Interviews

Attorney Jess Miers on the Supreme Court Decision in Moody v. NetChoice

Miers described the decision as a positive one and agreed with the court’s comparison of content moderation by social media companies to journalistic editorial curation.

FIRE’s JT Morris on Texas Citizen Journalist Priscilla Villarreal’s Lawsuit

First Amendment Watch spoke with Morris about Villarreal’s case, its First Amendment implications, and the status of protections for citizen journalists like Villarreal.

Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of California Berkeley School of Law, on Campus Speech

In an interview, Chemerinsky explained why the protest at his home was not protected expression but other, personal, even anti-Semitic attacks against him were protected under the First Amendment.

Author Amy Werbel on the Parallels Between the Comstock Era and Modern-Day Censorship

In an interview, Werbel expressed concerns over the threats of librarian prosecution and the importance of children’s access to reading materials.

BLM Activist DeRay Mckesson on Protecting His Right to Protest

In an interview, Mckesson discussed his nearly eight-year-long legal dispute, the protest that started it, and expressed concern over the impact of his case on the right to protest.

EFF’s Mario Trujillo on Age-Verification Laws and the First Amendment

Trujillo discussed age-verification laws, the First Amendment issues they raise, and the potential dangers of passing such legislation.

Rebecca Vincent of Reporters Without Borders on the Prosecution of Julian Assange

Vincent described the U.S. government's handling of the case against Assange as "concerning" and one that "will set a very dangerous precedent for journalism."

Attorney Mike Laux on Challenging the ‘Indoctrination’ Provision in Arkansas

In an interview, Laux said the law's effect on the AP African American Studies course in the state creates a "lesser product," which he contends is a form of viewpoint discrimination.

Could Defamation Law Combat the Spread of Political Disinformation?

Attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Meryl Governski spoke about political disinformation, the impact of social media, and the hope that large damage awards will deter future bad actors.

George Freeman on Trump’s Defamation Lawsuit Against ABC, Stephanopoulos

This suit is different from others filed by the former president against the press, Freeman said, but Trump’s reputation of making derogatory remarks about women poses legal hurdles.

Vanderbilt’s Jacob Mchangama on the First Amendment Implications of Generative AI

Mchangama discussed the First Amendment implications of generative AI and expressed concerns over government censorship of certain AI-generated content.

College Student Jack Sweeney on His Efforts to Track Taylor Swift’s Private Jet

Sweeney discussed how jet tracking works, the importance of transparency, and his hope that his projects could make this information more accessible.

Attorney Laura Handman on Defending the New York Post with the Fair Report Privilege

Handman discussed the differences between Montana and New York’s fair report privileges and the importance of being able to report on official proceedings.

Attorney Mark Rasch on the Indictment of Freelance Journalist Tim Burke

The case has raised concerns among press freedom advocates who have warned of its possible chilling effect on investigative journalism.

Kansas Newspaper Owner Eric Meyer on the Police Raid of His Newsroom

In an interview with First Amendment Watch, the Marion County Record owner and publisher spoke about the police raid on his newsroom and nationwide outrage it sparked.

The Knight Institute’s Alex Abdo on ‘Jawboning’ Social Media Case Before the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is tasked with deciding whether the Biden administration’s efforts to curtail mis- and disinformation online violates the First Amendment.

NetChoice’s Chris Marchese on Fighting Against Social Media Restrictions

NetChoice has challenged social media censorship laws in both Florida and Texas, and has been successful in recent months in challenging the constitutionality of online minor safety laws.

CREW’s Donald Sherman on the Insurrection Clause Challenge to Trump’s Candidacy

In an interview, Sherman reflected on the Supreme Court’s oral arguments and warned of the effects on democracy if Trump is not held accountable for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021.

Attorney Joshua Matz on E. Jean Carroll’s Legal Victory Against Donald Trump

The former Elle Magazine advice columnist has been awarded a total of $88.3 million in damages in her nearly six-year defamation legal battle against former President Donald Trump.

Press Freedom Advocate Caitlin Vogus on the Importance of the PRESS Act

In an interview, Caitlin Vogus, deputy director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, discussed the importance of the PRESS Act and its proposed protections.

ACLU’s David Cole on the Decision to Represent the NRA Before the Supreme Court

In an interview, ACLU legal director David Cole, who will argue the NRA’s case in front of the Supreme Court, discussed protecting free speech rights despite disagreement.

Best-Selling Author Laurie Halse Anderson on Challenging Iowa’s Controversial Book Ban

The new Iowa law, which was temporarily blocked in December, sought to ban books containing sexual content in public school libraries and classrooms through sixth grade.

FIRE’s Will Creeley on Campus Speech Controversies Amid Israel-Hamas War

In an interview in January, FIRE's legal director Will Creeley discussed the First Amendment questions surrounding recent campus controversies.