Federal judge rules President Trump violated First Amendment with 2025 executive order against NPR + PBS funding, which preceded Congress rescinding funding for Corporation for Public Broadcasting. #1A www.npr.org/2026/03/31/n...

Lots of headlines saying SCOTUS "strikes down" Colorado conversion therapy law on First Amendment grounds. Not quite. They found the law, as written, amounts to "viewpoint discrimination" and ordered lower court to review on "strict scrutiny" standard. Not the same as outright overturning a law. #1A

Since the Supreme Court hears the big birthright citizenship case this week, here's a (somewhat) related topic: Are non-citizens protected by the First Amendment? Answer: Sort of depends. Not a neat + clean yes/no. MORE #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/non-citizens...

Police depts. using AI for reports: " ... a report late last year that erroneously claimed an officer ... turned into a frog; the Axon camera audio captured a children’s movie playing in the background." Great reporting from @thewesternedge.bsky.social ⬇️ www.thewesternedge.media/p/robo-cops-...

Will "The Thrill" Clark (Giants). And David Justice plus most of the early-to-mid 90s Braves simply because they were on basic cable (thanks, Ted Turner!).

I normally don't watch Mariners games on TV (too stressful). But I did last night. Best way to distract from the existential dread of world affairs is to experience the greater existential dread of supporting the gosh dang Seattle Mariners. On that, they delivered! #GOMS #SeaUsRise #TridentsUp

In the news the past year: FCC regulation of broadcast media. Under the First Amendment, how can the federal government punish stations for what they air? Doesn't that violate their free press and speech rights? #1A answers ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/fcc-first-am...

For March Madness media: Yes, the term "Zags" should help you pronounce Gonzaga. Yes, there's a player from Spain whose real name sort of makes him Saint Super Mario. Yes, he came here with dark hair but now looks like a late-90s Zumiez teen/Justin Bieber. Yes, that's the Spokane Effect.

Annual Northwest-themed March Madness pronunciation guide for broadcasters: - Gonzaga: GONE-zag (as in "bag")-uh - Spokane: Spo-CAN as in "I can see garbage goats" - Vandals: Better hoopers than Cougars - Moscow: Moss-CO as in "cool co-op" - Oregon: As in "OR maybe we should've staying in Pac?"

Update: Afroman wins defamation lawsuit brought by Ohio sheriff's deputies. Good quote from him: "It's not only for artists. It's for Americans. We have freedom of speech. They ... did me wrong and sued me because I was talking about it." ⬇️ www.cbsnews.com/news/afroman...

Lots of discourse about how Timothee Chalamet "lost" the Oscar through his own annoying actions. Seemingly less about how Michael B. Jordan wasn't only the better actor, but, in fact, the Best Actor in a film last year. Keep it simple: Elio lost because Creed trained harder.

Since Afroman is trending (!!!) - a super interesting free speech/First Amendment-related case about which you should read - here is a helpful explainer on the issue involved in the sheriff's deputies' lawsuit against him: defamation #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/what-is-defa...

There are very few situations in which people get to criticize Admin members to their face, and only one where they are required to shut up and take it. The transcript is really remarkable.

We hear "free speech" all the time. But what really constitutes "speech"? And what, exactly, does the First Amendment protect (and not protect)? Whose speech is more easily limited? A #1A guide ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/what-speech-...

Every sentence in this had me thinking, surely this will be the most surprising and shocking detail here, and without fail, the next sentence had something else in store! Kudos to @alexdugganreports.bsky.social for reporting it. www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...

Lying is (largely) protected free speech, though perjury and defamation are not. Also not protected: fraud. Here's how it's different, and why the First Amendment's broad protection for false speech doesn't extend to fraud. #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/fraud-first-...

Kudos to @merrywanderer.bsky.social + @lukebaumgarten.bsky.social and all at Range for this. A difficult and complicated story to pursue for many reasons. Explaining why they did the story - and how (complete with questions asked) - is solid "show your work" journalism that helps built trust. ⬇️

Look, the WBC is nice and all, but please forgive me for not caring in the least about it. In baseball I care about one and only one thing: living long enough to see the gosh darn Seattle Mariners win a World Series. Anything that distracts from this critical mission is, well, a distraction.

Good quote from ACLU person: "The ability to criticize the government anonymously is baked into our First Amendment rights. Technically speaking, there's nothing the government should be able to do to them, but that doesn't mean the government's not going to try." #1A ⬇️ www.npr.org/2026/03/04/n...

DOJ announced 30 more people would face charges for January protest at Minnesota church that saw Don Lemon arrested. A reminder of what First Amendment does and does not protect for protesters and press rights in houses of worship #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/protesting-a...

Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts) had co-ed elements for 50+ years (Explorers, Sea Scouts, Venturing). Den Mothers + troop leaders are women. Any claim that Scouting became open to "non-boys" in past few years isn't, to quote first point of Scout Law, "trustworthy." apnews.com/article/scou...

The Pentagon's newly appealed case against Mark Kelly brings up many questions about First Amendment rights for military members (including retirees), which are addressed here #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/first-amendm...

Not surprisingly, the Pentagon is appealing a federal judge's ruling that blocked the demotion case against Sen. Mark Kelly on First Amendment grounds. apnews.com/article/pent...

