Outside the Beltway

Modern Singapore’s founder passed away at age 91 earlier this week.

Freedom of speech means freedom for all speech, even when it is racially offensive.

My latest for War on The Rocks, “IS OBAMA REAL(IST) CONFUSED?”

Pope Francis has earned a reputation as a liberal in comparison to recent predecessors but he’s no liberal.

Their editor and nine colleagues dead, their offices destroyed, the newspaper is not missing a beat.

Bill Donohue rightly condemns insulting Muslims—but goes way too far.

Two potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016 traded barbs this week over the President’s new policy toward Cuba.

Not surprisingly, the F.C.C. has rejected a petition to ban the word “Redskins” from the airwaves.

Sony is warning the press not to publish material leaked by hackers, but it doesn’t have much of a legal leg to stand on.

Michael Brown’s stepfather made incendiary comments in the wake of the Grand Jury announcement, but they do not amount to a crime.

The Justices of the Supreme Court seemed to struggle yesterday to find an easy way to draw a line between protected speech and the kind of threats that are not protected by the First Amendment.

Next week, the Supreme Court will be asked to determine the line between free speech online and criminal threats

All the warnings of violence in the wake of an expected imminent announcement from the Grand Jury in the Michael brown case could become self-fulfilling prophecy.

The City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho will not force two Christian ministers to open their wedding chapel business to same-sex wedding ceremonies.

The passing of a true legend in American journalism.

A collision between marriage equality and religious liberty, but it seems clear that religious liberty should win this one.

The Roberts court has been very good on First Amendment issues, but it needs to address the First Amendment issue right outside its front windows.

A District of Columbia Judge has ruled that photographs of women taken in public do not violate the law.

Judging by the early results, the so-called “Right To Be Forgotten” recently created by Europe’s highest court is creating more problems than it will solve.

Much of the criticism of Hobby Lobby, and Citizens United before it, is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what those decisions stand for.

A new poll shows that Americans don’t buy into the idea of “American exceptionalism” as much as they used to. That’s a positive development rather than a negative one.

The Supreme Court has limited the ability of public employee unions to force people to join their ranks.

Another solid victory for the First Amendment from the Roberts Court.

Next term, the Supreme Court will try to decide when online speech crosses the line and becomes a criminal threat.

A hopeful First Amendment decision from the Supreme Court.

Different name, same result in Egypt.

A pretty clear violation of the First Amendment.

Vladimir Putin wants to put the Internet genie back in the bottle.

The right decision, or the triumph of mob rule?

A bizarre case in Alabama highlights a more bizarre judicial precedent.

Continuing the discussion from earlier this week on hate crimes.

Someone needs to give the Mayor of Warren, Michigan a lesson on what the First Amendment means.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next week in an important First Amendment case.

An appeal declined, but an issue that remains outstanding.

The CEO of Mozilla resigned today amid controversy over his position on same-sex marriage. The triumph of “political correctness,” or just the will of the marketplace?

Fifth Amendment? They don’t need no Fifth Amendment, apparently.

Once again, the Supreme Court reminds us that limiting political speech is unconstitutional.

Hobby Lobby has a strong argument under RFRA but the precedent would be dangerous.

The Supreme Court turns down a case dealing with student’s First Amendment rights.

The bizarre conservative love affair with Vladimir Putin continues.

Watch your language in Wilson County, North Carolina.

“Reality” TV star says something dumb about gay people, gets suspended, usual pointless outrage ensues.

No previously published works have entered the US Public Domain since 1978. And none are scheduled to enter until 1923. So what are we missing?

Some on the American right have a very odd view of both Nelson Mandela and the Apartheid regime he fought against.

Politics aside, the challenges to the PPACA’s birth control mandate raise important legal issues.