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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 15h

President Donald Trump says that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a White House peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and Israeli hostages will soon be released.

bit.ly/4o3wrMg

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · 17h

Pres. Trump said today that his administration "took the freedom of speech away" as it relates to flag burnings, but the Supreme Court has long held that such activity is protected under the First Amendment.

My latest @usatoday.com:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Trump says he 'took the freedom of speech away' on flag burning

Trump made the comments during a Wednesday roundtable discussion, referencing his August executive order calling for prosecution of flag burners.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Wanna learn more about the pastor in this photo?

I talked to him yesterday.

He's currently part of a lawsuit against DHS, in part due to this exact moment: religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · 12d

Oklahoma's Ryan Walters recently announced a partnership between the state's education department/Turning Point USA to set up chapters at every high school. I chatted w/ him + experts to write this @usatoday.com story answering Qs about the partnership + whether it's a First Amendment violation:

Is Oklahoma requiring all high schools to start Turning Point USA chapters?

Superintendent Ryan Walters told USA TODAY his claim that all Oklahoma high schools will have chapters stemmed from the level of interest he's seen.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 22d

NEW: As supporters of Charlie Kirk gathered for vigils, many framed Kirk—a right-wing activist—as a religious leader. Some claimed his death was spurring people to convert to Christianity.

Meanwhile, other faith leaders were vocally critical of Kirk's past comments. religionnews.com/2025/09/16/a...

At prayer vigils for Charlie Kirk, supporters are called to political and spiritual fight

(RNS) — ‘I pray millions of young men would become defenders of the faith as a result of this demonic assassination,’ Arizona pastor Mark Driscoll said in an Instagram post.

religionnews.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · 22d

Grateful for the opportunity to chat on the Connecting America podcast this morning about my story on Charlie Kirk's assassination and how schools face the challenge of balancing free speech/safety in the current political moment. Here's the link to the segment! www.youtube.com/live/Re-EGqz...

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 23d

Angered in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Trump administration officials say they're planning to use "every resource" available across the federal government to target left-wing organizations that the administration contends are stoking political violence.

Read more: bit.ly/3Kp7V9O

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

Will Carless, USA TODAY @willcarless.bsky.social · 25d

Excellent, troubling work from my colleagues on the USA TODAY graphics team here:

“The first six months of 2025 saw an 85.5% increase in terrorist attacks within the United States compared to the same time period last year”

www.usatoday.com/story/graphi...

In wake of Charlie Kirk shooting, see how political violence has increased in past year

Utah governor is calling for calm and reason after Charlie Kirk's death. Will Americans listen?

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 27d

Authorities announced they had arrested Tyler Robinson in St. George, Utah, and accused him of the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Here's what we know about Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Charlie Kirk's murder

Authorities announced they had arrested Tyler Robinson in St. George, Utah, and accused him of the murder of Charlie Kirk.

bit.ly

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · 27d

Thanks for chatting with me @thefireorg.bsky.social @tomginsburg.bsky.social @aaup.org @freespeechcenter.bsky.social @proftwolf.bsky.social @usatoday.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · 27d

“Overall, I think (colleges and universities) need to prioritize making sure that this does not mean there will be no further Charlie Kirks coming to campus. If that’s what it means, then the assassin has won.”

I wrote about Charlie Kirk's death + the challenge of balancing free speech + safety:

Charlie Kirk's death renews focus on the balance between free speech and safety

Free speech experts told USA TODAY that colleges and universities can't be dissuaded from hosting controversial speakers in light of Kirk's murder.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 27d

President Trump announced Sept. 12 that National Guard troops will be deploying to Memphis due to endemic crime issues in the Tennessee city.

"We're going to Memphis," said Trump, who called the city "deeply troubled."

Trump says National Guard troops heading to Memphis to fight crime

The troops are welcomed by city and state leadership, Trump said.

bit.ly

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 27d

Everything we know about the shooting that took place at Evergreen High School in Colorado.

Suspect dead, 2 hurt in Colorado high school shooting: Here's what we know

Everything we know about the shooting that took place at Evergreen High School in Colorado.

bit.ly

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 28d

Breaking news: Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley University event.

A suspect is in custody, according to parents whose children received an email from the university.

Follow live updates:

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk shot at Utah event

Kirk is the co-founder of Turning Point USA, which advocates for conservative politics at high schools and colleges.

www.washingtonpost.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 8

Pres. Trump announced the Dept. of Education will issue guidance protecting students' rights to pray in public schools (which, to be clear, they've long had).

