January 2019

New Judge in Net Neutrality Oral Argument

There is a new judge hearing oral argument in the Feb 1 challenge by Mozilla et al. to the Federal Communications Commission's recent rollback of network neutrality rules. Judge Judith Rogers is out and Judge Robert Wilkins is in, according to the oral argument calendar on the court's site. There was no explanation for the switch. The original panel had been Judges Rogers, Patricia Millett and Stephen Williams, with Judge Rogers presiding. With Judge Rogers out, Judge Millett will be presiding. 

 

President Trump sets new precedents on free speech and free coverage

The airing of President Trump's address on border security has sparked a debate amongst journalists about whether networks should carry Trump's remarks live, if the president has a tendency to twist facts and lie in these types of situations. Some operatives have suggested that networks ask for a copy of the speech ahead of time, so that they can prepare to fact-check the president's comments in real-time or decide to pull the address from the air altogether. The Washington Post's Karen Tumulty said, "Journalists are going to fact-check every word of Trump's nationally televised speech.