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First Amendment

Polls show most Americans think the First Amendment is under attack. But who is the attacker? Conservatives say “wokeness” has restricted their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Liberals say President Trump is trying to censor dissent amid a shift toward fascism. Only in America could both sides freely make their conflicting arguments.

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A court case in Florida could shape how the law treats AI-generated speech and who is accountable when that speech causes harm.
last updated May 14

Free speech

The right to express opinions is being tested in numerous ways. Parents and educators are debating whether certain books should be banned from schools and libraries because of content some think is offensive. And media organizations say their rights are under threat, especially at the White House.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halts EPIC City development amid investigations into religious discrimination and financial misconduct.
last updated May 12

Religious freedom

Some people want to be able to follow their religious beliefs as they see fit, including in the political arena. Others want protection from what they see as state-sanctioned religion.
RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday for allegedly trespassing during a protest at the newly opened Delaney Hall ICE detention center.
last updated May 9

Right to protest

Crowds have expressed their displeasure with policies of the new Trump administration and with Israel’s behavior in its war in Gaza. Have some protests gone too far?
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Contributor via Getty Images

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What the left is saying

Stifling freedom

Critics say the Trump administration has unfairly targeted elite universities in an effort to stifle protest and academic freedom.

Conflation of criticism with hate

Left-leaning articles suggest the Trump administration has inappropriately conflated criticism of Israel and support for the Palestinian people with antisemitism. The result is a chilling effect on students and other protesters of Israel's conduct of the Gaza war.

Legal challenges anticipated

Legal experts and advocacy groups say the Trump administration is violating the First Amendment and will be challenged in court.

What the center is saying

Mixed reactions from Jewish groups

Some Jewish organizations say that while antisemitism is on the rise in the United States, cracking down on anti-Israeli protests does not address the root causes.

Focus on campus safety

Centrist coverage emphasizes the need to protect Jewish students on college campuses while still allowing for free speech.

First Amendment's preeminence

Centrist articles point out that the First Amendment's guarantees of religious freedom, free speech and a free press are the basis for the most dearly held rights of all Americans.

What the right is saying

Strong anti-Hamas stance

Right-leaning media support Trump's crackdown on campus protests, arguing a vigorous response is needed to combat support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

Zero tolerance

Articles support the deportation of non-citizen students who participate in pro-Palestinian rallies. Some articles refer to these students as "pro-jihadist."

Conservative support

Right-leaning articles back Trump's attempts to maintain order on the campuses of elite universities, which are seen as centers of liberal orthodoxy.

What the left media is missing…

What the right media is missing…

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Timeline

February 2025

Key Event
February 2025

AP’s White House privileges going to other media after Gulf of America dispute

The White House indefinitely restricted The Associated Press’ access to the Oval Office and Air Force One due to the outlet’s refusal to adopt the term “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico.” The publication said it must use the original name while acknowledging the new one, as part of its global journalistic standards. But the White House claimed the AP was being divisive. Many publications, including Fox News and Newsmax, have come out in support of the AP, saying the restrictions violated press freedoms.

2025

December 2024

Key Event
December 2024

ABC to pay $15M, apologize in Trump defamation suit settlement

ABC News agreed to donate $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation suit stemming from an erroneous statement that he had been found civilly liable for rape. Actually, Trump had been found liable for sexually abusing the writer E. Jean Carroll. ABC’s settlement – in one of several of the president’s lawsuits against the news media – was seen as capitulating to Trump to avoid retribution from the White House.

June 2024

Key Event
June 2024

Louisiana law requires public classrooms to display Ten Commandments

Louisiana became the first state to require that public schools display the Ten Commandments. The law requires a poster or a framed copy of the biblical document in all classrooms from kindergarten through college.

2023

October 2023

Key Event
October 2023

Growing share of Americans say gov’t should restrict ‘offensive’ speech

A poll by the University of Virginia indicated that, at the time, 47% of people voting for then-President Joe Biden and a further 35% of voters for Donald Trump said the government should restrict speech and views considered discriminatory or offensive.

June 2023

June 30, 2023

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado website designer, who sued over a state law under which she would have been forced to create wedding sites for same-sex couples. She objected to the law on religious grounds.