 |
|
|
|||||
If we dont have Free Speech, then we just dont have a Free Country. Its as simple as that. President Donald Trump said in one of his campaign statements where he previewed how his administration would protect free expression. On January 20, the first day of his new term in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship (Free Speech EO). The order largely restates existing law, which prohibits the federal government from engaging in unconstitutional censorship, but as a statement of policy it could theoretically increase protections for legal speech and reduce the number of circumstances in which the federal government seeks the suppression of viewpoints it dislikes. But, not long after President Trump signed this order, he and his administration began to violate it. In the few weeks since President Trump took office, the administration has already taken multiple actions to censor or chill speech it dislikes online and off. It has also taken action to undermine tools of free expression even though they align with its stated foreign policy objectives of defeating authoritarianism. To wit: On January 20, the same day as the Free Speech EO, President Trump issued an executive order entitled Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. Anodyne though it may sound, it is having a broad and deep impact on free expression globally. As our friends at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) pointed out, the United States has long funded programs that support technologies that enhance privacy, fight censorship, and support internet freedomand this order is directly undermining those programs. Other global free expression advocates, those that track internet shutdowns and attempts by authoritarian governments to suppress the speech of dissidents living abroad, are also impacted. This order undermines free expression globally, as well as the stated goals of the administration. It is a gift to our adversaries, particularly China and Russia. Two days after President Trump issued the Free Speech EO, on January 22, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reinstated complaints against broadcasters ABC, CBS and NBC over their coverage of the 2024 election. The complaints alleged that fact-checking of Presidential debates, news interviews with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and her appearance on Saturday Night Live before the election, as well as other election-related coverage, were biased and violated the broadcasters public interest obligations.The previous FCC chair had already dismissed the complaints as contrary to the First Amendment, because it is not the FCCs, nor any government officials, role to control the speech or editorial decisions of journalists or adjudicate bias. That power, in the governments hands, smacks of authoritarianism.Unfortunately, the FCCs actions appear to have been the start of a trend of investigating news organizations. In just the ensuing few weeks, it has opened investigations into NPR and PBS, alleging they are all of a sudden breaking sponsorship rules, and into KCBS in San Francisco for reporting on the location of ICE officers. Even if these investigations are ultimately closed without action, the mere fact of opening themand the implicit threat to the news stations license to operatecan have the effect of deterring the press from news coverage that the administration dislikes. On January 27, seven days after the Free Speech EO, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo entitled Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs. The memo purported to order a pause in all federally funded programs pending a review of those programs for their alignment with the Trump administration’s priorities, including ensuring that no funding goes toward advancing Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies. This order is a blatant attempt to force government grantees to cease engaging in speech that the current administration dislikes, including speech about the benefits of diversity in education or in employee pools, speech about climate change, and speech related to LGBTQ issues. The First Amendment does not permit the government to discriminate against grantees because it does not like some of the viewpoints they espouse. Indeed, those groups that are challenging the constitutionality of the order argued as much in their complaint, and have won an injunction blocking its implementation. The administration has also issued multiple executive orders seeking to enforce its position that there are only two genders and that diversity and equity goals are unlawful to implement in schools. Among other things, these orders prohibit people from having gender markers that differ from the sex they were assigned at birth on their federal identification documents, including passports. They also seek to excise teaching about historical discrimination, including about slavery, from K-12 curricula. Under the guise of fighting anti-Semitism, President Trump has threatened to remove non-citizen college students who protested Israels war in Gaza. In a Fact Sheet that accompanied an Executive Order issued on January 29, Trump said, ominously, To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: Come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you. I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses. Removing non-citizens on account of their speech or their sympathies cannot be squared with a commitment to free speech or with the First Amendment. The administration is also circulating lists of banned words for staff of government agenciesprohibiting basic free expression of the many American citizens who work as researchers or government employeesand directly censoring he display of pictures of women and people of color and disfavored words including diversity and integrity. In response the NSA is deleting websites and internal network content containing any of the banned words and the NSF is scouring research grants for any reference or use of the words. The Defense Department is also reportedly restricting access to books on topics from immigration to psychology and more in its school system that serves military families. If banning words and books arent a speech restriction, its unclear what would be. In each case, administration officials are moving in ways that directly contradict President Trumps own executive order and their own stated goals of upholding a Free Speech agenda, attempting to use government power not just to promote their own views but to actively punish (and silence) those who disagree. These are just a few examples of the censorship efforts the new Trump administration has embarked on. There are likely many more examples in the growing pile of actions the administration has taken and more in those they will soon implement, including an announced plan to dismantle the Department of Education, the federal agency responsible for ensuring all students in this country have access to education. The fact is that candidate-Trump was right. If we dont have free speech, we dont have a free country. An administration truly committed to the First Amendment would stand up and defend everyones speech rights, especially those of the people who express disagreement with it. But that time-honored principle is utterly incompatible with this administration’s actions undermining constitutionally protected freedoms here in the United States and around the world. This administration, while it might tout its devotion to free expression with empty words, is doing profound damage to free expression with its actions. This story originally appeared on the Center for Democracy and Technology’s website and is republished here with permission.
