First Amendment

United States Supreme Court justices

Why Only Republicans Have Free Speech Why Only Republicans Have Free Speech

The Supreme Court protects the rights of the rich and conservative—to heck with almost everyone else.

May 13, 2025 / Leah Litman

Police detain protesters wearing shirts with the slogan “Stop Arming Israel” during a Pro-Palestinian demonstration in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2024.

The Right-Wing Campaign to Suppress Opposition Consolidates Its Gains The Right-Wing Campaign to Suppress Opposition Consolidates Its Gains

New laws that effectively criminalize dissent reflect the right’s disgust for politically active citizens.

May 1, 2025 / Zohra Ahmed

President Donald Trump speaks to the press after signing a proclamation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America aboard Air Force One, as it flies over the Gulf en route to New Orleans on February 9, 2025.

The First Amendment vs. the Wannabe King The First Amendment vs. the Wannabe King

What are the climate implications of Donald Trump punishing the Associated Press?

Feb 20, 2025 / Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope

Jeff Bezos, owner of “The Washington Post” (left); Donald Trump.

The Media Is Giving Away Its Rights Even Before Trump Tries to Take Them The Media Is Giving Away Its Rights Even Before Trump Tries to Take Them

Recent events have shown that Trump does not have to impose a new regime of censorship if the press censors itself first.

Jan 16, 2025 / Column / Elie Mystal

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

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