SUMMARY Jawboning refers to government actors using informal threats or regulatory pressure to influence private speech, raising significant First Amendment concerns. The temporary, but very real, suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show following his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination exemplifies how such pressure creates a chilling effect, effectively silencing speech without direct censorship. Landmark court cases … Read more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, during the opening event of his American Comeback Tour. The assailant, Tyler James Robinson, fired from a rooftop and surrendered the next day. The incident sparked national outrage and a political backlash, with President Trump blaming … Read more
The Supreme Court upheld Texas’s H.B. 1181, a law requiring commercial websites that distribute sexually explicit content to verify that users are at least 18 years old. The law targets material considered obscene for minors but not necessarily for adults. Petitioners representing the pornography industry challenged the statute as a violation of the First Amendment, … Read more