Category:
E-Commerce
As the Super Bowl clock ticked just below three minutes left in the game, Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith picked up the giant Gatorade cooler, snuck behind head coach Nick Sirianni on the sideline, and hit him with the traditional shower celebration. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Philadelphia Eagles (@philadelphiaeagles) It was probably one of the best ads of the Super Bowl, and it wasnt even a commercial. And yet, it still told a story about how close the ties are between this brand and one of the most significant moments in sports. This year, Gatorade celebrates its 60th anniversary since Dr. James Cade first concocted his formula to keep the Florida Gators football team hydrated. Gatorade chief brand officer Anuj Bhasin says the brand is going to mark the occasion throughout the year with a strategy that aims to set things up for the next six decades. Its a balance of honoring the past, while still pushing an image of innovation. The brand still holds more than 60% market share in sports drinks, but is also competing with brands like Liquid Death, all the energy drinks, water brands, and whatever else is available in the corner store fridge. The brand has been experimenting with various ways to move beyond just a sports drink to become an overall sports fuel brand for the past decade. That goal continues in earnest into its 60th year. We have to think differently about how we use leading edge science to solve athlete problems, says Bhasin. We’re going to be thinking much more expansively about what what athletes might need and what they’re going to be having access to over the next 60 (years). Linebacker Harry Carson of the New York Giants splashes a bucket of Gatorade over Head coach Bill Parcells after defeating the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXI on January 25, 1987, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. [Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images] Building on tradition Theres no doubt that Gatorade sponsorship investments keep the sports drink on the big league sidelines. In 2022, brand parent company PepsiCo renewed its deal with the NFL for another eight years, and actually codeveloped a new caffeine-infused sports drink called Fast Twitch with the league. No financial details were released, but the previous deal was reportedly $2 billion over 10 years. But the post-win shower was not a brand invention. It started 40 years ago during the 1984 NFL season, though there is a dispute about who started itthe New York Giants or the Chicago Bears. Last year, the brand launched an updated take on its classic It Is In You? campaign, starting with a spot narrated by Michael Jordan. It also brought back the brands classic aesthetic of black and white images, highlighted with colorful Gatorade-flavored sweat, now featuring Caitlin Clark, Aja Wilson, Jayson Tatum, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Josh Allen all perspiring the brand colors. [Photos: Gatorade] That campaign helped boost the brand in a couple areas, according to a digital brand lift study with DISQO. First, Gatorade saw an 18% growth in the number of people who think Gatorade improves athletic performance, and 12.6% lift in people who think it is scientifically proven to rehydrate faster than water” (Even if that’s a very debatable point). Bhasin says the brand also made a pivot in its approach to its social marketing, shifting from moments the brand createdcampaigns, ad launchesto reacting and capitalizing on moments in sports culture. This week, when Luka Doncic was set to make his debut as a Los Angeles Laker, Gatorade posted a video of the Hollywood sign flipping its Ls to resemble the NBA stars number 77 jersey. It attracted more than two million views on X alone. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gatorade (@gatorade) The brand is also pushing harder on a shift its made over the past year that is less centered on the brand, but led by its athletes, influencers, and scientific experts. Consumers dont have to listen to us. They can skip our commercials. They can skip our digital creative, says Bhasin. They will opt into it if the content is highly relevant, so developing content that is founded in sport culture and sport science is the biggest shift that we’re making. Over the next few months, the newest batch of brand content will start rolling out. Last year was hyper focused on resharpening who we were and what we stood for with athletes, says Bhasin. This year is about deepening that trust emotionally with them, while also showcasing a road map to the future.
