Free speech may not be as popular as the Buffalo Bills

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Mark Sommer of The Buffalo News has a good read on a new policy imposed by the Chautauqua Institute that stifles demonstrations, apparently out of fear that protesters  advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza might show up at their gated community. (No one has.) 

Some folks are OK with the move, others are not, accusing the institute of betraying its  self-proclaimed support of democracy and free speech.

On one hand, the move is kind of surprising, given Chautauqua’s reputation. 

Then again, a lot of Democrats, including big city mayors who cracked down on Gaza demonstrators on college campuses this spring, haven’t been keen on the students’ right to protest. Republicans even less so. 

It seems everyone supports free speech – in the abstract. Not so much in the real world.

The Pew Research Center just released polling results on how Americans view the issue.

Utah has become the first state to ban books. Thirteen books have been ordered removed from libraries and public schools.

A new book on the politics of Gen Z, as explained by the Guardian:  Young women are the most progressive group in American history. Young men are checked out.

The Dallas Cowboys may be America’s team, but our Bills are the World’s Team, according to Google search results. 

This story just about turned my stomach: a food truck operator in Niagara Falls is accused of setting a woman on fire. The viciousness is breathtaking.

They’re called opportunity zones. Opportunity for developers, not the low-income people they were supposedly created to benefit. 

There’s been a lot of attention paid – rightfully – on the plight of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas. Mostly overlooked is the abuse of Palestinians jailed by Israeli authorities. 

A while back, Elon Musk told advertisers to go F themselves, he didn’t care if they advertised on his Twitter or not. Now he’s suing because they took his advice.

Pants on fire: Donald Trump lies about a near fatal helicopter crash that never happened and point after point at his press conference last week.

Rolling Stone has declared Creedence Clearwater Revival, which disbanded 52 years ago, the hottest band in the land. Forbes is all over the story, too. Crazy. Sounds like a good reason to revisit their best tune, which is especially appropriate given this year’s presidential campaign.

Jim Heaney