Is it illegal to not buy #ads on X? Experts explain the FTC’s bizarre #ad fight.

After a judge warned that the Federal Trade Commission's probe into #MediaMatters for America ( #MMFA ) should alarm "all Americans"—viewing it as a likely government #retaliation intended to silence critical #reporting from a #political foe—the #FTC this week appealed a preliminary injunction blocking the investigation.
#rights #freespeech #Twitter

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/is-it-illegal-to-not-buy-ads-on-x-experts-explain-the-ftcs-bizarre-ad-fight/

Is it illegal to not buy ads on X? Experts explain the FTC’s bizarre ad fight.

Here’s the “least silly way” to wrap your head around the FTC’s war over X ads.

Ars Technica
Trump FTC’s Investigation Of Media Matters Will Remain On Hold As Judge Rejects Latest Motion

A federal judge rejected an FTC motion to put a prior ruling on hold.

Deadline
Elon Musk’s “thermonuclear” Media Matters lawsuit may be fizzling out

Judge blocks FTC’s Media Matters probe as a likely First Amendment violation.

Ars Technica

Deadline: Judge Rules FTC Investigation Of Media Matters Violates First Amendment. “A federal judge has restricted the Federal Trade Commission‘s investigation of Media Matters, the progressive watchdog group, finding that the agency was likely engaged in retaliatory conduct in violation of the First Amendment.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/08/18/deadline-judge-rules-ftc-investigation-of-media-matters-violates-first-amendment/

Deadline: Judge Rules FTC Investigation Of Media Matters Violates First Amendment | ResearchBuzz: Firehose

ResearchBuzz: Firehose | Individual posts from ResearchBuzz
A federal judge blocked the FTC’s investigation into Media Matters, ruling it violated the group’s free speech rights after Media Matters published research critical of Elon Musk and X (formerly Twitter). The judge called the FTC inquiry—launched under Trump’s appointee and targeting alleged collusion with other ad groups—a “retaliatory act,” halting it for now. Media Matters claims the investigation is political retribution for exposing antisemitic content on X. The FTC can appeal, but the case raises big First Amendment questions about political targeting. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/technology/media-matters-ftc-musk-injunction.html? #MediaMatters #FreeSpeech #FTC #ElonMusk #Trump #FirstAmendment
Judge Blocks F.T.C. Investigation of Media Matters

The agency began looking into the liberal watchdog group’s research critical of Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, in May.

The New York Times
A federal judge has blocked the FTC’s probe into Media Matters, ruling it violates the free speech rights of the liberal watchdog. Susie Madrak details how the investigation, tied to Elon Musk and the Trump admin, was deemed retaliatory and unconstitutional. Read more on this critical First Amendment defense: https://crooksandliars.com/2025/08/federal-judge-blocks-ftc-investigation #SusieMadrak #FederalJudge #FTCAttack #MediaMatters #FreeSpeech #FirstAmendment #ElonMusk #X #PoliticalRetaliation
Judge Grants Injunction Against FTC Investigation Of Media Matters

For now, it's one for the good guys.

Crooks and Liars

At least some parts of the American Judicial system still work.

#trump #mediamatters

Original post: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:nyjm4ylfid2a7mjm6varxuiq/post/3lwhwarwnuk2g

Judge Blocks F.T.C. Investigation of #MediaMatters

An investigation of Media Matters by the #FederalTradeCommission, above, “presents a straightforward #FirstAmendment violation,” a federal judge ruled on Friday.
#ftc

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/technology/media-matters-ftc-musk-injunction.html

Judge Blocks F.T.C. Investigation of Media Matters

The agency began looking into the liberal watchdog group’s research critical of Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, in May.

The New York Times
Judge Rules FTC Investigation Of Media Matters Violates First Amendment

A federal judge has restricted the Federal Trade Commission‘s investigation of Media Matters, the progressive watchdog group, finding that the agency was likely engaged in retaliatory conduct in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan wrote in a ruling on Friday, It should alarm all Americans when the Government retaliates against […]

Deadline
Sean Hannity's frustration with hearing "Epstein" again exposes a pattern of recycling baseless conspiracies, reports Frances Langum. From Benghazi to "deep state" claims, Hannity fuels endless right-wing drama with no proof. This cycle reflects conservative media’s fixation on unfounded scandals. Read Langum’s detailed critique here: https://crooksandliars.com/2025/08/hannity-my-head-will-explode-if-i-hear #SeanHannity #FrancesLangum #Epstein #conservativemedia #conspiracytheories #PamBondi #KashPatel #MediaMatters
Hannity: My Head Will Explode If I Hear 'Epstein' Again

PROMISE???

Crooks and Liars