Republic, Senator Krysten Sinema announced that she changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. Will this decision have any impact on Senate voting? Probably not.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (12/09/2022): 3:05pm- Twitter Files Part 2: On Thursday night, former Wall Street Journal and New York Times journalist Bari Weiss revealed, prior to Elon Musk taking ownership, Twitter maintained a blacklist which limited the visibility of conservative commentators like, Charlie Kirk, Libs of TikTok, and Dan Bongino. Perhaps most disturbingly, Stanford University Professor of Medicine Jay Bhattacharya was also “shadow banned” for suggesting that prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns could irreparably harm children—particularly educationally. According to Weiss' reporting, the group banning the most high-profile Twitter accounts included former CEOs Jack Dorsey and Parag Agrawal. 3:30pm- After establishing that former Twitter executives authorized shadow banning conservative accounts, the next question that must be answered: were these bans being compelled by governmental officials and/or political organizations? 3:45pm- While speaking with John Roberts on Fox News, former Vice President Mike Pence was asked if he believed shadow bans on social media—Twitter specifically—cost Trump-Pence the 2020 presidential election.  3:50pm- On September 5th, 2018, while speaking before Congress, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey stated, “[w]e don't consider political viewpoints, perspectives, or party affiliation in any of our policies or enforcement decisions, period. Impartiality is our guiding principle.” This statement now appears to be false. Will Dorsey be held accountable?  4:05pm- Matt Sharp—Senior Legal Counsel Representing Lorie Smith of 303 Creative | Alliance Defending Freedom—joins The Rich Zeoli Show. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection. 4:20pm- Rich figures out how to play sound effects from his studio—it's only been one segment, but Matt is already disgusted. Plus, the Zeoli show relives one of our all-time favorite clips: former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio eating Shake Shack on television.  4:35pm- According to a report from The Daily Signal, Assistant Secretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Rachel Levine encouraged doctors to “proactively” campaign on behalf of transgender care for minors, during a September Zoom conference at University of Pittsburgh's Department of Pediatrics.  4:45pm- Qatar's beautiful camel contest! Are these camels ACTUALLY beautiful?!?! Matt and Rich disagree.  4:50pm- In an opinion editorial featured in The Arizona Republic, Senator Krysten Sinema announced that she changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent. Will this decision have any impact on Senate voting? Probably not. 5:05pm- According to a report from The Daily Wire, “[v]ideo emerged Thursday afternoon of Brittney Griner being swapped on a runway for convicted Russian terrorist Viktor Bout after Democrat President Joe Biden agreed to the trade.” The video shows a clear edit that appears to occur right before Brittney Griner may have shaken hands with Bout. Did the White House delete the handshake because of bad optics?  5:10pm- According to a report from Politico's Lara Seligman, “[s]ome Pentagon officials are concerned that convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was released on Thursday in a prisoner swap for American basketball star Brittney Griner, could return to illegally trafficking weapons, potentially fueling conflicts across the world.” 5:20pm- In 2010, 60 Minutes aired a report on Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. They referred to him as one of the most dangerous people on earth.  5:35pm- According to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mayor Jim Kenney has been vocal in his complaints about a 6ABC story that criticized his performance in public office—even swearing at Brian Tierney for his role in the piece.  5:45pm- Mystery Movie Clip: Is Jingle All the Way one of the most underrated Christmas films? 6:05pm- Twitter Files Part 3: On Friday night, investigative journalist Matt Taibbi released information regarding the decision to remove former President Donald Trump from Twitter. Taibbi wrote, “Whatever your opinion on the decision to remove Trump that day, the internal communications at Twitter between January 6th-January 8th have clear historical import. Even Twitter's employees understood in the moment it was a landmark moment in the annals of speech.” According to Taibbi, Twitter executives were “prepared to ban future presidents and White Houses–perhaps even Joe Biden.” 6:55pm- Who Won Social Media? 

Did you miss any of The Rich Zeoli Show this week? It's ok. We forgive you. But now is your chance to catch-up on all of the action: John Paul Mac Isaac—Author of “American Injustice: My Battle to Expose the Truth”—joins The Rich Zeoli to discuss his new book which documents his experience being caught-up in the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. In 2019, Hunter Biden commissioned John Paul's Wilmington, Delaware electronic repair shop to fix his liquid-damaged laptops. John Paul explains, “[c]oncerned that I was sitting on evidence in a criminal investigation, I set out to hand everything over to the FBI" after Biden never returned to collect his property. He continues, “[w]hen the story broke, Big Tech and social and mainstream media blocked the reporting” and “[m]y actions were labeled Russian disinformation.” Despite doing the right thing every step of the way, John Paul unfairly had his character attacked—ultimately, resulting in the forced closure of his business, The Mac Shop. During the interview, John Paul also reacts to Elon Musk's recent releasing of emails confirming that Twitter suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story at the behest of the Biden campaign team—vindicating John Paul once and for all. His incredible book is available at: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Injustice/John-Paul-Mac-Isaac/9781637586846 Momma Zeoli watches the kids—and warns them not to eat too much sugar, not to jump on the couch, and not to develop carpal tunnel syndrome... Matt Sharp—Senior Legal Counsel Representing Lorie Smith of 303 Creative | Alliance Defending Freedom—joins The Rich Zeoli Show. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection. The Rich Zeoli Show goes international! To our surprise, people are enjoying the show's podcast in the UK, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and South Africa. Everyone loves The Rich Zeoli Show—is it the one thing that unites us all?

