First Amendment Coverage

Fact check: RFK Jr. says Biden censored his political opponent

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused President Joe Biden of being a greater "threat to democracy" than former President Donald Trump, arguing that Biden censored him.

Amy Sherman, PolitiFact reporter

TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What’s the legal outlook?

Critics of the sell-or-be-banned ultimatum argue it violates TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. The app’s China-based owner, ByteDance, has already promised to sue, calling the measure unconstitutional.

How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending March 29

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

DRAUGHON DRAWS: A muted justice?

Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 --- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

DAWN BLAGROVE & MELISSA PRICE KROMM: Partisan extremism threatens N.C. courts

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 -- It's time we tell politicians to cut these extremist proposals from the budget and stop using our judicial commissions as a cudgel against honest, hard-working judges. It's time we take back our courts.

Facing investigation, NC Supreme Court Justice files lawsuit saying she's being silenced

Anita Earls, the only Black woman on the North Carolina Supreme Court, says she is being improperly investigated for criticizing the court's lack of diversity.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Fact check: Goldberg says the First Amendment 'doesn't allow you to willingly lie'

In a March 8 discussion about the 2020 election, Whoopi Goldberg said: "The First Amendment doesn't allow you to willingly lie." PolitiFact checks her claim.

Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Boebert says 'the church is supposed to direct the government'

In an impassioned address to worshippers at a Colorado church, Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert said: "The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church." PolitiFact checks her claim about the founders.

Jeff Cercone, PolitiFact reporter

Raleigh couple says HOA targeting them based on race, gender identity

A family who lives in a Raleigh townhouse said they were told by their neighborhood's homeowner's association to take down a Black Lives Matter sign from inside their window. They believe they are being targeted because they are an interracial, same-sex couple.

Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter

'Free speech' defense unlikely to protect Durham man if charged in Capitol riot

Steve Baker, of Durham, describes himself as an "independent journalist" who merely followed the crowd to record history as hundreds breached the U.S. Capitol. Federal authorities may not see it that way, a free speech expert told WRAL Investigates.

Bible verse in NC sheriff's office violates First Amendment, watchdog group says

A national watchdog organization is asking for a North Carolina sheriff to remove a bible verse from the walls of its office.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Cooper vetoes 'critical race theory,' rioting bills

Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday vetoed two bills authored by GOP legislative leaders that would have prohibited the teaching of critical race theory in North Carolina public schools and would have increased the penalties for rioting.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief, & Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Supreme Court wipes away Trump Twitter case ruling

The Supreme court has dismissed a ruling Donald Trump violated the First Amendment when he blocked followers from his Twitter account.

Proposed NC bill would ban 'censorship' by social media sites

A draft bill circulating among Senate Republicans would allow lawsuits against social media platforms for "censoring" political or religious speech.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

US Supreme Court has ruled F-word protected by First Amendment, expert says

A homeowner's choice to fly a flag with an expletive written twice on it is causing some controversy in Wilson.

Some neighbors upset over Wilson man's F-word flag

A homeowner's choice to fly a flag with an expletive written twice on it is causing some controversy in Wilson.

Indira Eskieva, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

Renters, relatives push back after man posts Nazi flag

It was property owner David Scott Young who posted a Nazi flag along Old Falls of Neuse Road. His extended family, some of whom live just across the street, are calling his actions "despicable."

Relatives, renters disgusted after Nazi flag appears on Wake County property

It was property owner David Scott Young who posted a Nazi flag along Old Falls of Neuse Road. His extended family, some of whom live just across the street, are calling his actions "despicable."

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

NC State student leaders, university employee at odds over First Amendment issue

It's clear from some of Chadwick Seagraves' posts online that he has strong political views, but the university has made it just as clear that his views are protected by the First Amendment.

NC State student protest: IT employee's online posts pose a threat on campus

It's clear from some of Chadwick Seagraves' posts online that he has strong political views, but the university has made it just as clear that his views are protected by the First Amendment.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Can Twitter legally bar Trump? The First Amendment says yes

WASHINGTON -- When Simon & Schuster canceled its plans this week to publish Sen. Josh Hawley's book, he called the action "a direct assault on the First Amendment."

Adam Liptak, New York Times

Secret Service investigates Johnston County woman's video post

A short video posted to social media has caused a lot of trouble for the woman who appears in it, costing her job and, perhaps leading to federal charges.

Journalists challenge Alamance County ban on media inside courthouse

WRAL News, the Raleigh News & Observer and other local media organizations on Tuesday joined The Alamance News in objecting after a journalist was escorted from an Alamance County courtroom in handcuffs.

Local church held in-person services Sunday amid pandemic and stay-at-home orders

Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh held in-person services on Sunday amid a statewide stay-at-home order, but pastor Kevin Martin feels as though his church was within its rights to congregate.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Editorial: Should Berger be 'schooled' on name calling?

Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 -- Rather than taking an opportunity to facilitate a reasoned solution to help a public school find an appropriate graduation site, Sen. Phil Berger, one of N.C.'s most prominent public officials, seized it as a chance to engage in name calling and divide.