White House correspondents: Taking a stand or taking a dive? Inviting President Trump to the White House Correspondents dinner is like the Sierra Club inviting an arsonist to be guest of honor. Yet an event that real journalists should not want to attend is see...

"What the WHCA is doing is like the Sierra Club inviting an arsonist to be guest of honor," writes Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center. tinyurl.com/3f9cwc98

Religious radio remains widespread Approximately 45 percent of American adults at least occasionally listen to this programming, the Pew Research Center reports.

Religious radio programming has long been a staple of broadcasters and continues to be widespread, according to Religious Radio Across America, a new report from the Pew Research Center. tinyurl.com/3uax95yv

‘Charlie Kirk Bill’ going through Tenn. Legislature raises debate on campus free speech The bill in question, Senate Bill 1741, would require educational institutions to adopt policies affirming they will protect free speech.

Does free speech on college campuses need extra protections? A bill named after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk seeks to do that in Tennessee. tinyurl.com/mr29eh9y

Know Your Rights: Constitutional Guarantees for American Citizens YouTube video by bre reilly

Now more than ever, it's important for students to know their First Amendment rights — and three Langley High School students have demonstrated their knowledge and passion by sending us this self-produced podcast episode. Give it a listen! www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXkl...

Tenn. high court blocks order allowing news-media witnesses to view more parts of executions News organizations contended that blocking the expanded access would deprive the public of valuable information about upcoming scheduled executions.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on April 8 temporarily blocked a lower court’s order that would have let news-media witnesses view more parts of state-run executions. firstamendment.mtsu.edu/post/tenn-hi...

American journalist Shelly Kittleson released after kidnapping in Iraq, Rubio says In exchange for freeing Kittleson, the kidnapping militia said, several members of the group who had been detained by Iraqi authorities would be released.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week, was released yesterday (April 7), U.S. and Iraqi officials said. tinyurl.com/7yskef39

Appeals court lets Iowa enforce book ban, restrictions on LGBT topics in K-6 classes 8th Circuit notes that the claims from authors and publishers that the law infringes on First Amendment rights would likely not hold up.

Iowa can enforce a law that restricts teachers from talking about LGBT topics with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade and bans some books in libraries and classrooms, an appellate court said April 6. tinyurl.com/mryn2mte

Trump isn't immune from civil claims that his Jan. 6 rally speech incited riot, judge says The decision is not the court's first ruling that Trump can be held liable for the violence at the Capitol and it is unlikely to be the last given the near-certainty of an appeal.

“President Trump has not shown that the Speech reasonably can be understood as falling within the outer perimeter of his Presidential duties,” Judge Mehta wrote. “The content of the Ellipse Speech confirms that it is not covered by official-acts immunity.” tinyurl.com/4nh9ckyj

Texas judge rejects push to let churches make political endorsements Prohibiting electioneering from the pulpit to maintain their tax exemption was violated their First Amendment rights, the plaintiffs argued.

“We’re glad that the Johnson Amendment will remain a strong bulwark to stop religious extremists from exploiting houses of worship,” said Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. tinyurl.com/ya42hzc9

Citing First Amendment, federal judge blocks Trump order to end funding for NPR, PBS The operational impact of U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss' decision was not immediately clear.

“It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,” wrote Judge Moss. tinyurl.com/42sjskks

Curtain pulled? / Speak up / Low marks Curtain pulled? After years of complaints that social media is detrimental to young people’s mental health, juries in two states found Big ...

In the latest newsletter … Big Tech liable … Rapper Afroman wins … street-preacher ruling … immigration reporter freed … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/yyccwxve

Supreme Court rules against Colo. ban on conversion therapy for LGBT kids Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the Court, said the law "censors speech based on viewpoint."

The Supreme Court ruled today (March 31) against a law banning “conversion therapy” for LGBT kids in Colorado, one of about two dozen states that ban the discredited practice. tinyurl.com/m3n5at4d

Detroit-area school settles lawsuit with Palestinian student over Pledge of Allegiance dispute The school district will remove anything from Danielle Khalaf's file that suggests her actions violated school policy, according to the settlement.

“It was terrifying at times, scary to face a teacher and overwhelming with the attention that came with the publicity. But it taught me the importance of speaking up for what I believe is right,” Danielle said in a statement. tinyurl.com/4tzbvsjr

Lawsuit accuses U. of Alabama of censorship in ending student magazines The lawsuit accuses university officials of violating the First Amendment rights of students and asks for the magazines to be reinstated.

“These student magazines — unlike other student publications at the University — were suspended and defunded by UA because UA administrators disfavor their editorial perspectives related to race and gender,” the lawsuit states. tinyurl.com/yz9jpzdp

As juries turn against social media for harming kids, Big Tech's invincibility starts to show cracks The verdicts show the public's growing willingness to hold the companies responsible for harms and demand meaningful changes in how they operate.

“The era of Big Tech invincibility is over,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project. “After years of gaslighting from companies like Google and Meta, new evidence and testimony have pulled back the curtain.” tinyurl.com/yw569rhp

Supreme Court revives suit from evangelical Christian challenging restrictions on demonstrations Olivier's lawyers said he was demonstrating peacefully when he was arrested for refusing to move to a designated "protest zone."

