Columns, Congress, Criminal law

“I am Trying to Figure Out the Way to Do This”: MS NOW, Omar, and the Art of the Evasion

Below is my column in Fox.com on the recent MS NOW interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar. The most impressive aspect of the segment with Chris Hayes was how he could conduct an extended interview without actually asking long-standing, unanswered questions. When it comes to the art of evasion, it was a masterpiece. In case you are curious, here are the questions not asked of Rep. Omar.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““I am Trying to Figure Out the Way to Do This”: MS NOW, Omar, and the Art of the Evasion” →

Academia, Politics

Harvard Medical School Holds Panel Raising Whether Weight Loss Drugs are an Imperialistic, Militaristic Plot

Harvard University is facing another controversy after its medical school held an event on “the Pathology of Unruly Bodies.” The most surprising part is that it was not a reference to the Harvard faculty itself. Rather, a panel composed of non-medical experts was railing against anti-obesity drugs as part of “indoctrination” to support the ills of “empire and imperialism.” Welcome to the state of higher education in America. Continue reading “Harvard Medical School Holds Panel Raising Whether Weight Loss Drugs are an Imperialistic, Militaristic Plot” →

Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Media, Politics

French Police Identify Antifa as the “Ideologically Distinct Group” Behind the Riots Despite Democratic Denials

Years ago, I called Antifa the Keyser Söze of the left, after the character in “The Usual Suspects.” In the film, the character Virgil explains how Söze stayed in the shadows: he became “a myth, a spook story that criminals tell their kids at night.” The strategy was too simple: “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.”

Democratic leaders have long fostered the myth around Antifa, the largest and most violent group on the political left. For years, they have denied the existence of the group even as members were charged with crimes (including terrorism). Now, the French authorities have found that the nonexistent group is the largest of three “ideologically distinct groups” responsible for the violence in France. It appears that either the entire French security system is delusional or the trick is up for the American left.

Continue reading “French Police Identify Antifa as the “Ideologically Distinct Group” Behind the Riots Despite Democratic Denials” →

Academia, Free Speech, Politics

Cornell Faculty Completes Self-Study and Concludes that Their Ideological Bias Requires No Corrective Action

Cornell University has long been an example of an academic echo chamber where conservative and libertarian faculty have been largely purged from departmental ranks. For example, a study by The College Fix found that Democrats outnumber Republicans 98 to 1 among Cornell professors across six of the humanities departments. Cornell professors disrupt events, launch campaigns to fire the remaining conservative faculty, and foster a cancel campaign culture on campus. However, the faculty recently decided to review its own record and found . . . wait for it . . . that there really are no concrete measures needed to address their own overwhelming ideological bias. Continue reading “Cornell Faculty Completes Self-Study and Concludes that Their Ideological Bias Requires No Corrective Action” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Supreme Court

A Game of Chicken? Whitehouse Taunts Biden and Other Democrats For Being Too “Chicken” to Pack the Court

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has added schoolyard taunts to his call to pack the Supreme Court with an instant liberal majority. Last week, Whitehouse denounced former President Joe Biden and other Democrats for being “too chicken” to pack the Court and, in the view of many of us, destroy the institution that has been critical to the success of this Republic for 250 years. Continue reading “A Game of Chicken? Whitehouse Taunts Biden and Other Democrats For Being Too “Chicken” to Pack the Court” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Courts, Media, Supreme Court

Supreme Showdown: Investigative Reporter and Accused Chinese Operative Face Off in Press Freedom Case

Below is my column in The Hill on an important case currently before the Supreme Court on the free press and the ability to protect confidential sources. The underlying facts may seem like something out of The Onion: an accused Chinese operative and PLA Colonel who was viewed as a national security risk is successfully using the Privacy Act to get a respected journalist to reveal her confidential sources. However, it is very serious and, unless the Court reviews the case, investigative journalism in the United States could suffer a debilitating blow with little more than a shrug from the courts. Continue reading “Supreme Showdown: Investigative Reporter and Accused Chinese Operative Face Off in Press Freedom Case” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech

“I Want that Deterrence Message”: Did Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin Just Go Full Kurtz?

This election, Democrats have careened to the far left with calls to pack the Supreme Court, unleash a flurry of impeachments, and investigate Republicans. Few, however, have been as honest as Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.) about the purpose of such threats. Slotkin recently said the quiet part out loud in an interview at my alma mater, the University of Chicago, admitting she wants to deter young people from even considering supporting the Administration… if they know what is good for them. Slotkin seemed to go full Col. Walter Kurtz in the middle of the interview.

