November 18, 2025

The Courts

Courthouse News: X fights block on international defamation cases at Ninth Circuit

By Carly Nairn 

.....Asking for a reversal on an anti-suit injunction issued by a lower court, social media giant X explained to a Ninth Circuit panel on Monday that it had already been litigating in Ireland for 18 months before a media watchdog nonprofit’s attempt to block its other lawsuits against X.

Media Matters of America claims it is the subject of retaliatory and abusive litigations by X around the world for reporting that the platform placed ads by large corporations next to white supremacist posts, prompting the nonprofit to countersue in Northern California federal court.

NetChoice: NetChoice Sues Virginia to Stop Free Speech Limits Online

By Krista Chavez

.....Today, NetChoice sued Virginia to stop a new law that, if implemented, would place unlawful barriers on how and when all Virginians can access free speech online, increase cybersecurity threats to families and usurp parents.

The law, SB 854, bars access to valuable, lawful speech simply because it happens online. Citizens will have to hand over their sensitive documentation to access digital services. It also imposes a one-hour, government-mandated time limit on “social media” use. Specifically targeting “social media” means that if you wanted to watch a documentary or discuss current political issues on those services for more than an hour, you would be forced to stop watching or discussing and pick it up tomorrow just because the government says so. Such a restriction is no different than a law that curbs the time spent reading books, watching documentaries on TV or even having in-person conversations. 

Courthouse News: DOJ sues California over law unmasking federal agents

By Margaret Attridge

.....The Justice Department sued California Monday over two state laws aimed at unmasking federal law enforcement, including immigration agents.

In a 16-page lawsuit filed in the Central District of California, the Trump administration challenges provisions of the “No Secret Police Act” and “No Vigilantes Act” signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom in September.

The No Secret Police Act targets federal immigration agents who have worn masks while detaining people suspected of being in the country without authorization. It bans local and federal authorities from wearing masks on duty, with some exceptions. State authorities are exempt.

Congress

Politico: Indiana Republican called out by Trump on redistricting is swatted

By Adam Wren

.....An Indiana Senate Republican who President Donald Trump called out in a Truth Social post Sunday for not backing the White House’s plan to draw new congressional maps was later targeted by a swatting, according to local authorities.

Greg Goode, who Trump posted was a “RINO” he was “Very disappointed in” Sunday was targeted hours later by what Vigo County Sheriff Derek Fell called a “swatting” in a statement.

FEC

NOTUS: The FEC Has Effectively Been Shut Down for More Than 200 Days

By Taylor Giorno

.....The de facto “shutdown” at the Federal Election Commission has officially dragged on for more than 200 days.

Since April 30, the FEC has been unable to investigate complaints, issue new rules or advisory opinions, hold public meetings, conduct audits and fine political committees that run afoul of the law. The departure of the last remaining Republican commissioner, Trey Trainor, last month left the two remaining Democrats, Shana Broussard and Dara Lindenbaum, unable to carry out even administrative matters like scheduling and canceling public meetings.

Online Speech Platforms

Wall Street Journal: When Will AI Elect a President?

By Andy Kessler

.....So what’s next? The answer requires thinking about the future of media, no easy task. Will it be chatbots? Augmented-reality glasses? Synthetic podcasts? Or simply some permutation of today’s media?

I think the biggest clue comes from a new OpenAI service called ChatGPT Pulse, introduced in late September. “Each night, it synthesizes information from your memory, chat history and direct feedback to learn what’s most relevant to you.” You can connect your Google email and calendar too, and let’s assume, eventually, your company’s Slack chats and everything else. And then once a day, it sends you a personalized note about your passions and interests. Let me hallucinate (the old-fashioned kind) a future marketing tag line: “It knows you better than you know you.”

This is the future of media: Personalized, not homogenized. “They’ll be so lonely, baby.” Chatbots won’t only know what you stream and shop for, they’ll figure out if you are liberal or conservative, progressive or hard right, moderate or apathetic—valuable for campaigns doling out advertising dollars. Influence will never be so easy.

USA Today: Polls were right about this year's elections. Was it a fluke or the future?

By Will Johnson

.....Pollsters need to be fast enough to match the fluidity of ever-changing battle lines. We need to fundamentally change how we collect our data for the millions of Americans who rely on us.

Artificial intelligence-optimized surveys are the fix. By incorporating AI throughout the polling process, pollsters could greatly boost their chances of spotting the next Trump general or Mamdani primary win long before Election Day.

Startup polling organizations and even some legacy giants are beginning to put AI to work. Those traditional pollsters who are steeped in their ways risk losing their credibility by clinging to yesteryear's tools.

That’s a loss for the general public, too. Today’s widespread distrust of polls – which I believe is a consequence of pollsters’ repeated miscues – is eroding public support for our institutions.

New York Times: France Steps Up Fight Against Disinformation as U.S. Pulls Back, Official Says

By Julian E. Barnes

.....The Trump administration has dismantled a number of U.S. government defenses against foreign disinformation campaigns. But the French government has been doubling down on its efforts to call out foreign propaganda efforts.

Some American conservatives believed the Biden administration tried to undermine, or even silence, Republican voices by falsely labeling conservative arguments as being pushed by Russia or another foreign power.

French officials said governments can call out malign influence campaigns at the same time as they protect speech, and they are trying to make the case with the public.

Candidates and Campaigns

Chicago Tribune: Gov. JB Pritzker deposits $25.5M of his own money into campaign fund as he ramps up bid for third term

By Dan Petrella 

.....Gov. JB Pritzker has deposited $25.5 million from his vast personal fortune into his campaign fund with four months to go until Illinois’ March 17 primary elections and a year before voters will decide whether to give the billionaire Democrat a historic third term in Springfield.

Pritzker, who faces a nominal challenge in the Democratic primary next year, contributed $500,000 to his JB for Governor campaign account on Nov. 7 and another $25 million on Thursday, state campaign finance records show. Before making the contributions, Pritzker had more than $661,000 remaining in his campaign fund as of Sept. 30, the end of the most recent reporting period.

By exceeding a $250,000 self-funding threshold, Pritzker has opened the door to unlimited fundraising in the governor’s race next year, regardless of who wins the Republican nomination.

The States

WENY News: 17 Protestors Arrested for Campaign Finance/Ethics Advocacy in Harrisburg

By Kara Jeffers

.....Today, protestors were arrested in Harrisburg for campaign finance advocacy.

March on Harrisburg is a group that advocates for more transparency and accountability in campaign finance and ethics laws.

The group hosted civil disobedience protests today– blocking hallways with banners before being arrested with little resistance. Advocates also chanted outside the offices of Republican and Democratic leaders in the house and senate.

At least 17 people were arrested.

The group wants to ban lobbyists from unlimited gift giving, have stricter rules for reporting donations to campaigns, limits on campaign donations, stricter rules on lawmakers having other jobs, and rules on former lawmakers becoming lobbyists.

InForum: Port: The problem is the Ethics Commission is ignoring ND Constitution

By Rob Port

.....It's unfortunate that in a lengthy article about the on-going controversy around the North Dakota Ethics Commission, the North Dakota Monitor doesn't once accurately describe the objections of the commission's critics.

If you haven't been following this kerfuffle, allow me to set the stage.

Currently there is a deadlock on appointing new members to the Ethics Commission. The state Constitution gives that job to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, who must unanimously agree on new appointments. Due to a death and the expiration of two terms, there were three vacancies, but that triumvirate was able to agree to fill one of them with former Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp earlier this month.