Authors Share Excerpts on Free Speech: Timothy Zick on The First Amendment in the Trump Era
In The First Amendment in the Trump Era, Timothy Zick catalogs and analyzes the various First Amendment conflicts that have occurred during the Trump presidency. It places these conflicts in historical context–as part of our current digitized and polarized era but also as part of a broader narrative concerning attacks on free speech and press. We must understand what is familiar in terms of the First Amendment concerns of the present era, but also what is distinctive about these concerns.
Trump first floated the idea that he would terminate the White House’s subscription during an interview with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity on Monday night. “We don’t even want it in the White House anymore,” Trump said referring to The New York Times. “We’re going to probably terminate that and The Washington Post.”
Trump Threatens to Sue CNN Over Its Coverage of Him, Claiming “False Advertising”
“Never in the history of this country has a President been the subject of such a sustained barrage of unfair, unfounded, unethical and unlawful attacks by so-called ‘mainstream’ news, as the current situation,” wrote Trump attorney Charles Harder in a four-page letter to CNN.
San Francisco Police Chief Apologizes For Raid On Journalist’s Home and Office
Police raided the home and office of a San Francisco freelance videographer in connection with an investigation over a leaked police report. The freelancer, Bryan Carmody, had received the leaked report which included salacious details of the events surrounding the sudden death of San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi. First Amendment advocates contend that the search violates California Shield Law.
President Trump’s Anti-Press Pulpit
President Trump used strong language to denounce the press at a Phoenix rally this week. The Vice President, once a free speech advocate, stood by him. Many journalists now fear that words may lead to violence against the press.
Media Called “The Enemy” in New Trump Ad
What do CNN's Anderson Cooper, NBC's Brian Williams, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and American Urban Radio Networks' April Ryan have in common? They are branded as enemies of the President's agenda in a new ad which has been widely criticized for fostering fear and distrust at at time when President Trump is calling for unity after the violence in Charlottesville.