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Free Speech Under Fire: The First Amendment in the Age of Trump
Two Zoom Sessions
Wed., Oct. 8, 15, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is a bedrock principle of the nation—there is perhaps no set of values more core to America than the free exercise of speech and the press, the right to assemble, and the ability to petition the government for redress of grievances. The U.S. is one of about 25 countries said to have “near-absolute” First Amendment protections, and legally at least, the amendment remains strong, with courts generally ruling in favor of it. But the key question in 2025 is this: Will the amendment remain strong? In the era of President Donald Trump, there has been a significant rise in legal, social and extra-judicial challenges to the absolute reach of the First Amendment, with many pending legal cases and lawsuits filed since the beginning of Trump’s second term in January 2025. Join Tripp Baltz, journalist, teacher and researcher, in this consideration of the nation’s primary constitutional protection. This timely, two-meeting class covers the history of free speech rights both here and abroad, and then examines the current legal battles which may decide the future of open expression, and perhaps the future direction of our country. Come away with a fresh perspective on the challenges that face democracy in the U.S. today.

is an award-winning journalist and writer. He served for nearly 30 years as a correspondent for Bloomberg, covering legal and business news. He’s now the head of research for Boomtown Innovation, a business strategy and services firm in Boulder. His interests include international affairs, history, creative nonfiction and politics.