For Educational Gag Orders, The Vagueness Is The Point
We find that instead of clarifying the laws, guidance documents have muddied the waters, further eroding academic freedom and students’ right to learn. More
Trial for Journalist Who Covered Racial Justice Protests Set to Conclude
A journalist in Iowa testified in her own defense Wednesday as she stands trial for charges related to her work covering last year’s racial justice protests. More
DARE: In Push for 2020 Election Security, Top Official Was Warned: Don’t Tell Trump
The New York Times reports that the recently resigned Homeland Security secretary, responsible for cyberdefense, was told not to bring up preparations... More
Iowa House’s Decision to Deny Influential Blogger Laura Belin a Press Pass a Disturbing Limitation on First Amendment Rights
"There is little obvious reason why the Iowa House might have denied Belin's press credential application, and it would be deeply concerning if their decision was motivated by wanting… More
DARE: State of the Union Will Not Take Place Tuesday, Pelosi Aide Says
Following the government reopening, Pelosi aid says the president's State of the Union will not take place Tuesday. Iowa House denies press credentials... More
DARE: A single vote leads to a rare tie for control of the Virginia legislature
On a recount, a single vote turns the balance of power in Virginia’s legislature. A Republican media monitoring firm cancels its contract with the EPA... More
Three Poems by Mark Levine
But I was about to say / When Chance came and cut me down with his Wehrmacht / That I was present on the assembly floor / And accountable… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
SCOTUS has agreed to hear #GonzalezVGoogle and #TwitterVTaamneh. Both cases concern whether tech companies could be held legally liable for what users post on their platforms, as well as for content that users see because of the platform’s algorithm. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-agrees-hear-cases-social-media-immunity-section-230_n_633b15efe4b02816452c84f6
Stacks! I got to speak in a library in WI today about book bans, and took a quick perusal of the shelves. So many titles from ban lists! Kind of shocking to think of all the libraries pulling these books all over the country. How do they fill the gaps? #FreeTheBooks #FReadom
While some states are trying to prohibit universities from teaching about the history of racism, @EddieRCole writes, "these attacks are not new and, like today, limitations placed on academic freedom have a history long rooted in racism." https://www.washingtonpost.com/made-by-history/2022/10/03/limiting-academics-freedom-tell-truth-about-racism-is-not-new/