First amendment allows political ads to run — even if they have misleading statements – WRAL News
In court, "truth" is more subjective than you may think.
THIS CASE IS DEAD AS WELL. AN 18 YEAR-OLD. >> HI, EVERYBODY. HELLO THERE. I'M DAN HAGGERTY. THIS IS THE PART OF THE NEWSCAST. WE DISCUSS THE NEWS A LITTLE BIT NOW WORKING ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT I DO WANT TO CHECK IN CHECK IN WITH YOU QUICKLY TONIGHT IN JUST A COUPLE OF E-MAILS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SENDING SO MANY OF THEM LIKE BETSY FROM CHAPEL HILL, WHO IS APPARENTLY A BIG FAN, BUT SHE'S A LITTLE CONFLICTED. SHE EMAILS DAN WRAL DOT COM AND SAID THIS. WE FIND OURSELVES TO BE JEOPARDY. LOYALISTS IN COMMERCIAL BREAKS. WE SWITCHED WRAL NEWS. IF YOU'RE RUNNING AN IN-DEPTH FEATURE, WE'VE CAUGHT A FEW, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR SEGMENTS TYPICALLY RUN ARE THE WEEKLY OR ARE THEY ON A PARTICULAR DAY AND WE JUST HAVE NOT FOUND A PATTERN YET. THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A PATTERN YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. I'M TRYING TO BUILD A LITTLE BIT OF A TEAM POSSIBLY AND HOPEFULLY SOON WILL BE DOING SOMETHING EVERY NIGHT. IN THE MEANTIME, THAT C. WHO CARES ABOUT JEOPARDY. HONESTLY, I KNOW IT'S ON THE SAME TIME AS ME. I KNOW IT RECENTLY PASSED 60 MINUTES TO BECOME THE MOST WATCHED NON-SPORTS SHOW ON TV. BUT LET'S SEE. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO FOLLOW THE PACK AND WATCH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THINGS IN AMERICAN CULTURE OR AND HEAR ME OUT HERE OR >> YOU WANT TO WATCH ME. >> A GUY SPENDS SOMETIMES 8 STRAIGHT MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE BRIAN AND THE OLD SUPREME COURT OPINIONS TO A COOLER THAT WAY. IN FACT, YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING I TALK ABOUT ON WRAL'S NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL HAVE AN ENTIRE PLAYLIST CALLED IN DEPTH WITH DAN HAGGERTY WERE STILL KIND OF FINE TUNING THE VISUALS. IF YOU LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THE THUMBNAILS LIKE THIS ONE DOESN'T EXACTLY SAY LOOK AT ME, I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING SMART, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. OKAY. SO PLEASE STICK WITH US. YOU'LL FIND ALL THE TOPICS THAT YOU EMAIL ME ABOUT THAT WE DISCUSS HERE DURING THIS SEGMENT LIKE MY RECENT DISCUSSION WITH YOU ABOUT POLITICAL ADS, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT WE TALKED TO A LAWYER WHO WORKS WITH CAMPAIGNS TO CHECK THEIR ADS BEFORE THEY AIR. IT CONFIRMED TO US SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT EFFECTIVELY THESE CANDIDATES CAN LIE IN THESE ACTS BECAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND IN THAT SEGMENT, I DISCUSSED THE CONCERNS THAT A VIEWER NAMED CAROL SHARED WITH ME RECENTLY. CARROLL SAID DAN. I WONDER ABOUT THE ETHICS OF THE STATIONS TO RUN ADS. IF THE AD IS DECLARED FALSE, BY FACT, CHECKED, WHY IS THE AD NOT PULLED THE MONEY? IS THE MONEY VALUED ABOVE THE TRUTH. I'M DISTURBED BY AS NOT BEING PULLED THE NEGATIVE. CHERI BEASLEY AD IS ONE THAT STICKS OUT. AND I KNOW THAT IT FEELS KIND OF STRANGE, BUT THE TRUTH ISN'T NECESSARILY PART OF THAT TRANSACTION. AND IN COURT, TRUTH IS MORE SUBJECTIVE THAN YOU MAY THINK. