Bloomberg Law: Clash Over Religious Charter Schools
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Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
In lawsuit settlement, Smithfield, R.I. school district to unblock critic from social media accounts
Advertisement The organization had alleged the block violated Mayer's First Amendment rights 'to speak and to petition the government for redress of grievances.' Both accounts are used to announce school policies and operations; 'to share content produced for the town's schools; and to communicate with constituents,' the ALCU said. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Under the The district will also pay for attorney's fees and court costs. Advertisement 'Blocking a constituent from expressing their opinions on the basis of their identity or viewpoint undermines their fundamental First Amendment right to speak and to petition the government for redress of grievances,' ACLU cooperating attorney David Cass said in a statement. 'Thankfully, with the assistance of counsel for the Smithfield School Committee, we were able to achieve a quick resolution to the constitutionally inappropriate social media limitations that had been imposed by the Smithfield School Department and Superintendent.' Bartz said in a statement on Thursday the district 'respects and values the right to free speech and remains committed to open communication with all members of our school community.' 'We recognize that social media is one avenue for public discourse, but we continue to believe that concerns are best addressed through the many in-person meetings and discussions we regularly offer to families and community members with any questions or concerns,' Bartz said. 'My focus remains on serving our students and ensuring our schools are safe, supportive, and welcoming environments for all.' Richard Iannitelli, chair of the Smithfield School Committee, said the committee 'respects our legal guidance and is moving forward in full compliance with the settlement.' Inannitelli also reaffirmed the committee's 'full support' for Bartz. 'While public officials must accept scrutiny, no one should be subjected to targeted or persistent negative online comments –particularly when there have been continued pathways for discussion and in-person engagement. We're focused on our leading priority – providing the best possible education for our students," Inannitelli said in a statement. In 2021, Advertisement Material from a previous Globe story was used in this report. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Elizabeth Warren Calls for Bribery Investigation Into Paramount-Trump Settlement as Blowback Widens
Wednesday morning brought blowback to the settlement between Paramount Global and President Trump from Democratic lawmakers and regulators. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said that she is demanding an investigation into the settlement, and said that she 'will soon introduce new legislation to rein in corruption through presidential library donations.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Inside CBS News, Staffers Voice Disgust, Anger, Relief and Anxiety After Trump Settlement Paramount and Trump in "Advanced" Settlement Talks As Merger Deadline Nears "BET Is Not Immune" From Paramount Job Cuts, CEO Scott Mills Says in Unveiling "Streamlining" 'With Paramount folding to Donald Trump at the same time the company needs his administration's approval for its billion-dollar merger, this could be bribery in plain sight,' Warren said in a statement. 'Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I'm calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken.' In addition, Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez released a statement requesting that the broadcast regulator, chaired by Brendan Carr, bring the pending Paramount-Skydance transaction to a full-commission vote. 'This moment marks a dangerous precedent for the First Amendment, and it should alarm anyone who values a free and independent press,' Gomez said. 'Approving this transaction behind closed doors would be a shameful outcome that denies the American people the transparency and accountability they deserve, especially when press freedom is at stake.' The settlement between Paramount and Trump will see the media giant pay $16 million ($15 million to a future presidential library and $1 million in legal fees), but it will not include an apology. That said, the settlement does require that 60 Minutes release any future transcripts with presidential candidates. Paramount had said previously that 'this lawsuit is completely separate from, and unrelated to, the Skydance transaction and the FCC approval process. We will abide by the legal process to defend our case.' Still, the pending license transfer at the FCC has raised alarm bells, with Democratic members of Congress and outside groups suggesting that if the FCC approves the deal after a settlement, Paramount executives could be exposed to anti-bribery laws. The Paramount settlement is similar in scale to a settlement from Disney over an ABC News broadcast. Inside CBS News, staffers expressed anxiety and relief at the settlement, angry at the precedent it sets, but relieved that they can move on without it hanging over their work. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Influencers Urged to Steer Clear of Hot Topics During Immigration Crackdown
