FirstAmendment Trending News

2026-03-27 23:10:04

School Settles Pledge Protest Suit, Mandates Training

A suburban Detroit school district will provide First Amendment training to settle a lawsuit. A Palestinian-American student was humiliated for refusing the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. The settlement includes a $10,000 payment. read more

2026-03-20 23:20:08

Judge Blocks Pentagons Restrictive Press Policy

A federal judge blocked a Pentagon policy restricting press access, siding with The New York Times. The policy was deemed unlawful for curtailing credentials of journalists who rejected its terms, raising free speech concerns amid ongoing military reporting. read more

2026-03-20 21:40:05

Journalist Freed, First Amendment Fight Intensifies

Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez Florez was released from ICE custody after reporting on immigration raids. Press freedom groups are suing the Trump administration, alleging First Amendment retaliation. The DOJ argues she has no such constitutional rights. read more

2026-03-19 16:00:11

Afroman Wins Defamation Case Over Police Raid Parody

Rapper Afroman won a lawsuit filed by Ohio deputies over music videos using raid footage. He defended the parody as free speech to cover damages. The court sided with his First Amendment rights. read more

2026-03-19 08:40:44

Afroman Wins Free Speech Case Over Raid Parody

Rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by Ohio deputies over music videos using raid footage. He defended his parody as free speech to address damages from the 2022 incident. The jury sided with his First Amendment rights. read more

2026-03-19 05:30:43

Afroman Wins Defamation Case Over Police Raid Parody

Rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by Ohio deputies over music videos mocking their 2022 raid. The case tested parody limits and free speech, with the artist using home security footage in viral songs about the incident. read more

2026-03-18 17:20:10

Trump Pushes Media Toward Patriotic Programming

The Trump administration plans to "rebalance" media to mandate more patriotic programming, per FCC Chair Carr. This follows threats to revoke broadcaster licenses over Iran war coverage, raising censorship and First Amendment concerns. read more

2026-03-17 17:20:10

UF Sued Over Nazi Salute Club Ban

College Republicans sue University of Florida after club deactivation over a Nazi salute photo. The lawsuit alleges First Amendment violations, seeking reinstatement and damages. The university cited antisemitic conduct as the reason for the action. read more

2026-03-14 19:20:05

Veterans Flag-Burning Charges Dismissed

Charges against Army veteran Jay Carey for burning a flag near the White House in 2025 are being dropped. He protested a Trump executive order, asserting his First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court protects flag burning as political expression. read more

2026-02-27 15:00:06

Trumps War on Free Speech Intensifies

The Trump administration uses retaliatory investigations and legal actions to intimidate and silence critical media outlets and journalists, aiming to stifle free speech and suppress dissent through federal agencies. read more

2026-02-26 17:10:13

UN Investigators Family Sues U.S. Over Sanctions

The family of UN investigator Francesca Albanese is suing the Trump administration over U.S. sanctions imposed for her criticism of Israel's Gaza policies. The lawsuit argues the sanctions violate the First Amendment and have severely impacted the family's life. read more

2026-02-25 05:40:10

Judge Blocks Unrestricted Search of Reporters Devices

A judge blocked the DOJ from freely searching a Washington Post reporter's seized devices, citing First Amendment concerns. He will independently review the contents instead, balancing press freedoms with national security in a leak investigation. read more

2026-02-24 02:10:08

Fired Ranger Sues Over Pride Flag Protest

A non-binary Yosemite park ranger fired for hanging a transgender pride flag from El Capitan has sued the federal government. They allege the firing was illegal retaliation for First Amendment-protected protest speech against anti-trans policies. read more

2026-02-21 02:10:46

FCC Chairs Patriotic TV Push Sparks Free Speech Firestorm

FCC Chair Brendan Carr urges networks to air patriotic content for America's 250th birthday, suggesting daily Pledge of Allegiance broadcasts. Critics, including a Democratic commissioner, accuse him of eroding First Amendment rights by influencing broadcaster programming. read more

2026-02-18 22:00:11

Trumps Branding Push Tests Legal Limits

Trump's administration has renamed numerous federal properties after him, sparking protests and legal debates. Experts say such actions are generally protected as government speech, but voiding altered park passes may violate First Amendment rights. read more

2026-02-12 20:30:08

Judge Blocks Pentagon Censure of Senator Kelly

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Pentagon from punishing Senator Mark Kelly for a video urging troops to resist unlawful orders. The judge ruled the Pentagon violated Kelly's First Amendment rights. read more

2026-02-09 16:40:04

Lemon: Press Freedom Under Threat After Arrest

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, arrested after covering a protest, warned that press freedom is vital for democracy. Speaking at a Human Rights Campaign event, he urged continued defense of First Amendment rights against government overreach. read more

2026-02-04 22:40:07

Professor Sues Texas A&M Over Firing for Gender Lesson

A Texas A&M professor fired after a leaked recording of her gender identity lesson is suing the university. She claims her First Amendment rights were violated due to political pressure from state officials, including Governor Greg Abbott. read more

2026-01-30 14:40:09

Don Lemon Arrested on Federal Protest Charges

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on federal charges related to a Minnesota church protest. His lawyer claims it's a First Amendment attack, while critics allege he disrupted a service. read more

