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09.03.2026 22:51
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth marched to the podium at the conservative Christian media summit with the heraldry of a general, while the crowd received him as a beloved pastor to a congregation.
More of our coverage on Hegseth, NRB: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
If you know any high school juniors interested in journalism, tell them to apply for the @1stforall.bsky.social's Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in D.C. from June 21-26!
I attended in 2014, and it was a truly formative experience.
Deadline is March 15: www.freedomforum.org/al-neuharth-....
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"Our national security is strengthened − not weakened − when those with firsthand expertise can speak openly and inform public debate on matters involving the military and our defense," Beau Tremitiere told @brieannafrank.bsky.social about Secretary Hegseth’s attempts to suppress veterans’ speech.
The FBI searched a @washingtonpost.com reporter's Virginia home this morning as part of a probe into a government contractor accused of illegally accessing/taking home classified docs, the outlet announced.
Latest from me on the First Amendment beat @usatoday.com:
A DC man was detained for playing the "Imperial March" from "Star Wars" behind National Guard troops in the city.
I chatted with him about his background, his viral protests against the Trump administration and the @aclu.org lawsuit he's now at the center of.
More here for @usatoday.com:
@syllytyler.bsky.social Hi there! I'm a First Amendment reporter with USA TODAY. I'd love to be in touch with you about this but am not able to DM you. Would you be willing to chat more? Thanks!!
There aren’t a lot of outlets doing good religion reporting anymore, even though this reporting is VITAL to understanding the cultural moment we are in. @liamsadams.bsky.social at the Tennesssean and @jackjenkins.me at Religion News Service are doing great work in this area and are worth following.
So, myself and Tennessean photojournalist Andrew Nelles are in Zimbabwe to report on the UMC, a project made possible w/ grant funding from the Pulitzer Center.
Our first dispatch and what it says about a potentially historic decision coming in November: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
"When one university or law firm or news organization capitulates, it’s incrementally harder for the next institution to resist," @jameeljaffer.bsky.social tells @usatoday.com's @brieannafrank.bsky.social. Read more here:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
A close-up shot of the branches of a tree with red leaves
A bush with leaves of various colors — red, green, purple, orange
A shot showing a path in a wooded area surrounded by tall trees with a mixture of green and pink-ish leaves
A close up shot of orange and red leaves
Virginia is Virginia-ing 🍂
Have a First Amendment question?
Our First Amendment reporting cohort is doing a Reddit AMA in r/law this afternoon!
Join us from 12-1 p.m. ET: www.reddit.com/r/law/commen... @usatoday.com @1stforall.bsky.social
Today's Reliable Sources lead: President Trump and Speaker Johnson's claims about "No Kings" are going to be contradicted by tomorrow's protests cnn.it/48FKCTD
"This is the American people standing up and saying no, we're going to live in a democracy."
Ahead of "No Kings," organizers chatted w/ me about their concerns + hopes for tomorrow's protests, which are expected to draw millions nationwide. @usatoday.com
Oct. 15, 2025 PENTAGON PRESS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT Today, the Defense Department confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America. It did this because reporters would not sign onto a new media policy over its implicit threat of criminalizing national security reporting and exposing those who sign it to potential prosecution. The Pentagon Press Association's members are still committed to reporting on the U.S. military. But make no mistake, today, Oct. 15, 2025 is a dark day for press freedom that raises concerns about a weakening U.S. commitment to transparency in governance, to public accountability at the Pentagon and to free speech for all. PPA
“The Defense Department has confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America,” the Pentagon Press Association said
The shooting occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Oct. 12 at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island in South Carolina.
To read more highlights from our #FreeSpeechSummit2025, read this great write up from @angelelatham.bsky.social, @brieannafrank.bsky.social, Taylor Seely, Stephany Matat, and @catecharron.bsky.social www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
President Donald Trump says that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a White House peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and Israeli hostages will soon be released.
bit.ly/4o3wrMg
Pres. Trump said today that his administration "took the freedom of speech away" as it relates to flag burnings, but the Supreme Court has long held that such activity is protected under the First Amendment.
My latest @usatoday.com:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Wanna learn more about the pastor in this photo?
I talked to him yesterday.
He's currently part of a lawsuit against DHS, in part due to this exact moment: religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
Oklahoma's Ryan Walters recently announced a partnership between the state's education department/Turning Point USA to set up chapters at every high school. I chatted w/ him + experts to write this @usatoday.com story answering Qs about the partnership + whether it's a First Amendment violation:
NEW: As supporters of Charlie Kirk gathered for vigils, many framed Kirk—a right-wing activist—as a religious leader. Some claimed his death was spurring people to convert to Christianity.
Meanwhile, other faith leaders were vocally critical of Kirk's past comments. religionnews.com/2025/09/16/a...
Grateful for the opportunity to chat on the Connecting America podcast this morning about my story on Charlie Kirk's assassination and how schools face the challenge of balancing free speech/safety in the current political moment. Here's the link to the segment! www.youtube.com/live/Re-EGqz...
Angered in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Trump administration officials say they're planning to use "every resource" available across the federal government to target left-wing organizations that the administration contends are stoking political violence.
Read more: bit.ly/3Kp7V9O
Excellent, troubling work from my colleagues on the USA TODAY graphics team here:
“The first six months of 2025 saw an 85.5% increase in terrorist attacks within the United States compared to the same time period last year”
www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...
Authorities announced they had arrested Tyler Robinson in St. George, Utah, and accused him of the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Thanks for chatting with me @thefireorg.bsky.social @tomginsburg.bsky.social @aaup.org @freespeechcenter.bsky.social @proftwolf.bsky.social @usatoday.com
“Overall, I think (colleges and universities) need to prioritize making sure that this does not mean there will be no further Charlie Kirks coming to campus. If that’s what it means, then the assassin has won.”
I wrote about Charlie Kirk's death + the challenge of balancing free speech + safety:
