Chaos continues in Minneapolis, FIRE defends Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender, US gov’t gets community-noted, ‘a salute to Ron Collins’, & more!
Bringing you the latest free speech news (1/31/26)
Story of the week
Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender is a charitable organization composed of current and former Democrats who disagree with the party’s stance on transgender issues. The all-volunteer organization believes it offers a unique perspective by voicing their belief that the current Democratic Party consensus is contrary to “core liberal values,” such as “promoting evidence-based medical care,” “protecting vulnerable children and adults,” and “upholding the rights of women and girls.”
“The Illinois Democratic Party doesn’t get to decide whether we can call ourselves ‘Democrats,’” said DIAG Board Secretary Jenny Poyer Ackerman. “DIAG was founded on our belief in open inquiry, challenging ideological conformity, and above all, the freedom to speak out. Backing down would go against everything we believe in.”
The American people fact-checked their government by Jacob Mchangama
Within hours of the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents on Jan. 24, top officials attempted to shape the narrative. They placed the blame squarely on the victim, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claiming that Pretti “approached” ICE officers with a gun and was killed after he “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him. White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller called Pretti “an assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” FBI Director Kash Patel said, “You don’t have a right to break the law and incite violence.”
This week in Expression
The federal charges against Don Lemon raise serious concerns for press freedom by Aaron Terr
Facing mass protests, Iran relies on familiar tools of state violence and internet blackouts by Sarah McLaughlin & Zoe Armbruster
As unrest intensified, Iran imposed a near-total internet shutdown, cutting off roughly 90% of connectivity while preserving selective access for government officials and state-linked platforms. The blackouts, combined with fast-track trials and the possible use of capital punishment (including in the case of detained protester Erfan Soltani), may continue to oppress the Iranian people for some time.
This week in FIRE’s blog
Unsealed records reveal officials targeted Khalil, Ozturk, Mahdawi solely for protected speech by Jacob Gaba
International free speech stories of the week
Three charged over alleged intifada chants at pro-Palestinian protest (BBC) by Lucy Manning
Suspected of sedition for simply asking a question: The worrying investigation into Malaysian journalist Rex Tan (Reporters Without Borders)
Liberals and Conservatives vote to prioritize bail bill over study on controversial hate crimes law (Nationalist Post) by Stephanie Taylor
The committee’s plan is to now return to the study of Bill C-9, known by its legislative title as the “Combatting Hate Act,” once it finishes looking at the Liberals’ proposed bail measures, including hearing testimony from Justice Minister Sean Fraser.
Opposition House Leader Andrew Scheer later appeared before reporters to celebrate the committee’s move as being a “Conservative idea” that government MPs around the parliamentary justice table finally accepted after more than a dozen attempts from its party’s representatives to prioritize bail over what Scheer slammed as a government “censorship bill.”
Appeal trial for men convicted of 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty opens in France (EuroNews) by Gavin Blackburn
A salute to Ronald Collins
This week, the legendary First Amendment attorney and FIRE Senior Fellow Ronald Collins posted his 500th — and final — issue of First Amendment News. FAN was a weekly newsletter featuring notable First Amendment news stories, cases, and media, along with astute and entertaining editorials from Ron himself. FAN debuted Feb. 10, 2014 on the Concurring Opinions blog, and moved to the FIRE website in 2019 with issue 201. Ron moved to Substack last year, where he rounded out his tenure.
I can hardly remember a moment in my career when I didn’t know of Ron Collins. He was already established at the very beginning of my career, and I used to use his First Amendment Library all the time.
As I mentioned, Ron is a titan of First Amendment law, and his exploits include securing a posthumous pardon for the late comedian Lenny Bruce, co-founding The First Amendment Salons (Wash. D.C. and N.Y.C.) and the The History Book Festival, and authoring or co-authoring several books, including First Things First — A Modern Coursebook on Free Speech Fundamentals, The Trials of Lenny Bruce: The Fall & Rise of an American Icon, The People v. Ferlinghetti: The Fight to Publish Allen Ginsberg’s HOWL, and Robotica: Speech Rights & Artificial Intelligence, among others.
Though Ron is retired, I have no doubt he’ll still be championing free speech and the First Amendment for many years to come.
Anyone with a concealed loaded and lethal weapon who 'valiantly' provokes a law enforcement officer deserves the stupid award.
Interesting. By law, anyone can participate as democrat or republican, without any authorization by the party. If the parties could control participation, then they could not claim any legitimacy in government. Since government belong to the people, and the parties control the government, limiting citizen participation in parties denies their access to government. Party control of government is bad enough right now,. but imagine if one faction of a party could freeze out another faction That would NOT be democracy.
Back in the 1960s, David Duke, a KKK member and a democrat, wanted to switch to the republican party. The Republican party said they wouldn't take him. Duke sued, and the courts said political parties cannot in any way restrict participation.