Government

NPR

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Supreme Court Rules For Cheerleader In Free Speech Case : NPR

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with students on Wednesday, ruling that a cheerleader's online F-bombs about her school is protected speech under the First Amendment.

By an 8-1 vote, the court declared that school administrators do have the power to punish student speech that occurs online or off campus if it genuinely disrupts classroom study. But the justices concluded that a few swear words posted online from off campus, as in this case, did not rise to the definition of disruptive.

"While public schools may have a special interest in regulating some off-campus student speech, the special interests offered by the school are not sufficient to overcome B. L.'s interest in free expression in this case," Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court's majority.

At issue in the case was a series of F-bombs issued on Snapchat by Brandi Levy, then a 14-year-old high school cheerleader, who failed to win a promotion from the junior varsity to the varsity cheerleading term.

"I was really upset and frustrated at everything," she said in an interview with NPR in April. So she posted a photo of herself and a friend flipping the bird to the camera, along with a message that said, "F*** the school,... F*** cheer, F*** everything."

Cooper v. Aaron | Oyez

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Cooper v. Aaron | Oyez

It's hard to believe that prior to 1958, government agencies were free to ignore rulings the US Supreme Court declaring a law unconstitutional. But US Supreme Court lacks an army or police force, and until President Eisenhower agreed to go along with Cooper v. Aaron and send National Guard to Arkansas to enforce the rulings of US Supreme Court, it wasn't clear if courts could force a government agency to follow the law.
 
Could a future president or state decide to ignore the law as set down by the courts? Things like this happen all the time, but usually there is enough political push-back to outright defiance to courts, that such defiance isn't long lasting or extensive.

FBI Secure-Phone Sting Nets More than 800 Arrests Worldwide : NPR

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Trojan Shield: FBI Secure-Phone Sting Nets More than 800 Arrests Worldwide : NPR

The criminals texted each other about drug deals and money laundering, confident in special encrypted devices using a platform dubbed Anom. There was just one problem for the crime rings: The FBI was being copied on every message — millions of them worldwide. In fact, the agency had sent the Anom devices into the black market in the first place.

Those are the details and allegations that are now emerging about Operation Trojan Shield, an international effort coordinated by the FBI that has resulted in more than 800 arrests.