It would be amusing if it weren’t so serious. Last weekend’s expressions of supposed free speech were almost universally called demonstrations by the media and “mostly peaceful” by some. In contrast, the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol was labeled an “insurrection” and “riot” by the media.
The U.S. State Department says it is restarting the process for foreigners to apply for student visas but says all applicants must have their social media accounts set to ‘public’ to allow review by officials. The department says consular officers will be looking for activity, posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the U.S., its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told senators that the Pentagon is providing options to President Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran. He would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli strikes.
The Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a jolting setback to transgender rights. The justices’ 6-3 decision in a case from Tennessee effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump’s Republican administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee’s. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the law banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans minors doesn’t violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. An American Civil Liberties Union lawyer says the decision is “a devastating loss for transgender people.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming surgery for transgender youth in a ruling that’s likely to reverberate a…
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks during a transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., center, speaks during a transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks during a transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Transgender rights supporters rally at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, in a setback to transgender rights. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)