The Oliver Stone of Iran

Reese Erlich / Truthdig Apr 25, 2007 The veteran journalist and Mideast traveler profiles Jafar Panahi (above), whose socially conscious films have earned him critical acclaim, box-office success and the unwelcome scrutiny of his government. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

For China, a Criminally Funny Poem

Staff / Truthdig Jan 9, 2007 When Qin Zhongfei took 10 minutes to scribble down a satirical poem about local bureaucrats, he had no idea it would land him a month in jail -- a sign that free expression still languishes in China, despite hopes that President Hu Jintao's economic reforms would translate to a more open society. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Turks Acquitted for Publishing Chomsky

Staff / Truthdig Dec 21, 2006 A Turkish publisher, two editors and a translator have all been acquitted of insulting Turkishness. The four were charged for translating and publishing "Manufacturing Consent," by Noam Chomsky (above), which criticizes Turkey's treatment of Kurds. Though the EU has pressured Turkey to reform its laws regarding expression, it remains a crime there to insult the state. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Government Accused of Censorship

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2006 The National Security Council has blocked publication of an article critical of the Bush administration's Iran policy, claiming that it contains classified information. The piece was written by two former government Mideast experts, who have accused the NSC of playing politics: "They don't want us to say how many opportunities this administration has missed to put relations with Iran on a better track." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Playboy on Trial in Indonesia

Staff / Truthdig Dec 7, 2006 The editor of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine is on trial for indecency in the world's most populous Muslim state. The magazine contains no nudity, but the prosecution cited the "inviting expressions" of the underwear-clad models as one of the reasons it is asking for the maximum penalty of 32 months. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Dixie Chicks Ad NBC Won’t Run

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2006 NBC has told the Dixie Chicks it won't run an ad for their documentary because in it they criticize President Bush. Watch it. The irony: The Dixie Chicks are being silenced in trying to advertise a film about how they were silenced. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Military Bans Left-Leaning Blog, Permits Right-Wing Site

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2006 A Marine stationed in Iraq found he was blocked from accessing the cheeky, left-leaning political blog Wonkette, while he had no problem accessing conservative Michelle Malkin's site Hmmm . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Climate Researchers Feeling Heat From White House

Staff / Truthdig Apr 7, 2006 Bush & Co have apparently been muzzling climate scientists from speaking forthrightly to the public about global warming Shocker, right? Perhaps they thought last week's head fake on giving more free rein to NASA scientists would throw reporters off the scent . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Lying About the State of the Union

Molly Ivins / Truthdig Jan 31, 2006 As our government renames a civil liberties-trampling spying program and suppresses the results of its own studies, Americans are being left in an information vacuum regarding the true state of our union. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Media Outlets Censor Tape of Kidnapped Reporter

Blair Golson / Truthdig Jan 31, 2006 Jill Caroll, 28, appears pleading and weeping in a newly released tape. | storyTruthdig says: Al Jazeera won't let us hear Carroll's voice because it would be too "upsetting" to viewers. CNN CNN's "The Situation Room" won't even show a clip. What exactly is going on here? Why not let us, the viewers, decide what's too "upsetting"? How is this any different from Bush's censorship of coffins returning home from Iraq? We've watched jetliners packed with innocents crash into our Twin Towers. We've watched Iraqi civilians bombed in real time by our own forces. Since when did we become unable to judge for ourselves what we need to see to make sense of the world around us? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Exit Howard Stern, Enter Possibility

James Harris / Truthdig Jan 9, 2006 Howard Stern's move to Sirius just might change the radio business for good. But will the change be for the better? James Harris reports. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )