Overview

• Senate Commerce held a full committee hearing on Oct. 8 titled “Shut Your App,” examining claims that federal officials pushed social platforms to suppress lawful speech.
• Chair Ted Cruz released a report alleging the Biden-era CISA was used to pressure tech companies and said he will introduce legislation to ease suing the government and enable monetary damages.
• Alex Berenson and The Federalist’s Sean Davis testified that government pressure led to deplatforming, shadow-banning, and advertiser blacklisting, with Davis asserting the State Department’s GEC helped target his outlet.
• Democrats criticized the focus on Biden-era actions and highlighted current concerns over FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s “easy or hard way” remark before ABC briefly suspended and then reinstated Jimmy Kimmel, with senators inviting Carr to testify.
• The 2024 Supreme Court ruling in Murthy v. Missouri found plaintiffs lacked standing, constraining judicial remedies and prompting lawmakers to pursue statutory fixes through additional hearings and new legislation.