Newsweek: on Civil Rights

Bob Barr: Threats to liberty in post-9/11 world require libertarianism

A: I’ve had the opportunity over the last few years to work with the Libertarians. They’ve had a chance to get to know me. Of course, there are always going to be some naysayers, but the vast majority of Libertarians that I’ve worked with have come to understand my views and my commitment to the Libertarian Party and its principles. I also have explained many times to Libertarians that the post-9/11 world is a very different world from the one I served in Congress. The threats to our liberty in a post-9/11 world are dramatically greater than prior to that. The changes have really necessitated--in my case and I think in the eyes of a lot of Americans--a re-evaluation of where we stand on a whole range of issues regarding government power and have highlighted the need to start rolling those back with greater urgency.

Doug Jones: 2000: Got convictions of two involved in 1963 church bombing

George W. Bush: No gay adoptions; but listens to gay GOP group

Bush admitted that, growing up in Texas, he had not been as open to elements of America's diverse culture. He had a narrow set of friends and a firm set of traditions. But he was surprised and dismayed to hear that people saw him as intolerant. "What have I said that sent that signal?" he asked repeatedly.

He assured us he would hire gays who both were qualified and shared his political views. When one of us talked about his lesbian sister and her partner adopting children, he acknowledged his often-stated belief that gays should not adopt.

Though Bush was attentive--and does show a willingness to hear all sides--I don't think we changed his positions. He still opposes gay marriage and opposes classifying crimes against gays as hate crimes.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Insurrection defendants are political prisoners of war

Last week, she said she had visited what she described as the "patriot wing" of the jail, tweeting that inmates had "virtually no medical care, very poor food quality, and being put through re-education," without giving further details. Greene wrote: "No one has argued in defense of the Capitol riot, and I've always openly said I was very upset by it, but after seeing these men myself in the DC Jail, I can attest this abuse is true."

"J6 defendants are political prisoners of war," she added. As well as her claims of prisoner abuse, Greene has defended those involved in the riot. Last month, she said that Jan. 6 "was just a riot. And if you think about what our Declaration of Independence says, it says to overthrow tyrants."

Samuel Alito: Schools cannot limit student speech insulting other students

Alito said that the policy may be "brave, futile or merely silly." But by proscribing disparaging speech about a person's "values," the speech code "strikes at the heart of moral and political discourse-the lifeblood of constitutional self-government and the core concern of the First Amendment."

Alito concluded there is "no categorical ‘harassment exception' to the First Amendment" just because of the secondary effects of certain kinds of speech with emotive impact. Such speech, although perhaps "evil and offensive, may be used to communicate ideas or emotions that nevertheless implicate First Amendment protections."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Against biological males participating in women's sports

Marianne Williamson: Declare transgender murder/suicide a national emergency

President Biden has voiced support for transgender rights, but has faced some scrutiny from LGBTQ+ advocates over his plan for transgender athletes in high school sports.

Williamson has called for more protections for the LGBTQ+ community, including for transgender individuals. She supports declaring transgender murder and suicide rates a national emergency, legislation requiring police departments to "ensure fairer interactions with transgender people," and implementing LGBTQ+ inclusive public education, according to her campaign site.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., however, has broken from most Democrats on one key issue surrounding transgender rights, saying that he is "against people participating in women's sports who are biologically male."

Kari Lake: Pride Month marketing being "thrown" in people's faces