Texas

Texas asks Supreme Court to keep state social media censorship law in effect

Published

2 years ago

May 18, 2022

Texas asks Supreme Court to keep state social media censorship law in effect

In a submitting to the Court docket on Wednesday, Texas argued that its legislation, HB 20, which prohibits giant social media corporations from blocking, banning or demoting posts or accounts, doesn’t violate the First Modification.

It contrasts with claims by opponents, together with the tech business, that the laws infringes on the constitutional rights of tech platforms to make editorial selections and to be free from government-compelled speech.

The case is seen as a bellwether for social media and will decide whether or not tech platforms might should cut back their content material moderation and permit a broad vary of fabric that their phrases presently prohibit.

Justice Samuel Alito is presently contemplating whether or not to grant an emergency keep of a decrease courtroom choice that had allowed the legislation to take impact final week. The legislation is being challenged by advocacy teams representing the tech business.

In courtroom papers, the advocacy teams name the legislation “an unprecedented assault on the editorial discretion of personal web sites.” They warn it might “compel platforms to disseminate all types of objectionable viewpoints — corresponding to Russia’s propaganda claiming that its invasion of Ukraine is justified, ISIS propaganda claiming that extremism is warranted, neo-Nazi or KKK screeds denying or supporting the Holocaust, and inspiring youngsters to interact in dangerous or unhealthy conduct like consuming problems.”

In response on Wednesday, Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton argued that HB 20 doesn’t infringe on tech platforms’ speech rights because the state legislation as a substitute seeks to manage the businesses’ conduct with regard to their customers. Even when the legislation did elevate First Modification considerations, he argued, these considerations are adequately addressed by the truth that HB 20 seeks to outline social media corporations as “widespread carriers” akin to telephone corporations and railroads.

The case has already drawn “buddy of the courtroom” briefs from third events together with teams such because the Anti-Defamation League and the Texas State Convention of the NAACP, who urged the courtroom to dam the legislation, arguing it can “remodel social media platforms into on-line repositories of vile, graphic, dangerous, hateful, and fraudulent content material, of no utility to the people who presently interact in these communities.”

Additionally in search of to file a third-party temporary was former Rep. Chris Cox, co-author of the tech platform legal responsibility protect often called Part 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal legislation that explicitly permits web sites to average content material and which has change into a lightning rod within the wider battle over digital speech.

Social media operators have repeatedly cited Part 230 to efficiently nip many fits within the bud regarding user-generated content material. However HB 20 conflicts with Part 230 by saying platforms will be sued in Texas for moderating their on-line communities, elevating questions on the way forward for the federal legislation that is been described as “the 26 phrases that created the web.”

On Saturday, Alito gave Texas a deadline of Wednesday night to file its response to the keep request. He might both make a unilateral choice on the keep, or refer the choice to the complete Court docket.

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Texas

Former All-Star Potential Trade Target for Texas Rangers

Published

3 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Press Room

Former All-Star Potential Trade Target for Texas Rangers

It’s not as if the Texas Rangers have major holes in the lineup that need to be plugged before the trade deadline. That wasn’t the case last season.

The Rangers made serious additions in 2023, especially on the pitching side. The club brought in top-flight starters in Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery shortly before the deadline after an early trade for reliever Aroldis Chapman.

Health and depth might be the biggest needs for defending World Series champions in 2024. The Rangers are still waiting on slew of pitchers to return, including Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle and Cody Bradford. Third baseman Josh Jung is closer to coming back, while the status of outfielder Evan Carter is somewhat murky.

The overriding theme is time, as the Rangers for a considerable infusion of talent once they get healthy. In the meantime, with the trade deadline looming, Texas can make some moves to address depth in the race to chase down the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the American League West.

A recent report from MLB.com suggested that the Rangers should get help behind catcher Jonah Heim.

Rangers catchers have the fourth-lowest OPS in the Majors (.597), and while Jonah Heim is locked in as the starter, adding a second backstop to pick up some of the load would benefit Texas as it tries to chase down the Astros and Mariners in the AL West.
– MLB.com

Colorado Rockies backstop Elias Díaz was listed as a possible fit. With the Rockies out of contention and in a “sell” position, unloading the veteran catcher and his $6 million contract makes sense. Díaz is a solid hitter (.270/.329/.724) and defender who could take some of the load off Heim during the stretch run, much as Mitch Garver did last season.

Díaz was an All-Star in 2023 and was named the game’s MVP after hitting a home run in the eighth inning.

The trade deadline is July 30.

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Texas

Texas Rangers interested in pair of Rays All-Stars to boost offense, report says

Published

11 hours ago

July 27, 2024

Press Room

Texas Rangers interested in pair of Rays All-Stars to boost offense, report says

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Friday afternoon that the Texas Rangers were among the teams in discussions with the Tampa Bay Rays about Isaac Paredes and Yandy Díaz.

Díaz made the All-Star team in 2023 as a first baseman and Paredes was an All-Star third baseman this summer.

This comes just after The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Rangers were looking for a bat and had called about Díaz. The Rays have also declared themselves as sellers, shipping outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Mariners and pitcher Zac Eflin to the Orioles, so Tampa Bay is open for business.

Both Díaz and Paredes play positions that the Rangers are well-stocked at, so both would be in line fill in as DH or play in the field as needed. The Rangers rank dead last in the MLB in OPS out of the DH slot in their lineup, so any extra bat would be welcome.

Díaz narrowly won the AL batting title over Corey Seager in 2023 with a .330 batting average, but his numbers are down a bit this season. His .726 OPS is down from his career .805 mark and his .932 2023 mark, but would still present a considerable upgrade for the Rangers.

Paredes is having a better season, currently with a .797 OPS and 129 OPS+, but would present a bit more of a positional logjam with Josh Smith and Josh Jung manning third base.

Paredes has also cooled off considerably as the season has worn on. His .867 OPS in March/April and .915 OPS in May has dipped to .713 in June and .640 in July. Paredes is batting just .136 in July.

Both players are on affordable contracts beyond this season as well. Díaz is signed through 2025 for a total of $18 million with a $12 million team option for 2026, while Paredes is under contract through the 2027 season.

The Rangers have made it known they are buyers at the deadline after catching fire in July just ahead of the deadline as rumors of being sellers swirled. But urgency remains high after Friday’s walk-off loss to the Blue Jays, as the first-place Astros and second-place Mariners both won. Texas trails Houston by 3.5 games and Seattle by 2.5 games heading into Saturday.

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Texas

2 Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of

Published

18 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

2 Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of “El Chapo,” arrested in Texas – CBS News

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Two leaders of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, including one of the sons of the imprisoned drug lord “El Chapo,” Joaquín Guzmán López, were apprehended Thursday in Texas. Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a cofounder of Sinaloa, was lured to Texas by López, according to sources. Manuel Bojorquez has details.