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE PAUL SPAY AND POLITIFACT TO EXPLAIN THE FREE SPEECH THAT YOU HEAR DURING OUR COMMERCIAL BREAK. SOMETIMES PAUL CARROLL MENTION CHERI BEASLEY AND ADD THAT RUNS ON OUR AIR MAKING SOME CLAIMS ABOUT HER RULINGS AND A DEATH SENTENCE CASE AND AN ASSAULT ON A MINOR. >> THE FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CHERI BEASLEY GO EASY ON DEFENDANTS IN A PAIR OF SENSITIVE CASES. THAT'S WHAT THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE SUGGEST ITS NEW ATTACK AD. TAKE A LOOK. >> THE WORST THING COMES. THE STATION AND CHIEF JUSTICE SHERRY BEASLEY FAILED TO PROTECT THEM. THE MURDERER SHOW DOUBLING THE FACE BC. THEY CAME TO HIS SON'S MEN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A 7 YEAR-OLD GIRL. SHE THREW OUT THE INDICTMENT. >> BEASLEY IS A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN NORTH CAROLINA'S U.S. SENATE RACE WILL TAKE ON REPUBLICAN TED BUDD IN NOVEMBER. THE AD MAKES 2 CLAIMS ABOUT HER THAT SHE VACATED THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR SOMEONE WHO SHOT A TEENAGER AND THAT SHE THREW OUT THE INDICTMENT OF A MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING A YOUNG GIRL. THE AD IS SOMEWHAT ACCURATE. BUT LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING NEITHER OF THESE CASES WAS ABOUT THE DEFENDANT'S ACTIONS AND THE DEATH SENTENCE CASE. A MAN HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING A 17 YEAR-OLD. HE WAS INITIALLY GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY. BUT THEN YOU SOMETHING CALLED THE RACIAL JUSTICE ACT TO GET HIS SENTENCE REDUCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. STATE LAWMAKERS THEN REPEAL THE RACIAL JUSTICE ACT AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT WAS ASKED SHOULD THE MEN BE SENT BACK TO DEATH ROW BEASLEY IN THE COURT RULED NO, THAT WOULD BE DOUBLE JEOPARDY. SO HE'LL SERVE LIFE IN PRISON. AS FOR THE CASE WITH THE YOUNG GIRL, THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED ARGUED TO HAVE HIS CASE THROWN OUT BECAUSE PROSECUTORS DIDN'T COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AS IT APPLIES TO IDENTIFYING HIS ACCUSER. THE INDICTMENT REFERRED ONLY TO THE GIRL AS VICTIM ONE. THE COURT RULED 42 THAT THE INDICTMENT DID NOT DISTINGUISH THE DEFENDANT ACCUSER FROM OTHER VICTIMS. BEASLEY IN THE 3 OTHER CITED THIS STATE LAW WHICH SAYS INDICTMENTS MUST HAVE SOME FORM OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FOR THE VICTIM. SO ALTOGETHER, THAT AD HAD SOME ACCURATE INFORMATION, BUT IT LEAVES OUT A LOT OF IMPORTANT CONTEXT AND THAT'S WHY THE TREATIES OR A GET AFTER IT. >> TO READ MORE ABOUT THOSE CASES, GO TO WRAL DOT COM. THANKS TO PAUL TRYING TO HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SEE IN THESE ADS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLENTY MORE AS WE APPROACH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE IN GENERAL TO TALK ABOUT. SO PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT DAN. >> AT WRAL DOT COM, NOT TRY TO RESPOND TO EVERY SINGLE E-MAIL. PLEASE BE PATIENT. I GET A TON OF THEM. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE YET, TRUST ME. I'M WORKING ON IT. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY BE PERSISTENT. LIKE KARL WHO SAID, I ENJOY YOUR PROVOKING DISCUSSIONS OF CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE PRESSING ISSUE TREATED. WHAT HAPPENED WITH KAT CAMPBELL IS VISIT TO ICELAND. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET DAILY REPORTS WITH PICTURES OF WATERFALLS AND VOLCANOES, ET CETERA. BUT I SAW ONLY ONE ON THE FIRST DAY OF ARRIVAL WITH A HUGE CHURCH. THEN SUDDENLY SHE WAS BACK ON THE AIR AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. NO WORD MENTION OF ICELAND, WRAL TRYING TO COVER SOMETHING UP. YES. IS A SECRET AGENT.
