First Amendment

Former president Donald Trump in Milwaukee in 2020.

The First Amendment Will Suffer Under Trump The First Amendment Will Suffer Under Trump

Given what’s heading our way, we need a capacious view and robust defense of the First Amendment from all quarters.

Nov 19, 2024 / Nan Levinson

mural depicting the Australian activist Julian Assange, by street artist Trisha Palma, in the Scampia neighborhood of Naples.

Biden Is Overseeing the Silent Death of the First Amendment Biden Is Overseeing the Silent Death of the First Amendment

By continuing the persecution of Julian Assange, the US government is signaling how little it cares about press freedom.

Dec 8, 2023 / Yanis Varoufakis, Lina Attalah, and John Kiriakou

Participants at a pro-Palestine rally at the Neptune Fountain hold a banner reading

The Smearing of Rashida Tlaib and the Palestinian Calls for Freedom The Smearing of Rashida Tlaib and the Palestinian Calls for Freedom

The only Palestinian member of Congress was censured, but she has every reason to wear that as a badge of honor.

Nov 10, 2023 / Yousef Munayyer

Jennyvieve Barquero-Hughes, 4, in black, gets her photo taken with Drag Queens Kelly K, left, Scalene OnixXx and Athena Monet Kills at the Drag Queen story hour at the Cellar Door Bookstore on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Riverside, Calif.

The Right’s War on Drag Is Flagrantly Unconstitutional The Right’s War on Drag Is Flagrantly Unconstitutional

The drag bans being pushed by both Tennessee and Texas have so little legal merit that even small children could debunk them.

Jun 6, 2023 / Elie Mystal

Statue removed from a park

Like It or Not, Cancel Culture Is Free Speech Like It or Not, Cancel Culture Is Free Speech

The history of medicine makes clear why false free-speech champions should just settle down already.

Jun 6, 2023 / J.C. Hallman

What Are the Book Banners Afraid Of?

What Are the Book Banners Afraid Of? What Are the Book Banners Afraid Of?

They are afraid of readers—especially young readers—learning the truth about humans, about American history, about, perhaps, their own lives.

May 30, 2023 / Feature / Jane Smiley

Julian Assange.

If Biden Really Believes in Press Freedom, He’ll Stop Targeting Julian Assange If Biden Really Believes in Press Freedom, He’ll Stop Targeting Julian Assange

The president spoke powerfully about the importance of journalism. He needs to back those words up and end US efforts to prosecute the WikiLeaks founder.

May 3, 2023 / John Nichols

FBI Director Christopher Wray

The DOJ Is Using “Foreign Agents” Accusations to Repress Black Liberation Organizers The DOJ Is Using “Foreign Agents” Accusations to Repress Black Liberation Organizers

We must demand that the FBI cease invoking the Foreign Agents Registration Act to spy on and criminalize Black social justice leaders.

Apr 25, 2023 / Collin P. Poirot and Azadeh Shahshahani

US naturalization cerem

Democrats Dodged a Bullet in the Midterms, but the Culture War Is Far From Won Democrats Dodged a Bullet in the Midterms, but the Culture War Is Far From Won

A functioning democracy requires the consent, if not the votes, of a good deal more than half the country.

Dec 9, 2022 / Column / David Bromwich

The Supreme Court Has Officially Launched Its War on LGBTQ Rights

The Supreme Court Has Officially Launched Its War on LGBTQ Rights The Supreme Court Has Officially Launched Its War on LGBTQ Rights

On Monday, the court heard 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case that the theocrats on the court will likely use to undermine marriage equality.

Dec 6, 2022 / Elie Mystal

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