Author: nick

[ad_1] NA Below is my list of speaking engagements for the summer of 2026. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public—and in person. The listed times are those in the time zone where the event is being held. I normally post lists of speaking engagements only during the academic year. But this summer, I have an unusually large number of them. So I decided to do a post. I  may add additional events and information to this post, as they are scheduled, and update details on existing ones. In the meantime if your university, think…

[ad_1] To say that the world is in turmoil to an extent not seen since the 1960s is an understatement. The war in Ukraine is now in its fifth year. The war in Iran continues with no end in sight, despite Trump’s optimistic talk. NATO may be nearing the break-up stage as Trump pulls U.S. troops out of Germany. Energy prices are soaring, inflation has accelerated sharply again, consumer confidence has fallen sharply, debt is at an all-time high and supply chains are breaking down. Yet the major U.S. stock indices are at or near all-time highs. What accounts for…

[ad_1] A photo of the flag being displayed, from the application for a temporary restraining order. From yesterday’s decision (which strikes me as correct) in Accountability Now USA v. Griess, by Judge Randolph Moss (D.D.C.): Plaintiff, an unincorporated association that maintains a 24/7 demonstration calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump on National Park Service (“NPS”) land, moves for an emergency order temporarily restraining the Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks Kevin Griess and the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum or their delegees “from taking enforcement action against them because of their display of…

[ad_1] For past Free Speech Unmuted videos, see: ‘Defamacast’ and More: How American Defamation Law Works Speech, Not “Conduct”: Supreme Court Rules on Conversion Talk Therapy Equal Time, Stephen Colbert, and the Future of Political Broadcasting Student Speech, Threats, and the First Amendment Can Journalists Be Charged for Involvement in Protests? The Don Lemon Dilemma 2025: The Year In Free Speech Does the First Amendment Protect Supposedly “Addictive” Algorithms? Defamation Law in the Age of AI with Lyrissa Lidsky Free Speech and the Future of Legal Education From Brandenburg to Britain: Rethinking Free Speech in the Digital Era with Eric Heinze Kimmel, the FCC, and the Government’s Power…

[ad_1] Juan Cole Informed Comment Monday began with a statement issued by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioning that the United States and Israel, by their egregious violations of the ceasefire concluded on April 8, are jeopardizing the ongoing talks aimed at achieving an armistice. The ministry, which is headed by Abbas Araghchi, underlined that the ceasefire involved a cessation of hostilities on all fronts. The ministry accused the United States of repeatedly violating the ceasefire by its attacks on commercial Iranian shipping. Moreover, it said, Israel has grossly violated the ceasefire by launching a vicious attack on Lebanon, violating its…

[ad_1] President Donald Trump and some of his top advisers have routinely insisted that the administration’s new, higher tariffs would not burden American consumers because foreign governments or corporations would pay for those tax increases. But with inflation rising and consumers (and voters) increasingly grumpy about the cost of living, the White House has turned to a telling strategy: cutting tariffs to make some products less expensive. On Monday, the White House issued a presidential proclamation reducing tariffs on a wide range of agricultural and industrial equipment, including tractors, forklifts, and air conditioning equipment. Those imports will now be subject…

[ad_1] Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean during a Senate hearing June 2, saying the Defense Department determined the strikes’  legality and based its decisions on intelligence information. “Every strike has a legal officer on the deck that has to make a determination about whether the call is legal or not, and this is done by the Department of War, the way it’s been done in other theaters around the world,” Rubio said in response to a question from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the criteria to target…

[ad_1] I continue to find one small detail of the Slush Fund affair (Slushfundgate?) of particular interest. As you may recall, our President’s suit against the IRS was voluntarily dismissed on May 16. Two days later, on May 18, the parties executed a “Settlement Agreement.” In that Agreement, the DOJ* agrees to issue “a formal apology” to our President, and “the Attorney General of the United States agrees to create the [$1.776 billion] Anti-Weaponization Fund, subject to the terms and conditions described herein.” *The “Settlement Agreement” was signed “for the United States” by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. The DOJ…

[ad_1] The world is changing. The once dominant imperial power of the United States is faltering, hollowed out by corruption, over-extended by hubris, eaten away by the cancers of hatred, nationalism and greed. Even according to its own propaganda outlets, America has “become the villain”, is “Officially an Empire in Decline”, and we are witnessing its “final act”. And, as we await the titan’s inevitable fall, the world is considering the future. Everyone is talking about the “multipolar world order” just over the horizon. From “Pax Americana to Pax Multipolaris”. This “Multipolar World” has been a political talking point for a long time, but…

[ad_1] Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week’s lead story covers the release of the federal government’s latest homelessness survey, which reported a rare decline in the country’s homeless population. That’s welcome news that nevertheless looks a little less rosy when one examines the details. Rent Free Newsletter by Christian Britschgi. Get more of Christian’s urban regulation, development, and zoning coverage. Next up, the newsletter covers Daniel Grand, who is asking the Supreme Court to hear his First Amendment challenge to zoning laws that prevented him from hosting a Jewish prayer gathering in his own…