'The most outrageous intimidation effort in history': Mark Levin's electoral deep dive



Are you ready for a very "necessary deep dive?" In this video, Mark Levin broke down key details that he described as the "most outrageous intimidation effort in history." Mark covered:

  • A U.S. attorney's Office in Washington D.C. that issues subpoenas like lollipops on Republican offices
  • Crushing the Constitution and shredding attorney-client privilege
  • Casting a broad net trying to get Trump Republicans and Republican state legislatures caught up in a massive criminal conspiracy

While much of the political attention seems to focus on "fake electors," Mark turned to the Constitution to see what the law states about the role of the state legislature's the electoral process, the proper process, and why it could seem to folks that perhaps maybe Democrats either do not understand the law or they are deliberately deceiving the American people ... theoretically, of course.


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Yet another HS tries to censor 'very Christianized' speech by valedictorian — and reverses course when called out by law firm



On the heels of a Michigan high school valedictorian being told faith references in her graduation speech are "not appropriate" — and then the principal reversing her position after getting a complaint letter from a law firm — yet another high school in the state decided against carrying out the same move toward censorship after the same law firm complained.

What are the details?

First Liberty Institute sent a Tuesday letter to Michael Wegher — principal of John Glenn High School in Westland — over his attempt to censor the "very Christianized" portion of Savannah Lefler's speech set to be part of senior honors night, which is scheduled next week.

Lefler's original speech notes that philosophies espoused by the likes of Plato and Charles Darwin are "wrong" — and then she declares that, "The purpose of life is to live a life devoted to Christ. Westminster Catechism Number One, 'The Chief Purpose for Which Man is Made is to Glorify God, and to Enjoy Him Forever,'" the letter says.

Wegher told Lefler that her speech needed a "revision" since "we have students and staff who would identify as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindi, Sikh, Jehovah's Witnesses, atheist, etc. We must be inclusive and respectful of their beliefs as well," the letter adds.

Pushback

First Liberty's letter informed the principal that "student graduation speeches constitute private speech, not government speech, and private speech is not subject to the Establishment Clause. Contrary to your assertion, Ms. Lefler's statements do not transform into government speech simply because they are delivered in a public school setting or channel."

The law firm told Wegher that his actions constitute "violating students' rights under the Free Speech Clause" and requested that he "allow Ms. Lefler to express her private religious beliefs in her Honors Night speech" by Wednesday.

That was fast

Well, First Liberty said in a news release Wednesday the school's decision was "reversed" and that Lefler would be allowed to deliver she speech in the way she wanted.

The law firm said while the school district's response didn't concede "a legal requirement," it allows a "one-time non-negotiable relinquishment of control" that lets her give her remarks with a disclaimer stating that the speech is not endorsed by the school.

"May God be glorified in the situation," Lefler said in reaction to the decision, First Liberty said. "I'm thankful I will be able to share my faith in Christ with my classmates and pray that this never happens to another student in the future."

But the district doesn't seem too pleased

According to the Christian Post, the letter from the school district's attorney told First Liberty that its legal position was "without any merit whatsoever."

"Nearly half of Ms. Lefler's draft speech was unmoored from any sort of academic or pedagogical interest related to the School District's Honors Convocation. Rather, it was an attempt to proselytize at a school-sponsored event, with the School District's imprimatur," attorney Kevin T. Sutton wrote, according to the outlet.

Sutton's letter added, "Indeed, it is not a speech — it is a sermon," the Christian Post noted.

The outlet added that the draft of Lefler's speech also said, "Seeing that man is completely unable to achieve perfection, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through the perfect life of Jesus Christ, who is God in flesh."

It also said, "He not only lived perfectly, but he was killed on a cross and took the punishment that humans deserve. Then he rose from the dead three days later, thus vindicating His holiness and divinity. This allows us to fulfill our purpose in glorifying God because we can now stand before Him blameless if we repent and trust in Christ and His finished work. May His name be praised forever!" the Christian Post said.

'Victory': Christian valedictorian now allowed to mention her faith in graduation speech after principal called out by law firm



A valedictorian from a Michigan high school now is allowed to mention her Christian faith in her graduation speech set for next week after the school's principal — who had said the faith reference was "not appropriate" — was called out in a complaint letter, First Liberty Institute said.

In a brief note on its website titled, "Victory: Michigan High School Student No Longer Censored,Michigan High School Student No Longer Censored," First Liberty said Hillsdale High School reversed its decision preventing Elizabeth Turner from referencing her faith.

"We are grateful to school officials for acting swiftly to ensure that religious students can freely exercise their right to express their faith in a graduation speech," Keisha Russell, Counsel for First Liberty Institute, said. "Elizabeth is thrilled that she'll be able to celebrate her graduation without being censored. We hope that future graduates will be free from religious censorship."

Turner noted that she's "grateful I will be able to share my faith with my classmates, and I pray that God uses this situation to advance His kingdom."

What's the background?

According to First Liberty, one section of Turner's speech noted, "For me, my future hope is found in my relationship with Christ. By trusting in him and choosing to live a life dedicated to bringing his kingdom glory, I can be confident that I am living a life with purpose and meaning. My identity is found by what God says and who I want to become is laid out in scripture."

The legal firm said the school's principal, Amy Goldsmith, reacted by highlighting that paragraph, along with a second, and telling Turner that "you are representing the school in the speech, not using the podium as your public forum. We need to be mindful about the inclusion of religious aspects. These are your strong beliefs, but they are not appropriate for a speech in a school public setting. I know this will frustrate you, but we have to be mindful of it."

Image source: First Liberty Institute

What happened next?

Turner got in touch with First Liberty, and the law firm said it sent a letter to Goldsmith informing her that she's "violating federal law, which permits private religious speech at school events, and demanding that she allow Elizabeth to reference her faith."

First Liberty also said student graduation speeches constitute private speech, not government speech, and private speech is not subject to the Establishment Clause. The law firm added that Turner's statements "do not transform into government speech simply because they are delivered in a public setting or to a public audience."

The letter concluded by requesting that Goldsmith "allow Elizabeth Turner to express her private religious beliefs at the graduation ceremony on June 6, 2021. Please confirm that you agree to our request by Friday, May 28, 2021 at 5PM."

(H/T: Christian Post)