Texas
Hulu rejects Texas church’s local ad, accusing it of ‘religious indoctrination’
Hulu reportedly rejected a Texas church’s local ad, claiming that it violated their policies on “Religious Indoctrination.”
First Liberty Institute issued a press release on Monday which accused the streaming service of unfairly rejecting a 22-second ad by the Hulen Street Church in Fort Worth.
The ad promoted the church’s weekly Thursday services and was previously shared on Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads.
However, according to the firm, Hulu rejected the ad twice.
“[I]t was determined that your ad was rejected for failing to adhere to our advertising polices regarding religious advertising, specifically citing Religious Indoctrination due to asking viewers to attend Thursday services,” the rejection read.
First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys wrote to Hulu, “We ask that Hulu clarify its policy concerning ‘Religious Indoctrination’ to make clear that religious speech, like that contemplated by the advertisement in question, is welcome on its platform. Further, we request that Hulu immediately allow Hulen Street Church’s Thursday night services ad to run on Hulu’s local ad platform. Hulu has reversed course on its advertising decisions before, and it should do so again here.”
While Hulu’s ad restriction policy states that it reviews religious-themed ads on “a case-by-case basis,” it does not specifically reference “religious indoctrination,” or any clear concern, as an issue.
Dys told Fox News Digital Hulu not giving more specific guidance for the eligibility of religious ads is “almost worse” than an outright ban.
“It’s not, but it’s almost worse because that leaves people, especially religious individuals going ‘am I going to be next or I going to be welcome?’” Dys said. “There’s no way for someone who is trying to make an advertisement that is religious or otherwise to really know if their speech is up to snuff or not. But the First Amendment has settled this issue for the country. I think Disney and Hulu would do well to adopt it for themselves.”
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Dys emphasized that while Hulu is free to reject ads as a private company, it is incumbent on them to clarify its policies regarding religious content.
“That’s really up to them, but tell us what it is. Tell us what the policy actually is, not this nebulous case by case basis,” Dys said.
He remarked, “Do they want to censor religious speech? Then just tell everybody we don’t want religious advertisements on our platform. At least they’ll know, and they’ll stop allowing them to apply. But if you’re going to say, ‘Well, some religious speech, we’re going to allow, but not others,’ you’ve just created a big problem for yourself. You’ve announced to the world that there is some level of religious beliefs that we will welcome, but we get to decide which ones we like and which ones we don’t like. That’s fundamentally unfair.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Hulu for comment but has yet to receive a response.
AUSTIN – Texas officials are rolling out a new online hub aimed at helping residents spot and report the New World screwworm, a pest Gov. Greg Abbott says threatens livestock, wildlife, and the state’s rural economy.
Abbott announced the launch of screwworm.texas.gov, an enhanced website housed in the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Disaster Portal that he described as a “one-stop shop” for information and resources tied to the state’s response.
The New World screwworm poses a direct threat to Texas livestock, wildlife, and our rural economy,” Abbott said. “This new website puts essential tools in the hands of our producers, veterinarians, and families. Screwworm.texas.gov delivers the facts, maps, identification methods, and certification resources Texans need to detect problems early and report cases without delay. Now every Texan has the information to act. Texas will protect our land, our animals, and our way of life from this pest.
According to the governor’s office, the site is designed to provide “actionable and reliable multimedia information” about the New World screwworm, including fact sheets, videos, and educational materials.
The portal includes background information, guidance on how to spot the pest, sample collection procedures, Texas Animal Health Commission New World screwworm zone maps, the U.S. Department of Agriculture case dashboard, links to best practices for livestock and wildlife, and details on registering for a new no-cost New World screwworm Certified Inspector Training.
The governor’s office said state and federal partners are working together to detect, control and contain the spread, and that expanding public outreach and providing clear information is a key part of reducing risk.
Abbott’s office also highlighted actions taken by the governor in response to the pest, including:
- Directing the creation of a joint Texas New World screwworm Response Team
- Joining USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce a $750 million investment in a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg
- Issuing a statewide disaster declaration ahead of the first detection
- Deploying state resources and activating the State Emergency Operations Center after the first confirmed Texas cases
- Visiting the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville for a briefing
- Launching a free online training course to certify more inspectors
- Announcing federal funding to strengthen inspection capacity.
Texans are urged to inspect livestock and pets for wounds and report suspected cases immediately, including in wildlife.
For livestock and pets, suspected cases should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission’s 24-hour veterinarian call line at 1-800-550-8242.
For wildlife, reports should be made to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s 24-hour biologists’ call line at 512-389-4505. Officials also warn people not to move affected animals.
More information and updates are available at screwworm.texas.gov and screwworm.gov.
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
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