Outside the Beltway

A Federal Judge has ruled against an elected official who blocked a constituent from accessing her Facebook page.

Thoughts on the quality of our democracy.

Twitter users who have been blocked on the service by President Trump are suing him, claiming that their First Amendment rights have been violated.

After seven years that mostly consisted of losing elections, there’s a battle going on over which direction the party should head.

Being a public servant, especially serving as President or in the White House in general, means you are going to be criticized, lampooned, ridiculed, and even “attacked.”

The Supreme Court has accepted the appeal of a Colorado baker in a case that will determine if claims of religious liberty and free expression outweigh the application of generally applicable laws against discrimination.

The Supreme Court rules that states cannot bar convicted felons from using social media sites.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal Government cannot deny trademark protection because a requested trademark is “disparaging” to a racial or ethnic group.

If Donald Trump blocks you on Twitter does that constitute a First Amendment violation? Two Twitter users say yes, but their argument is very weak.

Wayne LaPierre’s perverted view of the world in two sentences.

Even the most offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court will now consider a case regarding whether or not a state can bar a former felon from accessing social media sites.

Milo Yiannopoulos was a troll and a peddler in offensiveness, but the fact that he became a star on the American right was the result of a transformation of American conservatism that has been entirely unhealthy.

The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled against a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding.

There are two sides in this war between Trump and the media, but only one of them is the right side.

A majority of the Supreme Court appears to be skeptical of a Federal law barring trademark protection for “offensive” names and slogans.

An important free speech case is coming up this week at the Supreme Court.

Just under a year ago, Senate Republicans took a big risk regarding the Supreme Court. Now, it’s paid off big time.

Donald Trump resurrects an old debate and desecrates the Constitution in the process.

Mike Pence’s night at the theater included a message from the cast. Good for them.

Obama v. Trump in handling protesters at rallies (and a helping of untruth from Trump).

Two Republican Senators are exchanging barbs over the idea that the GOP should block any attempt by Hillary Clinton to nominate anyone to the Supreme Court if she becomes President.

Donald Trump’s admiration and praise for the dictatorial leader of Russia should be sufficient reason to disqualify him from being President of the United States.

The rise of Trump and Sanders has resurrected a debate as old as Western civilization.

A victory in the fight to reform civil asset forfeiture laws.

A crack in the wall.

The eighth Democratic debate raises the question of whether we really need this many debates.

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia has died at the age of 79.

After oral argument today in a high profile case, it appears likely that public employee unions are likely to suffer a major legal defeat later this year.

A ruling in an unrelated case raises serious doubts about the law used to revoke the Washington Redskins trademarks because they are allegedly ‘disparaging.’

The Governors of Connecticut and New York are joining President Obama and Hillary Clinton in favor of a really bad idea.

John Kasich wants the United States Government to create an agency to spread ‘so-called ‘Judeo-Christian values.’

A Federal Appeals Court has upheld a 1949 law that bars protesters from the property around the Supreme Court building. This seems inconsistent with the Court’s recent First Amendment jurisprudence.

A big win in Court for the former Texas Governor, but it’s unclear what this means politically.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a major case about public employee unions that could go a long way toward restraining their power.

Debating the proper role of the judiciary.

Wherein I take the view that as our understanding of language changes, so too does our application of the Constiution.

The Supreme Court ruled that states don’t have to grant license plates that display the Confederate flag. Their decision has the potential to seriously harm the First Amendment.

So much for freedom of speech.

One more on this topic.

The agency that runs Washington D.C.’s mass transit has banned all political ads after Pamela Gellar attempted to run an advertisement featuring a drawing of Mohammed.

Starting tomorrow, we can expect to see the Supreme Court hand down decisions in some of its most high profile cases. Here’s a preview.

Marco Rubio seems to be in lockstep with the extreme social conservatives when it comes to same-sex marriage.

Disturbing developments on the part of the Ukrainian government.

Fresh off an election victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to propose a series of new measures to crackdown on extremism that raise serious civil liberties concerns.

Some people in the media can’t seem to get it through their heads that speech they consider hateful is entitled to as much protection as speech that they support.

Two men were killed last night before they could carry out what appears to be a planned attack on an anti-Islam event in Texas.

In a marked departure from recent cases, the Supreme Court rules that states can impose significant restriction on solicitation of campaign contributions in judicial elections.

Rand Paul has been cozying up to social conservatives lately, but he risks alienating the people most likely to support his campaign for the White House.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of three students disciplined for wearing American flag shirts on Cinco de Mayo