LyrArc Article Gist
The US Supreme Court throws out a lawsuit that said the Biden administration unlawfully pressured social media platforms to remove content seen as disinformation. The ruling said the two states Louisiana and Missouri and five parties had no rights to bring their claims before a judge. Earlier lower courts had ruled against the government . The claims by the two states were shown through emails written by government officials to Facebook asking why it had not removed disinformation that said Covid vaccines were harmful. This issue of the usefulness of vaccines for Covid was a major issue in 2022.

LyrArc Article Gist
A case on whether a US government official can pressure social media platforms to remove content the government deems harmful is before the US Supreme Court. During the pandemic president Biden sought to quell rumors and misinformation about Covid vaccines. An Appeals court in Louisiana took a very conservative position that social media platforms could not be pressured in any way even from the bully pulpit not as a bully, meaning even persuasion was not allowed. The US Supreme Court will issue its decision in 3 months after it votes and the majority opinion is assigned to be written by one of the Justices It appears to be skeptical of the Louisiana Appeals court position.This NYT report shows exchanges between the Louisiana lawyer, deputy Solicitor General Fletcher speaking for the government, and Justice Kavanaugh. Justice Kavanaugh seems to agree with Fletcher that as long as it was a bully pulpit, that the president is saying it is harmful, but not threatening, it is acceptable under the First Amendment for president to do so. The president saying the rumor and misinformation was "killing people" was still only bully pulpit, no threat was involved.  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
An unregulated social media may be the real issue. The states of Texas and Florida may be posing the wrong issue and are better off arguing for proper regulation of the social media companies. The social media and internet companies by fighting necessary regulation are saying they will be the regulators putting themselves in an position they cannot be in. The Supreme court then is addressing the wrong issues. It is Congress that has failed to properly regulate social media content even when it has and continues to pose a threat to the civility and willingness to listen to other people's opinions and respecting differences that is essential for democratic forms of government. John Kennedy confronting Cold War adversaries was still of the view that in the international scene one had to live together and cooperate wherever possible. Ultimately it is the public that has to reach this level of civility and educating the public on civics is an essential priority of the country. ...