“This is not only a win for the right to share your faith in public, but also a win for every American’s right to have their day in court when their First Amendment rights are violated,” said Kelly Shackelford, CEO of the conservative nonprofit First Liberty Institute. tinyurl.com/fvtnt56a

Pentagon will remove news-media offices after judge reinstates New York Times press credentials Journalists will eventually be able to work from an "annex" outside the building, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon Press Association said the announcement “is a clear violation of the letter and spirit of last week’s ruling.” tinyurl.com/26khceej

Judge strikes down Ark. law mandating schools display the Ten Commandments. Here's what to know Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas all have enacted similar laws requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms.

An Arkansas law requiring that the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in public school classrooms was struck down by a federal judge last week. tinyurl.com/2p9jenyk

Judge sides with New York Times in challenge to policy limiting reporters' access to Pentagon The judge said the "undisputed evidence" shows that the policy is designed to weed out "disfavored journalists" and replace them with those who are "on board and willing to serve" the government.

“Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation’s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech,” the judge wrote. tinyurl.com/r7jhayhc

Spanish-language reporter in Tenn. released from immigration detention on bond Estefany Rodríguez's attorneys argue she was targeted because her reporting has been critical of ICE's practices.

“We are grateful that Estefany is able to walk away with her freedom to be with her family as she continues to fight for her right to remain in her community and in the US,” Mike Holley, an attorney for Rodríguez, said in a statement. tinyurl.com/4mcmp2m

Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in music videos The case tested the limits of satire and the license artists can take in social commentary directed at public figures.

The Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him over music videos in which he used home-security footage to mock their raid of his home. tinyurl.com/y9dzcz5v

Judge orders restoration of Voice of America, putting hundreds of journalists back to work Judge gives the U.S. Agency for Global Media a week to put together a plan for putting VOA back on the air.

A federal judge on March 17 ordered the Trump administration to restore the government-run Voice of America’s operations after it had effectively been shut down a year ago, putting hundreds of employees who have been on administrative leave back to work. tinyurl.com/yyf93knf

Hollow ring / Target practice / Help line Hollow ring. Social media is not just speech; it is a community of hazardous platforms, argued law professor Tim Wu in a New York Times co...

In the latest newsletter … hazardous platforms … fake Iran war images … Lake loses … Pentagon bars photographers … empty FCC licensing threats … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/ynbp3222

Trump team to press: Tell Iran war story the way we see it Incidents of the past few days speak to a hostility toward the very idea of being questioned by news outlets.

Through lectures, scoldings and outright threats, President Donald Trump and his aides are ratcheting up the pressure on journalists to cover the war in the Middle East the way the administration wants. tinyurl.com/5ff62zpx

Five questions: Why FCC Chair Carr’s license threats are empty The FCC’s authority applies only to broadcast stations, a quickly shrinking subset of the news universe.

"Trying to revoke a broadcast station’s license because it’s not positive enough about a war would be a clear violation of the First Amendment," writes Free Speech Center Director Ken Paulson. tinyurl.com/2psejb3f

Hegseth comments are reminder that government isn't eager to show human cost of war The nature of this war — fought thousands of miles from the American homeland and not yet on the ground in Iran — has limited the number of American casualties and thus made them more newsworthy.

“For many presidents, the lesson seemed to be: Don’t allow the realities of war into people’s living rooms if you can help it,” said Timothy Naftali, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. tinyurl.com/3fjpnp5n

Free Speech, Sacred Space March 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET What happens when protest and worship collide, and what must journalists understand about the law, ethics, and on-the-ground realities? Moderator: Religion News Service journalist Bob Smietana Speakers: Journalist Manya Brachear Pashman & Director of the Free Speech Center Ken Paulson Register: bit.ly/FreeSpeechSacredSpace

What happens when protest and worship collide, and what must journalists understand about the law, ethics, and on-the-ground realities? Free Speech Center Director Ken Paulson will be speaking at the Religion News Association's upcoming webinar. Register now: bit.ly/FreeSpeechSacredSpace

Federal judge blocks Fla. governor's foreign-terrorist label of Muslim groups District Judge Mark E. Walker wrote that the First Amendment bars the governor from using an executive office to make a political statement at the expense of others' constitutional rights.

“The question before this Court is whether the Governor can, in a non-emergency situation, unilaterally designate one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in America as a ‘terrorist organization’,” Judge Walker wrote. tinyurl.com/4rap7hyp

More complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their work? At least one newspaper has been sending journalists out to cover stories by interviewing people, collecting quotes and information, then feeding it into a computer to write.

Like so many sectors of the economy, the news industry is hurtling toward a future where artificial intelligence plays a major role. tinyurl.com/4mpune2c

In the latest newsletter … Minneapolis “peaceable”? … Greenpeace … CNN, CBS News fear “disaster” … presidential naming rights … and much more First Amendment and journalism news. tinyurl.com/k2r42utc