Read this article:
First amendment allows political ads to run -- even if they have misleading statements - WRAL News
- California wants to make platforms pay for offensive user posts. The First Amendment and Section 230 say otherwise. - FIRE | Foundation for Individual... - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- 'Retaliation For Protected First Amendment Activity' - NASA Workers Union Sues Trump Over 'Unlawful' Effort To Strip Collective Bargaining Rights -... - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- We took the freedom of speech away: On First Amendment, Trump says quiet part out loud - MSNBC News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Opinion: Why NPRs dispute with CPB really is about the First Amendment - current.org - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Jane Fonda Helps Revive Committee For The First Amendment - Honolulu Civil Beat - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Pastor shot in the head by ICE agents sues Trump administration over First Amendment threats in Chicago - the-independent.com - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Are KY mans Halloween decorations protected by First Amendment? What experts say - Lexington Herald Leader - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- National Review : The First Amendment Applies to the Doctors Office, Too - Pacific Legal Foundation - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Are College GameDay Signs Protected by the First Amendment? - Freedom Forum - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Kirk, Kimmel and the First Amendment | Letter to the editor - Mercer Island Reporter - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Jimmy Kimmels First Amendment right to be annoying | Andrew D. Hayes - MassLive - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Muslim activists cite First Amendment as defense for vandalizing Texas church with anti-Israel graffiti - Christian Post - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- When Conversion Therapy Meets the First Amendment: A Landmark Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court - ZENIT - English - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Your right to know: What the First Amendment really says about freedom of the press - The Laconia Daily Sun - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- A Matter of Fact: The gift of the First Amendment - 9News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Rutherford Co. teacher fired for comments about Kirk files First Amendment lawsuit - The Daily News Journal - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Why free speech rights got left out of the Constitution and added in later via the First Amendment - The Conversation - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Mary Rose Papandrea Installed as Burchfield Professor of First Amendment and Free Speech Law - GW Today - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Supreme Court Weighs First Amendment Challenge to Colorados Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors - Law Commentary - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- 'We took the freedom of speech away:' Trump on flag burning protection, First Amendment - USA Today - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Jane Fonda heads celebrity-organized Committee for the First Amendment - The Tufts Daily - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Pastor shot in the head by ICE agents sues Trump administration over First Amendment threats in Chicago - The Independent - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- CAC Release: Colorado Banned Conversion Therapy Because It Is Harmful. That Conversion Therapy is Accomplished Through Speech Does Not Make Colorados... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Board of Health gets updates in wake of First Amendment audit controversy - Hopkinton Independent - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- A new lawsuit claims the federal government is infringing on first amendment rights | First Listen - NPR Illinois - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Letter to the editor: Beware of abridgement of the First Amendment - The Independent Record - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- NPPA raises First Amendment concerns over largest drone flight ban ever issued in US - Editor and Publisher - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Why free speech rights got left out of the Constitution and added in later via the First Amendment - EL OBRERO | Periodismo Transversal - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Cancel culture is undermining the First Amendment and the press is helping | Column - Tampa Bay Times - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Charlie Kirks Death Has Created New Debates Around The First Amendment - Religion Unplugged - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- FBI Cuts Ties With Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League After Conservative Complaints - First Amendment Watch - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- How Unique is the First Amendment? featuring Floyd Abrams Harrington School of Communication and Media - The University of Rhode Island - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Apple and Google Block Apps That Crowdsource ICE Sightings. Some Warn of Chilling Effects - First Amendment Watch - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Iconic First Amendment Attorney To Offer Forecast 2026 Keynote - Radio & Television Business Report - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Opinion: Local journalism is too important to give up on, and the First Amendment is too important to surrender - Anchorage Daily News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- The Trump administration is waging a systematic assault on First Amendment - The Durango Herald - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Press, protesters sue Trump administration over First Amendment violations at ICE facility in Broadview - Yahoo - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- SCOTUS To Consider Whether Conversion Therapy Bans Violate First Amendment - GO Magazine - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- California educators First Amendment rights face test in wake of Charlie Kirks killing - EdSource - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Reagan-Appointed Judge Calls Out Trumps Full-Throated Assault on the First Amendment - Democracy Docket - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Federal judge overturns part of Fla. book-ban law, drawing on nearly 100 years of precedent protecting First Amendment access to ideas - Middle... