Category «Free Speech»

Pentagon fires ombudsman overseeing military newspaper after calling it ‘woke’

Washington Post [no paywall]: “Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith said the Defense Department dismissed her without giving a reason, according to an email reviewed by The Post. Three months after the Pentagon decried the U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes as “woke” and announced it would be overhauled, Defense Department official Sean Parnell fired …

Subjects: Censorship, Congress, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Feds Flip the Switch on New Homeland Security Task Force Hub Near D.C.

For reference Executive Order, PROTECTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAINST INVASION, January 25, 2025, established the Homeland Security Task Force: “…Sec. 6. Federal Homeland Security Task Forces. (a) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to jointly establish Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in all States nationwide. (b) The …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Government, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Legal Research, Marketing

ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative

Follow up to previous post – ICE Seeking Office Space in Over 40 States – See Also ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative – “Under the Detention Reengineering Initiative (DRI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) will fully implement a new detention model by the end of Fiscal Year 2026. This effort …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

The Fight to Protect Elections

Last month, President Trump issued a second executive order aiming to single-handedly rewrite federal election rules. The Brennan Center and other groups are challenging the action in court, as the Constitution gives only the states and Congress the power to regulate elections. Among other things, the order attempts to require the U.S. Postal Service — …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Courts, E-Records, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research

Trump administration withdraws appeal, securing historic victory for libraries and IMLS

Follow up to Donald Trump, again wants to kill off IMLS, the library agency [Trump’s first attempt to destroy IMLS in 2018] – ALA’s separate court challenge continues – Washington – On April 6, a federal court granted the Trump Administration’s request to withdraw its appeal of a federal judge’s earlier ruling that struck down …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Courts, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Libraries

Save Our Signs Update

The Save Our Signs team has a number of new updates we wanted to share with you: “Over 3,000 new photos published in the SOS Archive, thanks to a new workflow and updated backend database.” “Digging Into the Leaked NPS Data,” a new story map that illuminates what NPS employees have flagged in response to …

Subjects: Censorship, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Search Engines

Trump’s Fundamental Misunderstanding in Iran

The Atlantic (Gift Article): Trump’s Fundamental Misunderstanding in Iran. “One of the U.S. government’s recurring mistakes about Iran has been to conflate the country’s national interests with regime interests. The two are in many ways opposites. What benefits the Iranian people—global economic reintegration, diplomatic recognition, investment, normalcy—threatens a regime that operates an extensive mafia and …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Defense, Economy, Free Speech, Legal Research

Trump has proposed a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027

“Trump has proposed a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, significantly increasing military spending compared to previous years [44-percent increase from the 2026 enacted level.] The plan includes pay raises for troops, funding for a missile defense system known as the “Golden Dome,” and replenishment of critical munitions amid ongoing conflict. At …

Subjects: Climate Change, Congress, Economy, Environmental Law, Financial System, Free Speech, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

New York City Bar Association Follow-Up Report Documents Escalating Constitutional Violations

“The New York City Bar Association (City Bar) has released an update to its December 2025 report on presidential abuse of power, documenting a sharp escalation of constitutional violations by President Donald J. Trump and his Administration since that report was issued, and calling on Congress to act immediately, including by considering impeachment, to hold the …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

New Trump Executive Order Threatens Mail-In Voting

The Parnas Perspective: “President Donald Trump…signed an executive order restricting mail-in voting, including requiring a federal list of verified eligible voters and limiting ballot distribution to those on the list. The move is part of his long-standing push to curb mail voting following the 2020 election, though critics warn it could disenfranchise millions and face …

Subjects: Censorship, Courts, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research