Category:
E-Commerce
Watch any Olympic event, and youll notice this universal ritual: The moment an athlete completes their performance, they turn to their coach for feedback. Theres no defensivenessjust a hunger to know how to improve. They understand that even the smallest adjustment could be the difference between standing on the podium or watching from the sidelines. For athletes, feedback is not criticism. Its a tool for enhancement. This mindset isnt confined to sports. High performers in every fieldwhether thats business, academia, or the artsshare an insatiable appetite for actionable feedback. Its their secret weapon for continual improvement. Why feedback fuels growth Feedback often gets a bad reputation. Many people mistakenly view it as a critique of past performance or decisions. But reframing feedback as an investment in future growth shifts the narrative. High achievers dont see it as an attack on their abilities. They see it as an opportunity to elevate their performance.In organizations, feedback takes many forms: executives refining leadership skills through 360-degree reviews, entrepreneurs tweaking pitches after investor input, or creatives honing their craft with input from trusted peers. The best performers seek it proactively, seeing it as their competitive edge. They dont just ask for feedbackthey act on it. Here are some lessons that we can take from how high performers see feedback. 1. Feedback is a collaboration, not criticism Olympians focus on improvement, not excuses. Scott Hamilton, Olympic champion figure skater, shared with me the wise words his coach told him: Never give excuses, offer reasons. Excuses stall growth, Hamilton explained, but reasons illuminate areas for adjustment. Similarly, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasizes the value of being a learn-it-all over a know-it-all. This echoes psychologist Carol Dwecks work on mindsets: Individuals with a growth mindset embrace feedback as fuel for improvement, while those with a fixed mindset see it as a threat. High performers treat feedback as a collaborative effort to refine their skills, not a critique of their character. 2. Small adjustments can lead to big impact Feedback doesnt have to mean an overwhelming overhaul. Often, its minor tweakschanging the tone of a presentation, adjusting priorities in a projectthat lead to the biggest breakthroughs. 3. Dont wait for feedback, ask for it High performers actively seek feedback instead of waiting for annual reviews or chance encounters. By asking for input, they demonstrate curiosity and a commitment to growth. People are often eager to help those who genuinely want to improve. When seeking feedback, specificity is key. Instead of asking, Do you have any feedback? try,Whats one thing I could do to make this presentation more engaging? Clear, targeted questions yield actionable insights. 4. Feedback is a continuous process Annual performance reviews arent enough. Thats because feedback is most effective in two forms: Reflection-in-action: Immediate insights during the task, like an Olympian receiving real-time coaching from their coach on the sidelines during a competition. Reflection-on-action: Deliberate analysis after the fact, such as debriefing a major presentation to identify lessons for the future. Turning feedback into action Over time, this continuous feedback loop drives incremental changes that compound into significant growth. To integrate feedback effectively, high performers follow these five strategies: Ask specific questions: Shift from vague to precise. Instead of, How am I doing? ask, Whats one way I can make this project more impactful? or, What is an idea I should consider to shorten my time to closing a deal? Build a feedback network: Seek diverse perspectives from managers, peers, clients, and stakeholders. Each offers unique insights. For example, ask, What can I do to make this communication clearer? Normalize feedback in teams: Foster a culture of regular, informal feedback. You can use after-action reviewscommon in the military and healthcareto refine processes and achieve better outcomes. When it becomes part of the tapestry of the organization, people learn to expect it. If you do it right, it offers an opportunity to extract a lesson from one event and use it in another. Act quickly: Show that you value input by implementing feedback as quickly as possible. Close the loop with the person who shared itexplain what youve changed or why you chose not to, which demonstrates intentional thought. Reflect and adjust: Self-reflection is as critical as external input. Review your work, look for areas of improvement, and experiment with new approaches. Consider recording yourself, practicing in front of a mirror, or viewing your performance from the perspective of key stakeholders. Reframing feedback as a growth tool Every project, like every athletes performance, is an experimenta chance to refine and improve. By reframing feedback as an enabler of professional success, not a critique of abilities, you unlock the potential for lasting achievement. Olympians rely on their coaches to fine-tune their performance. In the same way, embracing feedback with a growth mindset transforms high potential into high performance.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||