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ABC files early station license renewals, calls effort illegitimate

ABC files early station license renewals, calls effort illegitimate

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - Walt Disney unit ABC on Thursday filed applications for early license review with the Federal Communications Commission for its eight company owned television stations after President Donald Trump pressured the regulatory agency to take action.

ABC Stations Challenge FCC's Early License Renewal Review as Unconstitutional

ABC Stations Challenge FCC's Early License Renewal Review as Unconstitutional

Local TV stations owned by ABC across the United States have criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for initiating an early review of their broadcast licenses. The stations argue that this move is 'unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional,' as it appears to be a demonstration of power against editorial voices that are not favored by the Trump-controlled agency. The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, an ally of President Trump, has been scrutinizing ABC's practices, including diversity and moderation of a 2024 presidential debate. The early review affects stations in major markets like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, whose licenses were originally set for renewal between 2028 and 2031. Commissioner Anna Gomez, the FCC's sole Democrat, has labeled the reviews as an 'egregious assault on the First Amendment.'

ABC Challenges FCC Over Early TV Station License Renewal Mandate

ABC Challenges FCC Over Early TV Station License Renewal Mandate

ABC Challenges FCC Over Early TV Station License Renewal Mandate

ABC stations call FCC's early call for license renewal 'unconstitutional'

ABC stations call FCC's early call for license renewal 'unconstitutional'

ABC-owned TV stations across the U.S. are criticizing the Federal Communications Commission for an early review of their broadcast licenses

FCC Democrat Anna Gomez Warns Media Companies of Censorship Threats

FCC Democrat Anna Gomez Warns Media Companies of Censorship Threats

Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has raised concerns about what she perceives as a campaign by the Trump administration to control and censor media companies. Her focus is particularly on Disney, the parent company of ABC, which is under investigation by the FCC. Gomez has accused the FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, of conducting a 'sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control' against Disney. This includes probes into ABC's diversity practices and moderation of a 2024 presidential debate. Gomez has expressed alarm over the FCC's early reviews of ABC's broadcast licenses, viewing it as an intimidation tactic. She has urged Disney and other media companies to resist these pressures, arguing that previous settlements, such as Disney's $15 million defamation settlement, have not provided lasting peace.

CBS News declined to renew contract for ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent who clashed with Bari Weiss

CBS News declined to renew contract for ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent who clashed with Bari Weiss

By Helen Coster NEW YORK, May 27 (Reuters) - CBS News has not renewed the contract of Sharyn Alfonsi, the “60 Minutes” correspondent who clashed with Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss over a December report on a Salvadoran prison, according to an interview published on Wednesday in the New York Times.

Texas Seeks to Reinstate Controversial Book Rating Law, Raising Concerns Among Publishers

Texas Seeks to Reinstate Controversial Book Rating Law, Raising Concerns Among Publishers

Texas state attorneys are attempting to revive H.B. 900, a controversial book rating law that was previously blocked as unconstitutional. The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, mandates that bookstores and vendors review and rate books for sexual content at their own expense before selling them to Texas public schools. Books deemed 'sexually explicit' would be banned, while those rated 'sexually relevant' would require parental permission for student access. The law was challenged by a coalition of bookstores and publishing associations, leading to a preliminary injunction by Judge Alan D. Albright, which was upheld by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The state is now appealing, arguing that the law is a marketplace regulation rather than a regulatory overreach.

US judge halts West Point faculty speech curbs under Trump-era policy

US judge halts West Point faculty speech curbs under Trump-era policy

By Nate Raymond May 26 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from enforcing a policy adopted under President Donald Trump that restricted faculty speech, in a case that raised broader questions about free expression in military education. U.S.

Ball State University Settles Lawsuit Over Employee's Charlie Kirk Post for $225K

Ball State University Settles Lawsuit Over Employee's Charlie Kirk Post for $225K

Ball State University has agreed to a $225,000 settlement with Suzanne Swierc, a former employee who claimed her free-speech rights were violated when she was fired for a Facebook post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit on Swierc's behalf, arguing that her termination was unconstitutional as she was expressing her views as a private citizen on a public matter. Swierc, who was the director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State's Muncie campus, was dismissed after her post, which criticized Kirk following his death, was deemed to have caused significant disruption to the university community. Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns defended the decision, citing potential harm to the university's reputation and operations.

Supreme Court sides with Trump in fight tied to speech curbs on immigration judges

Supreme Court sides with Trump in fight tied to speech curbs on immigration judges

By John Kruzel WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court sided on Tuesday with President Donald Trump's administration in a dispute involving a free-speech challenge by federal immigration judges to a U.S. government policy restricting what they can publicly say about immigration.

States Enact Stricter Penalties for Disrupting Religious Services Following Minnesota Protest

States Enact Stricter Penalties for Disrupting Religious Services Following Minnesota Protest

In response to a protest at a Minnesota church, several states have enacted laws imposing stricter penalties for disrupting religious services. The protest, which involved activists interrupting a church service to criticize a pastor's role in immigration enforcement, has led to new legislation in states like Idaho, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. These laws make it a crime to interfere with worship, with penalties including fines and potential jail time. Proponents argue that these measures are necessary to protect the sanctity of religious gatherings, while critics warn that they may infringe on free speech rights. The laws vary by state but generally increase penalties for protest activities near places of worship.

States Enact Laws to Criminalize Disruptions in Worship Services Following Minnesota Church Protest

States Enact Laws to Criminalize Disruptions in Worship Services Following Minnesota Church Protest

In response to a protest at a Minnesota church, at least four states have enacted laws making it a crime to disrupt worship services. These laws, primarily sponsored by Republican lawmakers, aim to provide additional protection to religious gatherings beyond existing trespassing laws. The legislation has been adopted in Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas, with similar bills introduced in other states and Congress. The laws increase penalties for disruptions, potentially leading to up to a year in prison and fines up to $10,000 for first offenses. Critics argue these laws infringe on free speech rights, while proponents claim they are necessary to prevent violence and harassment in places of worship.