This piece originally appeared in the Washington Examiner on March 2, 2020.
There’s a lot more to winning elections than dominating the airwaves. Yet every election cycle it seems there’s a wealthy candidate — or two, or three — who believes he can advertise his way to...
View ArticleJustice Department Will Monitor State and Local Pandemic Policies for Civil...
Attorney General Bill Barr today issued a memo directing all U.S. attorneys to examine state and local policies for directives that could violate the constitutional rights and civil liberties of...
View ArticleCriminalizing Protests Is a Dangerous Idea
Despite the Constitution granting us the right to peaceful assembly, many states have been pushing forth laws to make that a crime. That’s not only a bad idea but an incredibly dangerous one.read more
View ArticleAmericans for Tax Reform (podcast):
Nancy Pelosi & House Democrats went after citizen privacy & free speech with their coronavirus bill, highlighting just how at-risk freedom of speech is. Many state governments also have...
View ArticleThis piece originally appeared in City Journal on March 12, 2020.
The political world is practically giddy at the failed campaigns of Michael and Tom Steyer. The Democratic primary’s billionaire candidates rediscovered an age-old truth: money can’t buy love.read more
View ArticleRuling clears pretrial hurdle in retaliation case filed by Wilkes-Barre...
The retaliation case filed by two Wilkes-Barre police officers cleared a pretrial hurdle this week with a federal judge’s ruling they were protected by the First Amendment when speaking out about...
View ArticleCharlottesvilles Violence a Failure of Its Government
Former Charlottesville, Va., Mayor Michael Signer’s essay “How Free Speech Dogma Failed Us in Charlottesville” (Review, March 14) pins the blame in the wrong place. The violence wasn’t a failure of the...
View ArticleRepublican National Lawyers Association: The Real Effects of Citizens United
As we reflect on the last decade of Citizens United, it is important to cut through the hysteria of the current political climate and look at the real effects of this case. Former FEC Chairman Bradley...
View ArticleU.S. Supreme Court Gives Green Light To Seattles Democracy Vouchers Giving...
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Elster v. Seattle, a case challenging Seattle’s “Democracy Vouchers”, a program that uses property taxes to give city residents a $100 coupon for donating to...
View ArticleNew Research: No Rise in Corruption Since Citizens United
Washington, DC – The Institute for Free Speech published new research today finding no evidence of increased public corruption following the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal...
View ArticleSutherland Institute: Potential SCOTUS case could protect supporters of...
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to hear a case that raises similar concerns [to the landmark 1958 decision, NAACP v. Patterson]. It was brought by a conservative legal organization called...
View ArticlePolitical Consultants Sue for Access to Small Business Loans
A trade association of political consultants is suing the Trump administration, arguing that the Small Business Administration is violating the First Amendment rights of its members by barring...
View ArticleCoalition Statement Supporting the Right to Protest During the Pandemic
Dissent and protest are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedoms of speech, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. These...
View ArticleTechdirt: The Supreme Court Needs To Reverse The Fifth Circuits Awful Ruling...
Whenever our nation’s court system resumes to normalcy, there will hopefully be another case on the Supreme Court docket that could clarify if someone who engages in protected speech can be held...
View ArticleThe Important First-Amendment Principle Now at Risk
That mistake, in a case called Mckesson v. Doe, poses a threat to both freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.read more
View ArticleArgument preview: Justices take on First Amendment challenge to robocall law
Next week, in Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument on whether the federal law prohibiting robocalls to cellphones violates the First...
View ArticleDaily Media Links 5/14
This week we highlight petitions pending before the Supreme Court that involve, among other things, whether a sign regulation containing an exception for on-premises signs violates the First Amendment...
View ArticleProtest Organizers Shouldnt Be Liable for Other Peoples Crime
This piece, co-authored with IFS Communications Director Luke Wachob, originally appeared in Reason on June 16, 2020. read more
View ArticleCandidates Sue New Jersey Over Restrictions on Campaign Slogans
Washington, DC – Two candidates for Congress in New Jersey today asked a federal court to declare the state’s restrictions on campaign slogans unconstitutional. The Institute for Free Speech is...
View ArticleAmicus Brief: New Portland-Area Contribution Limits Are Unconstitutional
Washington, DC – The Taxpayers Association of Oregon filed an amicus brief late Monday urging a state circuit court to strike down Multnomah County’s limits on campaign contributions. Attorneys from...
View ArticleIFS Legal Director Allen Dickerson to be Nominated to the FEC
Washington, DC – President Donald Trump today announced his intent to nominate Institute for Free Speech Legal Director Allen Dickerson to the Federal Election Commission. Dickerson has led the...
View ArticleObscure Tax Case Before Supreme Court Could Affect Free Speech
Washington, DC – The Institute for Free Speech today urged the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that could effectively close the courthouse doors to lawsuits challenging IRS regulations...
View ArticlePolitical Giving Should Be Private
A third of Americans fear being fired for their political beliefs. Unfortunately, for those who wish to support political campaigns, federal and state laws leave no place to hide.read more
View ArticleThe 2020 election could see record lows for dark money influence
Dark money could be trending toward a record low this election cycle. It’s a development the media has been suspiciously silent on.read more
View ArticleCancel culture and speech regulation make a toxic mix
What do Steven Pinker, David Frum, Margaret Atwood, and Noam Chomsky have in common? They all fear a culture of shame and silence is threatening free speech.read more
View ArticleSupreme Court Case Could Rewrite the Book on Free-Speech Lawsuits
Should the government be held to account when it violates a person’s First Amendment rights, or should it be allowed to manipulate the legal system to avoid judgment?read more
View ArticleWithout Citizens United, that new Borat movie would be illegal
Fans of the new Borat sequel should thank the Supreme Court’s much-maligned and misunderstood Citizens United decision. Without that ruling, America would resemble the autocratic regime in Borat’s...