More on that + the rest of the Religious Liberty Commission's hearing this morning @usatoday.com:

Trump vows to protect prayer in public schools with new Department of Education guidance

President Donald Trump spoke at the White House's Religious Liberty Commission meeting held Sept. 8 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington.

www.usatoday.com

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 5

Here's the link to the story! www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

'South Park' keeps tying Trump to Satan. What to know about satire and the First Amendment

The show has targeted the administration throughout this season, portraying everything from Trump naked to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem shooting dogs.

www.usatoday.com

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 5

"South Park" hasn't held back in its criticism of Trump. It's depicted a sexual relationship between Trump/Satan and shown a deepfake video of Trump naked.

I discussed how the First Amendment protects "South Park" in doing so on @usatoday.com's "The Excerpt."

art19.com/shows/5-thin...

RFK Jr. says he doesn't know how many Americans died from COVID as he's grilled at hearing

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled during an explosive hearing Thursday. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning discusses what Medicaid cuts mean for parts ...

art19.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

RNS @rns.org · Sep 4

History’s first U.S. pope spoke in English as he denounced the attack and the “logic of weapons” fueling wars around the world.
religionnews.com/2025/09/02/p...

Pope demands end to the 'pandemic of arms' as he prays for victims of Minnesota school shooting

VATICAN CITY (AP) — History’s first U.S. pope spoke in English as he denounced the attack and the “logic of weapons” fueling wars around the world, during his Sunday noon blessing from his studio…

religionnews.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · Sep 3

Excellent reporting from the journalists at USA Today!

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 3

Pres. Trump says the Smithsonian Institution is too "woke."

My colleagues + I went to several museums + interviewed visitors to assess his concerns.

Here's what we found:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

@chrisquintana.bsky.social @stephenbeard.bsky.social @duanegang.bsky.social @usatoday.com

Trump says the Smithsonian is too woke. We visited five of its museums to find out

On Aug. 12, the Trump administration announced a review of the Smithsonian, starting with eight of its most-visited and high-profile museums.

www.usatoday.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 3

President Trump says the Smithsonian is too "woke."

My @usatoday.com colleagues and I visited five of its museums to find out. I chatted with Taylor Wilson about our reporting on today's episode of "The Excerpt."

art19.com/shows/5-thin...

US appeals court rejects Trump's use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans

An appeals court has rejected President Donald Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans. Military strikes killed 11 on an alleged 'drug vessel' from Venezuela. USA TODAY White Hous...

art19.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 3

Pres. Trump says the Smithsonian Institution is too "woke."

My colleagues + I went to several museums + interviewed visitors to assess his concerns.

Here's what we found:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

@chrisquintana.bsky.social @stephenbeard.bsky.social @duanegang.bsky.social @usatoday.com

Trump says the Smithsonian is too woke. We visited five of its museums to find out

On Aug. 12, the Trump administration announced a review of the Smithsonian, starting with eight of its most-visited and high-profile museums.

www.usatoday.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this fantastic reporting by @willcarless.bsky.social! He looks at loneliness among young men and why it's prompted some of them to turn to the Manosphere.

Check it out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoC7... @usatoday.com

'It's like dopamine.' Why lonely young men are turning to influencers like Andrew Tate

YouTube video by USA TODAY

www.youtube.com

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Aug 21

A Texas judge has blocked several public school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms when a new law goes into effect 9/1. The Texas AG said he’ll appeal.

I discussed all of it on today’s episode of @usatoday.com’s “The Excerpt.”

art19.com/shows/5-thin...

Texas Republicans approve Trump-backed congressional map

Texas Republicans have passed a new state congressional map intended to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats up for grabs in the 2026 elections. USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Gr...

art19.com

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Reposted by BrieAnna Frank

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · Aug 15

President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin greeted each other warmly on the red carpet after exiting their planes in Alaska for a summit that Trump hopes will lead to a resolution of the three-year Ukraine war.

For more updates on the meeting, click the link in bio.

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BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Aug 13

The LA city council recently banned the N-word and C-word in its meetings, saying the terms have disrupted the proceedings "on many occasions."

But groups like @thefireorg.bsky.social, @facoalition.bsky.social and @aclu.org say the rule violates free speech.

My latest for @usatoday.com:

LA banned the N and C words from council meetings. Does the First Amendment allow that?

The council called it a "narrowly focused rule" to curb ongoing disruptions during its meetings. But some First Amendment groups are concerned.

www.usatoday.com

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