I'm like a year late to this, but: "Twinless" is a great movie + should have won way more awards (especially for Dylan O'Brien). One complaint is cast mispronouncing Moscow, Idaho (moss-CO, not "cow" like Russia), and not sure if that's intentional. 4.6 / 5 would watch again

What is jawboning? Sounds like a dental procedure. But it's a big First Amendment issue (example: Jimmy Kimmel's ABC show being suspended + FCC pressure). Here's what to know #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/jawboning/

Worth remembering: We got to this point in the Epstein story due to diligent investigative reporting done by a journalist working for a "legacy" newspaper who had editors -- who all considered and followed tenets of journalism ethics. Kudos to @jkbjournalist.bsky.social and Miami Herald.

The case of Sen. Mark Kelly highlights questions of First Amendment rights of military personnel, including retirees. How can people who fight for others' right to religion, speech, press, assembly + petition have their own rights limited? Some answers #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/first-amendm...

DOJ drops charges against two men, one shot, for assaulting ICE officers in Minnesota, citing "newly discovered evidence" that was "materially inconsistent" with what federal agents said happened www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-dro...

Worth a read from @leahsottile.bsky.social, who frames journalism pay/industry issues well (and who Spokanites have to thank for helping launch Volume Music Festival). ⬇️

Reminders: 1) The First Amendment protects hate speech and whatever else kind of speech this is (absent true threats, etc.) 2) The Fifth Amendment protects people from being imprisoned because of their sex. 3) The person who said these things had dinner with Donald Trump at his private club.

Judge rules in Mark Kelly’s favor, saying Sec. Pete Hegseth “trampled on [Kelly’s] First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees," for response to a video with fellow lawmakers last year. #1A ⬇️ Ruling: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

President Trump is suing the BBC in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit. A US judge has scheduled the trail for next year. Here's a helpful First Amendment analysis of what's up with the case + what Trump would have to show to win #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/trump-bbc-la...

Much has been and will be said about Green Day's Super Bowl set (and whether there was or was not "censorship"), but let's not overlook that the NFL knowingly trotted out all these retired quarterbacks, led by Peyton Manning + Tom Brady, to take the stage during...American Idiot. *chef's kiss*

"The OPB on your coffee mug, or on your window sticker, might not be the exact place you think it is." This week, we're telling you why we started the @thewesternedge.bsky.social. Today read @ryanjhaas.bsky.social's devastating essay about local media: www.thewesternedge.media/p/i-had-a-dr...

Journalist @joon.bsky.social found a new path after being laid off from ESPN. My colleague writes about Joon's upbringing in Boston and his path from youth athlete to covering athletes, and how a high school journalism conference helped. Worth a read! ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/joon-lee-spo...

In the news of late: people recording law enforcement (especially in Minnesota) and sometimes being arrested/detained in the process. So the question: Is it always a First Amendment right to record police? What are the legal limits? Some answers #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/recording-la...

From the Washington Post's recently laid off books critic: "Honestly, the worst aspect of this impoverishing, family-wrecking, confidence-crushing ordeal is that it will inspire David Brooks to write an essay about the hubris of American media." ⬇️⬇️⬇️ roncharles.substack.com/p/ive-been-l...

An article and question that's been quite relevant the past year: Does the First Amendment protect non-citizens? Answer: Sort of depends. Not a clear-cut yes/no cleanly answered by Supreme Court. #1A MORE ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/non-citizens...

Lots of First Amendment news of late from Minnesota! Here's more: Can you protest inside or outside a church? What are the limits? What if you're a journalist covering protests? Where might freedoms of religion, speech, press + assembly conflict? #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/protesting-a...

This is from more than a year ago but relevant now given the Don Lemon arrest today stemming from a church protest in Minneapolis: When arresting journalists may or may not violate the First Amendment #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/arresting-jo...

With the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal agents, there's been much talk about the First Amendment + Second Amendment overlap. So, here's the legal facts about protesting while armed #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/first-amendm...

Before the most recent shooting news from Minneapolis, the state and Twin Cities sued DHS officials over what they claimed was retaliation + viewpoint discrimination in the federal immigration operation. Here's more the First Amendment claims in the suit #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/minnesota-dh...

Worth a read about Hush podcast, "true crime," journalism ethics and the forthcoming news publication The Western Edge from @leahsottile.bsky.social + @ryanjhaas.bsky.social. Kudos and good luck on the next chapter. Will read (and subscribe) with great interest. ⬇️

Not even a month into 2026 and there's already plenty of news on the First Amendment front with lots more to come. Some big stories and trends in religion, speech, press, assembly + petition to watch this year #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/first-amendm...

My embarrassing but true Indiana University football story: In 2006 the team had a big, unexpected win. On campus the next day I see the coach, and I instinctively say, "Great game yesterday, coach!" Only it was the basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson, understandably confused. Anyway, go Hoosiers!

15 years ago, a white supremacist tried to bomb the Martin Luther King Day unity march in Spokane, WA. City workers found the bomb before it exploded. The march continues today. The shock waves still ripple. From @inlander.com circa 2011 ⬇️ www.inlander.com/news/shock-w...

MLK Jr, 4/3/68: "Somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right." He was murdered the next day. www.freedomforum.org/freedom-of-s...

Minnesota is suing the Department of Homeland Security + Sec. Kristi Noem over federal immigration enforcement. The state + Twin Cities claim unlawful retaliation and viewpoint discrimination. Here's a breakdown of the First Amendment claims involved #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/minnesota-dh...

Relevant in the news lately (and always): Is recording law enforcement a First Amendment right? Can you be arrested or detained for it? Can police force you to delete pictures + video? Can they take your phone without a warrant? Answers #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/recording-la...

Today, the FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter in classified documents case. Here are good insight + reactions on First Amendment issues involved, including @1stforall.bsky.social's Gene Policinski #1A ⬇️ www.freedomforum.org/fbi-search-w...