Tag: Free Speech
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Margaret Atwood on Defying Trump, Banned Books, and a Memoir That Settles Scores
Defiance in the Pages: Atwood’s Unflinching Stance In an era when literature faces heightened scrutiny, Margaret Atwood remains a steady compass for readers seeking truth in fiction. The author of The Handmaid’s Tale has long used her platform to challenge power, question censorship, and defend the transformative potential of banned or controversial books. In recent…
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White House Seeks College Feedback as Trump Higher-Ed Compact Stirs Debate
Background: The Trump higher-education compact under consideration The White House has asked the five universities still weighing President Donald Trump’s proposed higher-education compact to join a Friday conference call to discuss the deal. As several institutions have rejected the plan, the administration is seeking direct input from remaining potential signatories. The compact, which comes with…
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White House Extends Invite for Call as Colleges Weigh Trump’s Higher-Education Compact
Background: What the Trump higher-education compact asks of colleges The White House has pressed a small group of universities to discuss a proposed higher-education compact linked to President Donald Trump’s administration. The agreement, which aims to renegotiate how colleges interact with federal policy, requests a series of commitments that would align campus governance with certain…
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White House calls on remaining colleges to weigh Trump’s higher-education compact amid pushback
Overview: A high-stakes invitation to the remaining signatories The White House has invited the last five universities still weighing President Donald Trump’s higher-education compact to participate in a private call on Friday. The aim is to gather initial feedback ahead of the Oct. 20 deadline for signatories, a deadline that has already prompted several institutions…
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Flag With Swastika Investigated in US Capitol Office of Ohio Republican Rep. Dave Taylor
The US Capitol Police are pursuing an investigation after a flag bearing a swastika was discovered in the office of Republican Representative Dave Taylor of Ohio. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about extremist symbols and rhetoric linked to political spaces, and it comes amid related revelations about online activity among some young Republican leaders. What…
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Trump Awards Charlie Kirk Presidential Medal of Freedom in Controversial White House Ceremony
Trump Honors Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom In a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, the libertarian-leaning commentator and founder of Turning Point USA. The event, held on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, drew a…
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Javed Akhtar Slams India’s Reception of Taliban Minister in Delhi
Controversy Over the Welcome for Taliban Minister in Delhi Poet, lyricist, and screenwriter Javed Akhtar sparked a fierce online debate after denouncing the reception given to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to New Delhi. Muttaqi is in India on a six-day trip—the first such visit by a Taliban leader since the…
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Quran Burning Appeal Wins: Free Speech vs Religious Offense
Context and verdict A recent appeal court decision has shifted the balance between free expression and the offense it can cause when religious sentiments are involved. Hamit Coskun, 51, was initially fined for burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London’s Knightsbridge. The incident, which occurred on 13 February in Rutland…
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Drake’s Defamation Case Against UMG Dismissed in New York Federal Court
Drake’s Defamation Case Against UMG Dismissed by New York Federal Court A federal judge in New York has dismissed Drake’s defamation case against his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), in connection with a heated rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the allegedly defamatory statements at issue are nonactionable opinions, effectively…
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Amoral, Evil? The Backlash Against Comedians at the Riyadh Festival
Introduction: A Festival, a Frontier of Morality The Riyadh comedy festival, organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has become more than a lineup of punchlines. It has ignited a fierce cultural and political debate about art, money, and legitimacy in a country with a controversial rights record. As performers such as Pete Davidson, Louis…