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Senators Blumenthal and Warren on First Amendment and the FCC - C-SPAN - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- A Word From Legal: Social Media, the First Amendment, and You - Maryland State Education Association - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- League of Women Voters spotlights First Amendment - Midland Daily News - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- A grave dancing teacher tests the First Amendment in San Jacinto public schools - Orange County Register - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Clemson University being sued, claiming the school violated First Amendment - WLTX - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- First Amendment invoked in bid to demolish Holy Cross Catholic Church. Here's what historic board decided - IndyStar - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Is counseling entitled to protection under the First Amendment? - American Psychological Association (APA) - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Jane Fonda Relaunches Committee for the First Amendment With Support of 550 Celebrities Including Pedro Pascal, Viola Davis and More - Variety - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- US stars back relaunched Committee for the First Amendment - Music Ally - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Jane Fonda reboots Committee for the First Amendment: Artists must speak out before its too late - The Hill - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Nearly 80 years after McCarthyism, Jane Fonda relaunches Committee for the First Amendment: The stakes are too high - CNN - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Full-throated assault on the First Amendment: Judge rips into Trump over attempts to deport pro-Palestinian academics - CNN - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Your right to know: What the First Amendment really says about freedom of the press - The Montpelier Bridge - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Rhode Island Latino Arts vs. the Trump administration: Inside a First Amendment court battle - Rhode Island PBS - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: School district doesnt believe in First Amendment - Rogue Valley Times - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Judge Finds the Trump Administration Unconstitutionally Targeted Noncitizens Over Gaza War Protests - First Amendment Watch - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Jane Fonda Relaunches the Committee for the First Amendment with 550+ Signatories (Including Me) - The Ankler. - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Jane Fonda Relaunches McCarthy-Era Committee For The First Amendment With Support Of 550 Celebrities Including Barbra Streisand, Pedro Pascal, Ben... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Committee to Protect Journalists calls on FCC chair to respect First Amendment rights, press freedom - Editor and Publisher - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Trump is targeting the First Amendment rights of all Americans - The Contrarian - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Sens. Blumenthal and Warren Hold Forum on First Amendment and FCC - C-SPAN - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- The First Amendment Applies to the Doctors Office, Too - National Review - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Readers respond: Stand strong for First Amendment - OregonLive.com - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- The First Amendment as a racist weapon - People's World - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Judge Rules MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell Defamed Smartmatic With False Claims on Voting Machines - First Amendment Watch - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Someone remind Florida universities that you either have a First Amendment, or you dont - Creative Loafing Tampa - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- A Big Win for the First Amendment in Retaliatory Case Filed Against Journalist Timothy Burke - freepress.net - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Guest Post: Your favorite college team is likely to be violating the First Amendment at its stadium - Extra Points - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Where America stands on the First Amendment: key takeaways - Free Speech Center - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- The Trump administrations relationship with the First Amendment - 1A | Speak Freely - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Voices of the Newsroom: Is comedy a First Amendment right? - Los Angeles Loyolan - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- New York Times columnist discusses the state of free speech and the First Amendment at WashU - studlife.com - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Does the First Amendment Apply to Hate Speech?: News Article - Independent Institute - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- In 'Crucial Victory for the First Amendment,' Charges Against Journalist Timothy Burke Dismissed - Common Dreams - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- The First Amendment: 7 things you need to know - baldwin-bulletin.com - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Jimmy Kimmel Thanks Trump for Record Ratings After Suspension; Julia Louis-Dreyfus Brings Host a Puppy Whos a Big Fan of the First Amendment - Variety - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Jimmy Kimmel May Be Back. Trumps Attacks on the First Amendment Arent Over - Rolling Stone - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- How the First Amendment protects Americans speech and how it does not - The Conversation - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- First Amendment lawyer on Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC and free speech - CBS News - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]