July 17, 2025

Today's front pages from around the South.

Front pages powered by the Freedom Forum

Featured
First Amendment designed to be a shield, but now is being used as a sword
First Amendment
First Amendment designed to be a shield, but now is being used as a sword
First Amendment

Charles Mitchell of the University of Mississippi and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts discusses the Trump administration’s attempts to use the First Amendment to change higher education.

First Amendment
Politics
Trump continues to reshape the landscape of the American presidency and news media
Politics

Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center, discusses the settlement of a libel suit Trump filed against CBS News over the editing of a 60 Minute interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Politics
First Amendment
More Anti-SLAPP laws needed to protect freedom of expression, particularly in the South
First Amendment

Numerous states have passed anti-SLAPP laws that provide mechanisms to have frivolous, malicious lawsuits dismissed before they can create harm. Several southern states, however, do not have anti-SLAPP laws and publishers in those states take on more risk when they publish than their counterparts in states with anti-SLAPP laws. Jared Schroeder of the University of Missouri and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts writes that more anti-SLAPP laws are needed to protect freedom of expression.

First Amendment
Featured
First Amendment designed to be a shield, but now is being used as a sword
First Amendment
First Amendment designed to be a shield, but now is being used as a sword
First Amendment

Charles Mitchell of the University of Mississippi and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts discusses the Trump administration’s attempts to use the First Amendment to change higher education.

First Amendment
Politics
Trump continues to reshape the landscape of the American presidency and news media
Politics

Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center, discusses the settlement of a libel suit Trump filed against CBS News over the editing of a 60 Minute interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Politics
First Amendment
More Anti-SLAPP laws needed to protect freedom of expression, particularly in the South
First Amendment

Numerous states have passed anti-SLAPP laws that provide mechanisms to have frivolous, malicious lawsuits dismissed before they can create harm. Several southern states, however, do not have anti-SLAPP laws and publishers in those states take on more risk when they publish than their counterparts in states with anti-SLAPP laws. Jared Schroeder of the University of Missouri and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts writes that more anti-SLAPP laws are needed to protect freedom of expression.

First Amendment
In a bit of a trick, Trump has placed Confederate names back on Southern military bases 
Politics
In a bit of a trick, Trump has placed Confederate names back on Southern military bases 
Politics

The names of Confederate leaders are back on military bases in the South, but the honorees are from a different era and have the same names that were moved by Congress. There seems to be a sense that the Trump administration is playing politics with the military and ignoring a bipartisan move by Congress, writes Tony Pederson of the Overby Center.

Politics
Overby Center to feature documentary on Soggy Sweat’s Whiskey Speech in October program
Events
Overby Center to feature documentary on Soggy Sweat’s Whiskey Speech in October program
Events

A new documentary film on Soggy Sweat’s iconic Whiskey Speech will be presented at a program in October by the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. When Prohibition was still in effect in Mississippi and the issue of liquor a major point of political and social discussion, Judge Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat first delivered the speech at the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, Miss., in 1952.

Events
For Christian comedian Jeff Foxworthy, jokes about religion cut too close to the bone
History & Perspective
For Christian comedian Jeff Foxworthy, jokes about religion cut too close to the bone
History & Perspective

Southern comedian Jeff Foxworthy has made the meme “you might be a redneck if…” famous. He tells Terry Mattingly of the Overby Center that since “we agree on about 85% of stuff,” he likes to stay in his own lane in his comedy routines.

History & Perspective

Southern Views & Current Topics

Explore insights and analysis from our Overby Center experts

About the Overby Center

The Overby Center for Southern Journalism & Politics explores the current intersection of media and politics in the American South and supports the principles of the First Amendment.

An independent center based on the University of Mississippi campus, it is an affiliate of the Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C.

Learn more >>

Overby Center Events

“USA TODAY Washington Bureau chief Susan Page says Trump has instituted broad change in first 100 days”

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 — The first 100 days of the Trump administration and interviewing notable women such as Barbara Walters were discussed in a program at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief for USA TODAY and a veteran reporter and observer of American politics, discussed her journalistic career.

Event overview | Watch on YouTube (1:02)

UP NEXT —

Bob Dylan’s civil rights work and Mississippi connections to be focus of Overby Center program

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 — The music and early civil rights work of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will be the focus of a fall program at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. “Songs of Freedom: Bob Dylan’s Mississippi,” will be presented Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Overby Center Auditorium on the Ole Miss campus.

Learn more >>

UP NEXT —

“Overby Center to feature documentary on Soggy Sweat’s Whiskey Speech in October program”

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 — A new documentary film on Soggy Sweat’s iconic Whiskey Speech will be presented at a program in October by the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. When Prohibition was still in effect in Mississippi and the issue of liquor a major point of political and social discussion, Judge Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat first delivered the speech at the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, Miss., in 1952.

Watch Trailer | Learn more >>