Matt Sharp—Senior Legal Counsel Representing Lorie Smith of 303 Creative | Alliance Defending Freedom—joins The Rich Zeoli Show. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection.

Carl's interview w/attorney Matt Sharp of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) about their case currently being heard in the Supreme Court. Lorie Smith is the owner of “303 Creative,” a website design company in Colorado. Much like Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, the state wants to FORCE Lorie to create websites that are inconsistent with her faith. If the state wins, this is the end of free speech in America as we know it. Carl & Matt also discuss the ramifications of the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” and the huge implications it will have determining if religious liberty will continue in America.Other topics include:1) Senator Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Democratic Party; 2) Bari Weiss drops Part 2 of the Twitter files exposing that the executives at Twitter did knowingly “shadow ban” conservatives; and 3 more fallout from Biden's stupid, weak and pandering decision to swap WNBA star Brittney Griner for the “Merchant of Death,” arms dealer, Viktor Bout. More: www.TheCarljacksonshow.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Parler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshow http://www.TheCarlJacksonPodcast.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: On ABC's “This Week,” George Stephanopoulos asked House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries about allegations he is an election denier. Following the 2016 Presidential election, Jeffries frequently referred to Donald Trump as an illegitimate president. While appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Jim Jordan accused the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of engaging in political bias when deciding to investigate Donald Trump and vowed to hold them accountable. According to The Gateway Pundit, Elon Musk has alleged that FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried donated more than $1 billion to Democrat candidates. SBF has been accused of taking customer investments and illegally funneling them to another entity he controlled, Alameda Research. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (12/05/22): 3:05pm- On behalf of Elon Musk and Twitter, investigative journalist Matt Taibbi released a series of tweets documenting Twitter's efforts to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story prior to the 2022 Presidential election at the behest of the Biden campaign team. Taibbi wrote, “[b]y 2020, requests from connected actors to delete tweets were routine. One executive would write to another: ‘More to review from the Biden team.' The reply would come back: ‘Handled.'” The Wall Street Journal's editorial board noted the release as “confirmation of the central role that former spies played in October 2020 in framing the Hunter Biden story in a way that made it easier for Twitter and Facebook to justify their censorship.” 3:35pm- While speaking about his decision to acquire Twitter and publicizing the platform's decision to censor information at the behest of elected officials and political candidates in the past, Elon Musk said, “sunshine is a great disinfectant” for “content take downs” requests and fulfillments. 3:50pm- While appearing on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, actor James Woods revealed that he plans to sue the Democratic National Committee for allegedly ordering Twitter to remove Woods' messages from the social media platform. 4:05pm- On ABC's “This Week,” George Stephanopoulos asked House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries about allegations he is an election denier. Following the 2016 Presidential election, Jeffries frequently referred to Donald Trump as an illegitimate president.  4:15pm- While appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Jim Jordan accused the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of engaging in political bias when deciding to investigate Donald Trump and vowed to hold them accountable.  4:20pm- According to The Gateway Pundit, Elon Musk has alleged that FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried donated more than $1 billion to Democrat candidates. SBF has been accused of taking customer investments and illegally funneling them to another entity he controlled, Alameda Research. 4:35pm- On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis. The question being asked before the court is whether Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, is legally permitted to decline creating custom webpages for same-sex weddings—is her religious objection protected by the First Amendment? During oral argument, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that Colorado law forced Jack Phillips—the cake baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission—was forced, by the state, to go through a reeducation program after refusing to make custom cakes for same-sex weddings citing a religious objection. 5:05pm- Susan Crabtree—RealClearPolitcs' White House & National Political Correspondent—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her recent article, “Enes Kanter Freedom's World Cup Call to Action.” Crabtree writes, “[t]he 6-foot-10 big man says it's a pivotal time for human rights worldwide and called on all athletes to use their outsized influence to voice support for dissidents bravely standing up to repressive regimes. U.S. and other athletes, he said, also shouldn't remain silent about widespread reports that thousands of migrant workers died in recent years working in Qatar on World Cup projects and stadiums.” Crabtree and Rich also discuss the latest regarding Elon Musk's claims of politically influenced censorship on Twitter.  5:25pm- On TikTok, a high school English teacher bizarrely suggested that grammar and writing rules are racist and oppressive.  5:30pm- While speaking with tech-journalist Kara Swisher, former Head of Trust & Safety at Twitter Yoel Roth defended the social media company's decision to ban the satirical account Babylon Bee for misgendering Dr. Rachel Levin in a joke.  5:40pm- Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said that if the FBI is asking social media companies to suppress certain, inherently political stories, “we have a real problem.”  6:05pm- In the aftermath of Elon Musk exposing Twitter's decision to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story, The Wall Street Journal published a public statement issued by intelligence officials from October 19th, 2020. The statement claims that the Hunter Biden story had “all the classic earmarks” of a Russian disinformation campaign. The statement was signed by 51 former officials, including Jim Clapper, Mike Hayden, and John Brennan. We now definitively know their assessment was incorrect. Is this further proof that federal government intelligence agencies have become politicized?  6:55pm- Who Won Social Media? + Zeoli's Final Thought