Continue reading ““I Want that Deterrence Message”: Did Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin Just Go Full Kurtz?” →

Academia, Media, Politics, Society

Columbia’s Political Review Joins Attack on Students for Expressing Views of Cornell Rape Case

I recently wrote a column on the cancellation of a free press event at Columbia University where student journalists had the temerity to offer their own views on the coverage of the alleged Cornell rape case. Now other “student journalists” are joining the outcry for action after the column’s publication. The Columbia Political Review joined the mob to denounce the authors and the Sundial staff for an essay that “perpetuates a culture of campus violence, rape, and assault.” As depressing as this latest example of viewpoint intolerance is in higher education, there is one redeeming element. The staff editor of the Sundial, Shoshana Aufzien, wrote a magnificent reply to these critics that gives some of us hope that there remain young journalists who understand the essence of free speech and the free press.

Continue reading “Columbia’s Political Review Joins Attack on Students for Expressing Views of Cornell Rape Case” →

Academia, Media, Society

Columbia Group Cancels “Press Freedom” Event After Student Column Criticizes the Cornell Case Coverage
Academia, Constitutional Law

Professor Rory Little Responds to Turley Column on the AR-15 Ban Case

Recently, I wrote a column addressing an argument by Professor Rory Little of UC Law (San Francisco) that the historic decision in District of Columbia v. Heller contains an important but often overlooked limitation on gun rights. Professor Little has now responded, and his new column makes salient and intriguing arguments in favor of a narrower reading of Heller and the Second Amendment. While I remain unconvinced, I wanted to share a link to the column for those interested in Second Amendment jurisprudence. Our discussion was triggered by the upcoming argument over the ban on AR-15s in Viramontes v. Cook County.

Continue reading “Professor Rory Little Responds to Turley Column on the AR-15 Ban Case” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Torts

Marc Elias Legal Team Threatens Media with a Lawsuit for Questioning the Health of Democrat Roy Cooper
(MSNBC/via YouTube)

Marc Elias has long been at the center of controversial election tactics, including criminal investigations. If lawyers had to take an oath to first do no harm, the court-sanctioned Democratic lawyer would leave Hippocrates gobsmacked.  Well, Elias is back and his legal team is threatening the media with what appears an entirely meritless defamation lawsuit on behalf of former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. Continue reading “Marc Elias Legal Team Threatens Media with a Lawsuit for Questioning the Health of Democrat Roy Cooper” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech

“We have a Zero-Tolerance Policy”: High School Student “Punished” for Expressing Support for the “Cornell 7”

We have previously discussed high school administrators and teachers who engage in censorship and speech regulation, often targeting religious and conservative students. These cases cost school districts millions in court costs, but the school officials never seem to face any consequences. In California, Piner High School has joined this ignoble effort, punishing the high school football captain for expressing support for the “Cornell 7” on his own Instagram page. Other students then protested not to support free speech but to demand further punishment for the student. I wonder where they learned that repressive view of free speech? Continue reading ““We have a Zero-Tolerance Policy”: High School Student “Punished” for Expressing Support for the “Cornell 7”” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

Sherrod Brown Goes Full Jaime West: “We’re Not Confirming …Trump Judges”

In Ohio, Sherrod Brown went full Jaime West this week in his U.S. Senate campaign. West is the Indiana candidate who became a viral sensation for pledging to “fire all Republicans” because “I just don’t like them.” Brown appears to be eager to jump on the same rage train and pledged that he will vote against any Republican judicial nominee regardless of their qualifications or background. Continue reading “Sherrod Brown Goes Full Jaime West: “We’re Not Confirming …Trump Judges”” →

Congress, Courts, Media, Politics, Supreme Court

Borked or Just Business? Supreme Court Hears Challenge to the Sharing of Viewing Records on Free Sites

Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a major case pitting privacy advocates against media companies. By any measure, Salazar v. Paramount Global is a blockbuster case in the making. At issue is the use of viewing habits by companies offering free subscriptions and material to the public. These companies make money by then using that history for tailored marketing programs. Michael Salazar is arguing that a Blockbuster-era law should prevent such sharing of his viewing history, a ruling that would have a massive impact on media and entertainment companies.

Continue reading “Borked or Just Business? Supreme Court Hears Challenge to the Sharing of Viewing Records on Free Sites” →