View ArticleHouse Dems Misguided Effort to Muzzle Conservative Media
On Feb. 24, House Democrats will hold a hearing on “traditional media’s role in promoting disinformation and extremism.” This hearing is a dangerous threat to American democracy and goes entirely...
View ArticleAnalysis: H.R. 1s Speech Provisions are Unconstitutional and Harmful to...
Washington, DC – The Institute for Free Speech published an analysis today of three major sections of H.R. 1 that would trample on First Amendment rights. The provisions would invade the privacy of...
View ArticleDemocrats push unconstitutional anti-free speech election law
The Democratic Party’s election overhaul bill, S. 1, includes numerous provisions of dubious constitutionality, but one in particular stands out. Its regulations on websites and media outlets have...
View ArticleWatchdog Group Sues Colorado City Over Campaign Law That Violates Freedom of...
Lakewood, CO – Lakewood city officials claim that a local watchdog group broke the law when its regularly published newsletter reported on candidates in a recent election. The city said it should have...
View ArticleGun Rights Group Sues Wyoming for Violating its First Amendment Rights
Cheyenne, WY – The Wyoming Gun Owners (WyGO) late yesterday sued Wyoming in federal court, saying the state unconstitutionally regulates its speech about public policy as campaign...
View ArticleAmicus Brief: The First Amendment Guarantees All Americans Right to Privacy
Washington, DC – The Institute for Free Speech filed an amicus brief yesterday urging the Supreme Court to strike down California’s requirement that charities provide state officials a list of their...
View ArticleIs Freedom of Speech Obsolete in the Disinformation Era?
Is freedom of speech an unquestioned creed, adhered to despite its dangers, or is it a principle that has prevailed by proving its value to the individual and community? Critics like Emily Bazelon...
View ArticleDemocrats H.R. 1 Election Takeover Would Also Control What Americans And...
Democrats often rail against the dangers of “hate speech” and “extremist content,” yet their radical election overhaul bill, H.R. 1, would use taxpayer funds to subsidize the very speech they claim is...
View ArticleCongressional Democrats Court-Picking (Not Packing) Scheme
Congress probably won’t pack the Supreme Court. But court picking poses a real threat to Americans’ rights.read more
View ArticleThe First Amendment Is Lucky to Have Mitch McConnell
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell hammered the first nail into the coffin of the draconian S. 1 legislation on Wednesday, announcing that the Democrats’ 800-plus-page rewrite of voting,...
View ArticleWashington State Sued for Violating First Amendment Right to Provide Pro Bono...
Tacoma, WA – The Institute for Free Speech, a national nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services, today filed a lawsuit in federal court against Washington state Attorney General Bob...
View ArticleSenate Testimony: S. 1 Would Suppress Speech, Violate the First Amendment
Washington, DC – Institute for Free Speech Chairman Bradley A. Smith will tell the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration today that S. 1 threatens free speech and privacy. Smith’s...
View ArticleMAXWELL: Joe Manchins Compromise On Voting Rules Is A Trojan Horse For...
The so-called “For the People Act” failed a key vote in June. Yet Sen. Joe Manchin’s proposed compromise would revive Democratic leaders’ attempt to disguise harmful restraints on political speech as...
View ArticleParents, Community Members Sue Pennsbury School Board for Censoring Critics
Institute for Free Speech helps citizens fight back against school board’s intimidation, silencing tactics.read more
View ArticleDemocrats Propose a Federal Speech Czar
Deep inside the Democrats’ latest “compromise” proposal on elections and campaign finance is a new cup of poison for free speech and fair campaigns.read more
View ArticleLawsuit: How the Governor Stole Protest Rights
Pierre, SD – Christmas festivities at the South Dakota Capitol this winter will include two full months of silent nights – and silent days. The state has banned all political demonstrations from the...
View ArticleVictory: Blue State Refugees Rally to Proceed in South Dakota
State agrees to grant permit under pressure from Institute for Free Speech lawsuit, but work remains on lifting the holiday protest banread more
View ArticleCourt Orders Pennsylvania School Board to Allow Critics to Speak
Philadelphia, PA – A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a Pennsylvania school board to allow parents and community members to criticize school policies and officials by name at public meetings. The...
View ArticleLTE: Revised H.R.1 Has a Plan for a Government Speech Czar
Today, it takes the votes of four of the six FEC commissioners to initiate an investigation or find a campaign violation. The skinny H.R.1 would hand that power to the agency’s general counsel, an...
View ArticleWhen They Attack Dark Money, Theyre Really Attacking Free Speech
By adopting Democrats’ strategy of attacking so-called dark money groups at this week’s confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Republican senators are fueling efforts...
View ArticleSheldon Whitehouses DISCLOSE Act would not have prevented
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) seems to think the DISCLOSE Act is a political cure-all. His latest sales pitch is that, if adopted, it would help “the American people … find out who funded the...
View ArticleUniversity of Oregon DEI Officer Sued for Blocking Critic on Twitter
Portland, OR – A local university professor filed a federal lawsuit on August 11 against an officer in the University of Oregon’s Division of Equity and Inclusion for blocking him from the...
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