Avoid politics. That's the advice lawyers are increasingly giving US-based content creators who aren't citizens as an immigration crackdown spreads across the country. 'Every chance I get to tell them to scrub their socials even for likes and reposts of innocuous content — like JD Vance or anti-war memes — I do,' said Genie Doi, an immigration lawyer who works with influencers. In the combative, anything-goes world of digital media, internet personalities tend to gravitate toward hot-button, controversial subjects, not shy away from them. But in the current political climate, lawyers are telling their clients that weighing in on topics like Palestine or the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles, can come with serious risks, including unwanted scrutiny from authorities or unfriendly competitors. Last month, Khaby Lame, a Senegalese-Italian influencer with millions of followers on TikTok, was detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas after overstaying the terms of his visa, according to a Department of Homeland Security senior official. Lame, who has partnered with many mainstream brands, including Pepsi and Hugo Boss, has since voluntarily left the country. Afterward, Bo Loudon, a conservative influencer who is friends with President Donald Trump's son Barron, took credit for tipping off DHS. Even though Lame typically doesn't speak in his TikTok videos, which come across as entirely apolitical, Loudon has since described him as a 'far-left influencer.' Lame didn't respond to a request for comment. 'No one is above the law!' Loudon wrote on X. For many social-media personalities around the world, the US is a desirable place to work due to the big marketing budgets of US brands, as well as the proximity to dealmakers and casting directors in Hollywood. But for anyone with a large following on social media, coming into the US these days isn't without potential hazards. In May, Hasan Piker, a popular, far-left political commentator and US citizen, was stopped and questioned by US border agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport about his views on Palestine, which he regularly shares on Inc.'s livestreaming site Twitch. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Piker said he believes DHS interrogated him to send a message to others in his position. 'The goal was to threaten people who might also want to speak out and go to protests regardless of their citizenship status,' he said. 'It's a threatening environment they want to cultivate to stop people from exercising their First Amendment rights.' 'Our officers are following the law, not agendas,' DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin responded via email. 'Upon entering the country, this individual (Hasan Piker) was referred for further inspection — a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.' Earlier this year, US Customs and Border Protection revoked Piker's Global Entry privileges — a program in which approved individuals get expedited clearance on their return to the US. Doi, the immigration lawyer, is now advising clients who aren't US citizens to avoid international travel altogether. At ports of entry, CBP has broad authority to search and seize electronic devices of incoming travelers though the agency says that fewer than .01% of all international travelers were subject to such searches last year. 'Every entry at the border is an opportunity for CBP to inspect your electronics without a warrant,' Doi said. One in five Americans get their news from influencers, according to a 2024 Pew Research survey, with 27% of news influencers identifying as conservative or pro-Trump, versus 21% as left-leaning. So far in his second term, Trump has directed most of his attacks on the media at mainstream outlets, ranging from CNN and CBS News to the New York Times — all of which have full-time legal departments poised to respond to such threats. By contrast, even the most popular online creators tend to have much slimmer operations, potentially leaving them more vulnerable to aggressive legal tactics. David Rugendorf, an immigration attorney, said he now advises content creators, regardless of their citizenship status, that anything they have ever posted online could be used against them. As a result, he said, some are opting to delete old posts. 'This government,' Rugendorf said, 'is particularly attuned to the power of social media' and 'wants to counter' certain positions. In early June, Derek Guy, a fashion critic whose popularity has soared on social media for mocking the sartorial choices of conservative politicians, revealed his own status as a longtime, undocumented resident of the US. 'The lack of legal immigration has totally shaped my life,' he wrote on X, where he has more than 1 million followers. 'It has taken an emotional toll, as this legal issue hangs over your head like a black cloud.' Afterward, some conservatives suggested online that the Trump administration should kick Guy out of the country. Before long, Vice President Vance weighed in on X, posting a meme of the actor Jack Nicholson nodding his head up and down menacingly. Guy didn't respond to requests for comment for this story. In mid-June, Mario Guevara, an independent, Spanish-speaking journalist with a sizable online following, was arrested while livestreaming anti-Trump protests outside of Atlanta. He was subsequently handed over to ICE. Guevara, who moved to the US from El Salvador in 2004 according to the New Yorker, is currently facing deportation hearings. The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that Guevara 'has authorization to work' in the US. DHS said that he entered the country illegally. Guevara's lawyer didn't respond to a request for comment. 'Following his arrest by local authorities, ICE placed a detainer on him,' DHS's McLaughlin said. 'Following his release, he was turned over to ICE custody and has been placed in removal proceedings.' Scrutiny from immigration authorities isn't the only potential risk for politically outspoken influencers. In recent years, a growing number of large advertisers have been shying away from politically active creators, said Crystal Duncan, an executive vice president of brand engagement at Tinuiti, a marketing firm. In recent months, many brand managers have grown even more wary. 'In general, brands have been less vocal about political and social issues since the change in administration, given shifts in the political climate and heightened polarization,' said Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at eMarketer. David Melik Telfer, a lawyer in Los Angeles, said that most international influencers come to the US on O1-B visas, under the same category as traditional entertainers. Lately, he said, the US State Department has been scrutinizing applications more closely and challenging them more often. 'They are examining everybody's social media,' he said. 'If your number one priority is not being detained and remaining in the US, I would certainly not attend any protest.' D'Anastasio, Counts and Caldwell write for Bloomberg.
