Despite outcries over his proposals from constitutional scholars on the left and the right, President-elect Trump his renews pledge to “see what we can do” about flag burning.‎ Time Warner CEO says Democrats pose the larger threat to First Amendment while also voicing hope that the Time Warner-AT&T merger will be green-lighted by the Trump Justice Department. -Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director

 

DARE: Daily Alert on Rights and Expression

PEN America’s take on today’s most pressing threats to free expression

U.S.

Trump again suggests consequences for flag burning
Donald Trump rallied against flag burning again Tuesday at a rally in North Carolina after suggesting last week that it would be illegal under his presidency.
THE HILL

‘Worse than irrelevant’: How Donald Trump’s potential press secretary views the press
She believes that most mainstream news organizations are part of a liberal establishment that is biased against Trump and right-wing populist movements. Throughout the campaign, she relentlessly criticized the “establishment media” and “Republican establishment” for its opposition to Trump.
POLITICO

A nationalist leader’s speech sparked protests at Texas A&M University
The university in College Station, Texas, said its leaders explored whether it could legally prohibit Spencer’s event, but ultimately recognized its obligation to uphold free speech, university spokeswoman Amy Smith said.
BUSINESS INSIDER

The FBI Is Investigating Me Because I Tweeted A Joke About Fake News
I’m a journalist, and I’ve written lots of stories about the FBI. I don’t think the bureau is retaliating against me for critical coverage. But I’m astonished that the nation’s top domestic law enforcement agency has launched such an obviously frivolous investigation—and worried that other people are being targeted for similarly silly reasons.
HUFFINGTON POST

TRUMP PREPAREDNESS: DIGITAL SECURITY 101
On a Tuesday evening, two weeks after Election Day, about a hundred people congregated at Noisebridge, which describes itself as a “a hackerspace for technical-creative projects,” in San Francisco’s Mission District, for a workshop called “Trump Preparedness: Digital Security 101.” It was just one of many digital-privacy-and-security workshops that have popped up around the Bay Area ahead of the Presidential Inauguration, in January, and a national-security-and-surveillance apparatus helmed by Donald Trump.
THE NEW YORKER

 
Global

South Sudan deported a journalist who reported on ethnic violence
Justin Lynch, a reporter who has reported on ethnic violence amid the conflict in the world’s youngest country, South Sudan, was arrested and deported by the country’s state security agents for his coverage, he reported on Twitter.
QUARTZ

Bahrain arrests journalists and bars media from GCC summit
Journalists from al-Araby TV and al-Jazeera have been barred from reporting at this year’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Bahrain, with media staff arrested following an interview in Manama.
THE NEW ARAB

Iraqi journalist murdered in Kirkuk
The 38-year-old was in charge of a radio station called Baba Gurgur that broadcasts in Arabic, Kurdish and Turkmen, and also worked for the state-run Iraqi Media Network.
THE DAILY MAIL

Turkmen Journalist Arrested for Tobacco Possession
Critics believe arrests and threats against reporters are part of a larger, ongoing campaign to silence voices of dissent.
TRANSITIONS ONLINE

Is the Iraqi government censoring media’s military coverage?
The Iraqi government is keeping an eye on local and foreign media outlets that are covering security events in the country, especially the war against the Islamic State (IS), namely in the battle to liberate the city of Mosul.
AL-MONITOR

DARE is a project of PEN America’s #LouderTogether campaign, bringing you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related news from the U.S. and abroad. Send your feedback and story suggestions to [email protected]