2026-01-27 17:50:04

FBI Probes Activists After Right-Wing Social Media Claims

FBI Director Kash Patel launched a probe into Minneapolis activists' encrypted Signal chats after a far-right influencer's social media post. Critics argue the investigation targets First Amendment-protected activity, while the FBI is not investigating a recent border agent shooting. read more

2026-01-23 22:00:04

Rubio Ordered Pro-Palestine Student Arrests, Memos Show

Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally approved arrests of international students for pro-Palestine activism, a federal judge ruled. The judge found Trump officials engaged in an unconstitutional conspiracy, violating First Amendment rights by targeting their protected speech. read more

2025-03-25 18:50:47

University Professors Sue Trump Admin Over Pro-Palestine Activists' Deportation

University professors in the US are suing the Trump administration for deporting pro-Palestine activists, claiming it creates fear and repression on campus. The lawsuit alleges violations of the First Amendment, targeting scholars and students who express political views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. read more

2025-03-18 16:30:45

Judge Rules Possession of AI Child Porn Might Be Protected

A judge ruled that possession of AI-generated child porn by a Wisconsin man could be First Amendment protected, facing four federal counts. The case may set legal precedents as prosecutors appeal the decision, affecting how AI-generated child pornography is handled. read more

2025-02-19 21:30:03

Mississippi Paper Ordered to Delete Editorial Criticizing City Officials

A judge orders a Mississippi newspaper to delete an editorial critical of city officials, sparking concerns from First Amendment lawyers and press freedom advocates. The case raises alarms over unconstitutional censorship through prior restraint. read more

2025-02-12 20:50:03

White House Bars AP Reporters Over Gulf of America Dispute

The AP criticizes the White House for barring two reporters over refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico "the Gulf of America". Trump administration accused of viewpoint discrimination, violating First Amendment. AP urges White House to end access restrictions, emphasizing importance of press freedom. read more

2025-02-12 02:40:03

AP Reporter Barred from Oval Office Event Over Naming Dispute

The Trump administration faces accusations of First Amendment violation after an AP reporter was barred from an event for not aligning with Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. The decision was criticized by journalists and the National Press Club. read more

2025-01-20 11:50:03

"Defamation Trial Against CNN Raises Concerns Over Media Independence"

Analysts suggest that CNN's defamation case involving Zachary Young reflects Trump's anti-media approach, impacting First Amendment rights. Legal experts see this as a blueprint for a crackdown on independent media. The trial highlights a larger attack on mainstream news. read more

2024-12-18 13:10:12

ABC Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Trump Raises Press Freedom Concerns

Donald Trump's $15 million settlement with ABC in a defamation case is causing concern among legal experts and press organizations about the impact on press freedom. The settlement has emboldened Trump to file more lawsuits against media outlets and journalists. read more

2024-12-09 21:40:05

Rubber Ducks Supporter Cleared of Charges in Murder Trial Drama

Massachusetts judge dismisses criminal charges against Karen Read supporter who scattered rubber ducks and fake $100 bills in town in support of Read's defense theory. First Amendment rights protected. read more

2024-12-01 18:10:05

Trump loyalist's FBI nomination raises concerns over media prosecution

Kash Patel's nomination as FBI director by Donald Trump hints at potential attacks on the First Amendment and journalists who criticized the administration, particularly utilizing the Espionage Act against leakers. read more

2024-11-14 11:50:09

Protesters at Supreme Court decry Trump's impact on civil liberties

Liberal protesters outside the US Supreme Court in April 2024 demonstrate against a potential threat to civil liberties under Trump. The US Supreme Court may have to address issues previously avoided, potentially shaping future interpretations of the first amendment. read more

2024-10-12 18:40:10

"Threats to First Amendment Rights in Trump's America"

Trump's recent attack on CBS hints at potential first amendment rights removal if he becomes president by targeting the media. Florida's attempt to censor abortion rights ads shows how freedoms can erode gradually. Autocrats normalize intrusions on rights, setting a dangerous precedent. read more

2024-10-09 15:30:09

Trump Accuses CBS of Manipulating Kamala Harris Interview on 60 Minutes

Former president Donald Trump continues to challenge news networks, this time suggesting CBS committed a crime by interviewing Democratic rival Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes. Trump baselessly claims the interview may have violated campaign finance laws and demands an apology, threatening the network's license. read more

2024-09-24 15:50:03

Criticism for Trump's Call to Jail Supreme Court Critics

Former President Trump criticizes those who critique the Supreme Court, suggesting they should be jailed, despite the First Amendment protection for freedom of speech. He has a history of attacking judges but insists on penalizing criticism of judicial decisions. read more

2024-07-03 00:40:09

Teenage stripper, Serenity Bushey, sues Florida over law raising minimum age for adult entertainment workers to 21. She argues it violates her First Amendment rights. The law, enacted to combat human trafficking, has led to additional lawsuits from clubs affected. read more

2024-07-01 17:50:09

The Supreme Court refrains from issuing a ruling in the social media moderation battle, sending the cases back to lower courts. Laws in Texas and Florida aiming to protect conservative speech on social media platforms are being reassessed. read more

2024-06-27 17:30:04

A Vermont man, Gregory Bombard, received a $175,000 settlement in a First Amendment lawsuit after being arrested for flipping off a state trooper. The ACLU represented him, and he plans to use the money for a dinner with his 88-year-old mother. read more