This week brought more attacks on the First Amendment, and it all feels overwhelming. On social media I saw several people suggesting that we should simply relax and let destiny take its course when it comes to restricting free speech, even quoting Bible verses about forgiveness and charity. I had a strong urge to remind them that they don’t usually show the same forgiveness and charity when it comes to their beliefs about the Second Amendment. Instead, I chose to practice what they preached—I let their comments pass, offering my own measure of forgiveness and charity. After all, I do believe in free speech.
Government retaliation and censorship
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's death, several attempts to suppress critical speech have occurred:
- Targeting political opponents: Administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have vowed to use government resources to "identify, disrupt, and destroy groups the administration perceives to be an enemy". Bondi also explicitly threatened to "absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech". The administration also blamed "left-wing radicals" for the assassination, drawing criticism from groups like the ACLU, which said it was using the tragedy to justify a censorship campaign.
- Punishing media outlets: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, publicly pressured ABC to punish late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over his commentary following Kirk's death, an action condemned by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This has been viewed by critics as weaponizing government power to silence critics.
- Intimidating educators and public servants: Reports indicate that lawmakers have pressured schools to discipline teachers who have criticized Kirk's views. Federal agencies have also disciplined public servants for expressing opinions contrary to the administration.
Restrictions on press freedom
The Pentagon implemented new restrictions on journalists covering the Department of Defense, requiring them to sign a pledge to not report any information unless it has been formally authorized for release, even if it is unclassified.
- The new mandate threatens to revoke the press credentials of reporters who do not comply.
- The National Press Club condemned the move as a "direct assault on independent journalism," arguing that it prevents the public from getting information not pre-approved by the government.
Challenges to religious freedom
- The Interfaith Alliance noted intensifying attacks on free speech and religious freedom in an amicus brief filed on September 9.
- Religious liberty issues are anticipated to be a major theme at the Supreme Court this term, with cases focusing on religious speech in public spaces, faith-based therapy bans, and the rights of incarcerated individuals to seek redress for religious violations.
- A lawsuit by faith groups is challenging the administration's rollback of a 2011 policy protecting sensitive locations like churches from immigration enforcement.
If you care about free speech, civil liberties, or understanding how our rights work in practice, the First Amendment Encyclopedia at Middle Tennessee State University is an excellent resource. Run by the Free Speech Center, this is a large, searchable, non-partisan compendium of information on the freedoms protected under the First Amendment: speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. The site brings together over 1,700 articles (and growing) that include court case summaries, topical essays, legal concepts, and historical background. Whether you’re a student, educator, journalist, or simply someone interested in civil liberties, it’s built for all levels: you can dive in for deep legal theory or browse more accessible entries about current events.
What makes it especially valuable is how it blends historical context, legal doctrine, and real-world issues. For example, if you want to understand how a court has interpreted “free speech” in school settings, or see how First Amendment rights intersect with modern controversies like protests, media regulation, or digital speech, the Encyclopedia offers clear, referenced articles. It also includes helpful tools like browsing by date, by topic, or by legal term, which makes it easy to track changes over time. One caveat: although it’s meant to be nonpartisan and educational, legal interpretation is complex, and many articles summarize (rather than argue) differing views — so it’s always good to supplement it with original case texts or recent court rulings. But if you want a reliable foundation to understand free-speech issues, this site is a strong go-to.
This site is also helpful for those who are interested in how the First Amendment fared under other U.S. Presidents: https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/encyclopedia/topic/people/presidents/. A brief summary is listed and you can then click on the underlined President's name to read further.
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As heavy as these times feel, I still believe that paying attention and speaking up for the First Amendment matters.
Happy reading!
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