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in a First Amendment case with echoes of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case from 2018. Katherine Franke, professor of law at Columbia Law School and the director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law, explains the details of the case, where a website designer did not want to create a site for a gay wedding, and what's at stake for religious liberty, LGBTQ rights, and speech.

When Christian conservatives lost in Masterpiece Cake Shop back in 2018, they regrouped and picked up the trail of breadcrumbs from Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent that suggested a freedom of speech approach. Next week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in 303 Creative v Elenis - another case that takes aim at Colorado's anti discrimination laws. This time, arguments about whether a website designer has the right to advertise that she will not design websites for same-sex weddings, will be focused on freedom of speech. But as this week's guest, Hila Keren, argues, excluding people from the marketplace and humiliating them in the process is not a matter of free speech, and it is a matter progressives have been largely silent about. Together, Dahlia Lithwick and Professor Keren dig deep into a case that hasn't been given the attention its potential wide-ranging consequences demand.  In this week's Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about another big case - this past week's arguments in US v Texas, including brazen judge-shopping, nationwide injunction-slapping, and President Biden's immigration policy. Then Mark explains exactly what is - and isn't - in the same sex marriage bill that's making its way to President Biden's desk.  Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.  Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes.  Dahlia's book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Christian conservatives lost in Masterpiece Cake Shop back in 2018, they regrouped and picked up the trail of breadcrumbs from Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent that suggested a freedom of speech approach. Next week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in 303 Creative v Elenis - another case that takes aim at Colorado's anti discrimination laws. This time, arguments about whether a website designer has the right to advertise that she will not design websites for same-sex weddings, will be focused on freedom of speech. But as this week's guest, Hila Keren, argues, excluding people from the marketplace and humiliating them in the process is not a matter of free speech, and it is a matter progressives have been largely silent about. Together, Dahlia Lithwick and Professor Keren dig deep into a case that hasn't been given the attention its potential wide-ranging consequences demand.  In this week's Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about another big case - this past week's arguments in US v Texas, including brazen judge-shopping, nationwide injunction-slapping, and President Biden's immigration policy. Then Mark explains exactly what is - and isn't - in the same sex marriage bill that's making its way to President Biden's desk.  Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.  Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes.  Dahlia's book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Christian conservatives lost in Masterpiece Cake Shop back in 2018, they regrouped and picked up the trail of breadcrumbs from Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent that suggested a freedom of speech approach. Next week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in 303 Creative v Elenis - another case that takes aim at Colorado's anti discrimination laws. This time, arguments about whether a website designer has the right to advertise that she will not design websites for same-sex weddings, will be focused on freedom of speech. But as this week's guest, Hila Keren, argues, excluding people from the marketplace and humiliating them in the process is not a matter of free speech, and it is a matter progressives have been largely silent about. Together, Dahlia Lithwick and Professor Keren dig deep into a case that hasn't been given the attention its potential wide-ranging consequences demand.  In this week's Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about another big case - this past week's arguments in US v Texas, including brazen judge-shopping, nationwide injunction-slapping, and President Biden's immigration policy. Then Mark explains exactly what is - and isn't - in the same sex marriage bill that's making its way to President Biden's desk.  Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.  Want a behind-the-scenes look at how we create the show? Check out Slate's Pocket Collections for research and reading lists, as well as additional insights into how we think about the stories behind the episodes.  Dahlia's book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode originally recorded in July 2021, Vox's Zack Beauchamp talks with Columbia law professor Jamal Greene about his book How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession With Rights Is Tearing America Apart. They discuss how the US obsession with rights and their protections gives too much power to judges and the courts, makes it difficult for ordinary citizens to find reasonable solutions to legitimate problems, and has made this country's legal system not only nonsensical but dangerous. Vox Conversations will return on Thursday, Oct. 13th — but under a new name, and with a new look. Stay tuned for The Gray Area with Sean Illing: a philosophical take on culture, politics, and everything in between. Host: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), Senior Correspondent, Vox Guest: Jamal Greene (@jamalgreene), Dwight Professor of Law, Columbia Law School References:  How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession With Rights Is Tearing America Apart by Jamal Greene (HMH Books; 2021) "From Guns to Gay Marriage, How Did Rights Take Over Politics?" by Kelefa Sanneh (New Yorker; May 24, 2021) Lochner v. New York, 198 US 45 (1905) Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 584 US __ (2018) District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570 (2008) "Texas's radical anti-abortion law, explained" by Ian Millhiser (Vox; Sept. 2, 2021) We want to hear from you! Take Vox's audience survey today: vox.com/feedback Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices