Episode 58: Mahmoud Khalil, the First Amendment, and Transgender Liberty. “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely above all liberties.” Brian, Chris, and Andy discussed the ongoing chaos around President Trump's aggressive actions, particularly focusing on Mahmoud Khalil's detention and the implications for free speech. They highlighted the lack of clear legal basis for Khalil's arrest and detention, and the potential for the government to deport people with deep ties to the US for advocating positions it opposes. The team emphasized the importance of nonviolence and peaceful association, and the need to protect individual liberty and freedom of association. The team also looked at a proposed bill in Texas attacking transgender people. 

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties” – John Milton, in Areopagitica, 1644 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment to the Constitution 

Relevant links to today’s episode:

• CLPVA Principles
• Who is Mahmoud Khalil, Palestinian student activist facing US deportation?
• DHS official defends Mahmoud Khalil arrest, but offers few details on why it happened
• Dems ask Trump admin to explain Khalil’s arrest, calling it ‘playbook of authoritarians’
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio says "we're going to keep doing it" after arrest of Columbia activist
• Green-card holders rattled by Mahmoud Khalil case
• Trump’s mass deportation plans hit riskier phase with legal immigrants, court fights
• FIRE demands answers from Trump admin officials on arrest of Mahmoud Khalil
• ACLU Strongly Condemns Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Columbia Student Activist
• Trump administration’s reasons for detaining Mahmoud Khalil threaten free speech
• In New Filing, Mahmoud Khalil Urges Court to Protect His First Amendment Rights
• How a Columbia Student Activist Landed in Federal Detention
• Nationwide protests planned after arrest of former Columbia University activist by immigration authorities
• Texas bill would make identifying as transgender a felony punishable by jail
• CLPVA on LGPTQ+ Rights
• Presidential approval polls

Other items in the news:

• United behind Spanberger, Va.’s Democratic Party reminds voters of Republicans’ three-way primary
• Hundreds arrested in Virginia immigration crackdown, but just a fraction have alleged gang ties
• Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua
• Exclusive: How the White House ignored a judge's order to turn back deportation flights
• In TikTok sale, the White House is playing an unprecedented role
• Policy Analysis: Terrorism and Immigration: 50 Years of Foreign-Born Terrorism on US Soil, 1975–2024. 

We’re all over Bluesky!

• CLPVA on Bluesky: @clpvirginia.org
• Liberal Party USA on Bluesky: @liberalpartyusa.bsky.social
• Brian on Bluesky: @biodoss.bsky.social
• Chris on Bluesky: @frashure.bsky.social
• Andy on Bluesky: @andyjabbour.bsky.social

More:

• Classical Liberal Party of Virginia Open markets. Open minds. Free people. https://clpvirginia.org
• Liberal Party USA: ⁠https://www.liberalpartyusa.org⁠
• Facebook: Classical Liberal Party of Virginia
• Instagram: classicalliberalpartyva
• X, formerly Twitter: @clpvirginia
• Chris Frashure: The Open Mode
• Andy’s Substack: America’s Awesome