Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The Limits of Free Speech on Facebook, “Cargoland” and Cyber Monday Hype
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court considers the case of a Pennsylvania man who spent three years in prison for posting violent messages about his wife on Facebook. What’s at stake in terms of free speech and social media?
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenWe start with a look at the legal case of a Pennsylvania man who spent three years in prison for posting violent messages about his wife on Facebook. It goes before the U.S. Supreme Court today: what’s at stake? Then, we catch up on the controversy over the so-called HIV “miracle drug” Truvada. In our weekly TV roundup, we look at what’s coming to the small screen this holiday season, including NBC’s live action Peter Pan special. Next, independent producer Lu Olkowski gives Madeleine a preview of her original series Cargoland, airing on KCRW this week. And finally, Cyber Monday: Is it a day of great online bargains, or manufactured nonsense?
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In this episode
5 storiesU.S. Supreme Court and the Limits of Free Speech on Social Media
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in the case of a Pennsylvania man, Anthony Elonis, who spent more than three years in prison for violent Facebook posts about his wife. Elonis argues that he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights. His wife, and a lower court, interpreted the posts as real threats.
Read the story10 minControversy Over an HIV/AIDS “Miracle” Drug
Today is World AIDS Day. The disease has killed almost 40 million people worldwide in the past 30 years. While the rate of new HIV infections is on the decline, young adults are still contracting the virus at alarming rates.
Read the story7 min“Peter Pan” and Other Holiday TV Highlights
The Thanksgiving Day Parade floats have been put back into storage for another year, the N.F.L’.s holiday games are behind us, and Grumpy Cat has gone back to wherever grumpy cats go when they aren’t making Lifetime movies. But still, the holiday TV season is just getting started.
Read the story11 min“Cargoland” Preview
The twin Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach make up the biggest port complex in the country. If it’s in your house -- furniture, clothes, food, the car in your garage -- chances are it came through the ports. But getting all that stuff from the ships to the shelves to your hands relies on many, many people.
Read the story12 minCyber Silliness
It’s Cyber Monday, the day that online retailers offer deals hoping to lure consumers into spending a lot of time and money shopping on the Internet. Is it a day of great bargains, or a bunch of manufactured hype? Slate’s Will Oremus is firmly in the second camp.
Read the story7 min
