Three Things You Need to Know - September 21, 2017

College students are becoming hostile toward free speech.

Does the First Amendment protect hate speech?

That’s what U.S. college students were asked last month in a nationwide study to gauge their understanding of the First Amendment. The results were not encouraging.

44 percent of college students said “No” --- that hate speech is not protected under the First Amendment. 16 percent said they didn’t know.

In case any of those students are listening, the correct answer is yes, the First Amendment does protect hate speech. You might find the speech totally disgusting, but hate speech is indeed protected by our Constitution. And if you don’t understand why this protection is absolutely vital, then we need a ton of remedial education.

RELATED: 44 Percent of College Students Are Wrong About the First Amendment in This Survey

If there is a speaker on campus that students consider offensive, 51 percent said it’s okay for a student group to shout over the speaker so the audience can’t hear.

Even worse --- 19 percent of college students said it’s okay to use violence to keep a controversial speaker from speaking on campus. Antifa recruiters must be salivating.

Students, here’s another Constitutional right you may not know about --- you have the right to not listen to speakers that offend you.

This advice will be especially handy for Berkeley students next week during their “Free Speech Week.” Stay home. Read a book. Hang out with friends. Go to a concert. Study at the library. Whatever. Just don’t cave in to the lie that you must physically restrain anyone who offends you.

These study results are evidence of out-of-control progressivism. It’s easy to mock, we can blame and point fingers. But what do we do about it? How do we fix such ignorance?

We have to make sure our own house is in order. Parents --- we can’t assume our children are learning the Constitution at school. If we don’t pass that torch in our own homes, you can be sure most schools and universities are not going to get the job done.

How do you tell the good guys from the bad guys?

Look at the Middle East right now in the war on ISIS. ISIS is the obvious easy answer --- definitely bad guys --- but after that, it gets harder and harder to decide who our friends are.

Turkey claims to be our ally, but they’ve been letting terrorists slip into Syria since this entire thing started. And defeating ISIS isn’t even their main objective. Killing Kurds is.

Iran’s another easy one. We don’t consider them allies, but we’ve been flying air support for their proxy forces since this war began. The very same forces that were attacking our soldiers and Marines just a few years ago.

How about Iraq? Most of ISIS’ commanders came from Saddam’s army. When ISIS came back, the Iraqi Army basically just handed them Mosul and half their country, along with all their weapons.

In the entire region, only the Iraqi Kurds held their ground and fought. You might remember the Kurds from the primary debates during the election. “Supporting the Kurds” almost became a unanimous catch-phrase. Out of all the countries I’ve just mentioned, these are the good guys.

It couldn’t be any more obvious, but --- for some reason --- the State Department is having a hard time with this. They announced yesterday that they’re opposing the Iraqi Kurd independence referendum which is happening on Monday. That puts us in alignment with the three countries that I just mentioned: Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Three countries that clearly don’t share our values.

It comes as no surprise to me, but one of the only countries to step forward and support Kurdish independence is Israel. They know what it’s like to be a minority in this area, and have the entire region want to see you fail. Why is it so hard for us to recognize and support those that actually deserve it?

This is the reason our foreign policy is so hard to figure out. It’s time to stop helping those that don’t share our values and stand up for those that do. Only then will we start to win back some of the respect we used to have in this world.

Who supports single-payer healthcare?

A new poll shows that nearly half of Americans support a single-payer healthcare system.

That’s 49 percent of Americans to be exact --- only 35 percent said they opposed such a plan.

In this polling we find two things:

1. A warning

2. A lesson for the way forward

Let’s start with the warning --- the fact that at first glance nearly half of Americans say they would support a single-payer system means we haven’t done our job.

We haven’t done the hard work of educating people about the pitfalls of a one-size-fits-all healthcare system.

But deeper in the polling we find a lesson for the way forward.

There was actually a poll from earlier this summer that found a clear majority --- 55 percent to be exact --- supported single-payer.

That poll also found that once people were educated about the reality of single-payer (i.e. higher taxes and giving up their employer-sponsored plans for government-run plans), opposition to single-payer jumped to 61 percent.

61 percent opposed single-payer once they were educated about what it actually meant.

And that is our lesson.

Education. Education. Education.

The truth is Americans don’t know what single-payer means --- and once they do they’re not fans.

It is our job to make sure that remains true.

MORE 3 THINGS

Transgender opera in Columbia? 10 SHOCKING ways USAID spent your tax dollars.

MANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

The government has been doing what with our tax money!?

Under the determined eye of Elon Musk, DOGE has rooted out the corruption that permeates USAID, and it turns out that it's worse than we thought. Glenn recently read a list of atrocious causes that were funded by USAID, and the list was as long as it was shocking.

Since the January consumer index report was published today, one thing is clear: eggs are bearing the brunt of inflation. That's why we illustrated the extent of USAID's wasteful spending of YOUR taxpayer dollars by comparing it to the price of eggs. How many eggs could the American people have bought with their tax dollars that were given to a "transgender opera" in Colombia or indoctrinating Sri Lankans with woke gender ideology? The truth will shock you:

1. A “transgender opera” in Colombia

USAID spent $47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia. That's over 135,000 eggs.

2. Sex changes and "LGBT activism" in Guatemala

$2 million was spent funding sex changes along with whatever "LGBT activism" means. That equates to over 5.7 million eggs!

3. Teaching Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid binary-gendered language

USAID forked over $7.9 million to combat the "gender binary" in Sri Lankan journalism. That could have bought nearly 23 million eggs.

4. Tourism in Egypt

$6 million (or just over 17 million eggs) was spent to fund tourism in Egypt. If only someone had thought to build some impressive landmarks...

5. A new "Sesame Street" show in Iraq

USAID spent $20 million to create a new Sesame Street show in Iraq. That's just short of 58 million eggs...

6. Helping the BBC value the diversity of Libyan society

$2.1 million was sent to the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) to help them value the diversity of Libyan society (whatever that means). That could have bought over 6 million eggs.

7. Meals for a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda

$10 million worth of USAID-funded meals went to an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group. That comes up to be just shy of 29 million eggs.

8. Promoting inclusion in Vietnam 

A combined $19.3 million was sent to two separate inclusion groups in Vietnam inclusion groups in Vietnam (why where they separated? Not very inclusive of them). That's over 55 million eggs.

9. Promoting DEI in Serbia's workplaces

USAID sent $1.5 million (4.3 million eggs) to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.”

10. Funding EcoHealth Alliance, tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology's "bat research"

EcoHealth Alliance, one of the key NGOs that funded the Wuhan lab's bat virus research, received $5 million from USAID, which is equivalent to 14.5 million eggs.

The bottom line...

So, how much damage was done?

In total, approximately $73.8 million was wasted on the items on this list. That comes out to be 213 million eggs. Keep in mind that these are just the items on this list, there are many, many more that DOGE has uncovered and will uncover in the coming days. Case in point: that's a lot of eggs.

POLL: Should Trump stop producing pennies?

SAUL LOEB / Contributor, Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

On Sunday, February 9th, President Trump ordered the U.S. Mint to halt the production of pennies. It costs the mint three cents to produce every penny, which Trump deemed wasteful. However, critics argue that axing the pennies will be compensated by ramping up nickel production, which costs 13 cents per coin.

In other news, President Trump promised on Truth Social that he would be reversing a Biden-era policy that mandated the use of paper straws throughout the federal government. From potentially slashing entire agencies to saying farewell to pennies and paper straws, Trump is hounding after wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

But what do you think? Was Trump right to put an end to pennies? And should plastic straws make a comeback? Let us know in the poll below:

Should Trump stop the production of pennies? 

Do you agree with Trump's reversal of the plastic straw ban?

Was this the most PATRIOTIC Super Bowl yet?

CHANDAN KHANNA / Contributor | Getty Images

The 2025 Super Bowl demonstrated Trump’s vision of a new America.

On Sunday, February 9th, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the biggest sporting event of the year. But this wasn't just a victory for Eagles fans. For those watching, it became apparent that American culture has changed, the zeitgeist has shifted, and America has become cool again. While remnants of woke culture lingered, they felt out of step next to the parade of American Flags and patriotic messaging that dominated the national event. The message was clear: America is back.

Everybody knows that the commercials are the best part of any Super Bowl, and last night's game was no exception. As Glenn has pointed out, while some of the ads still carried woke messages (like Nike's), many more captured the newly kindled patriotism felt nationwide. Here are four of the best commercials from last Sunday that make this the most patriotic Super Bowl yet:

1. Rocket: "Own the Dream"

This touching commercial by the financial services company, Rocket, states "Everyone deserves a shot at the American dream," while showing images of people returning home and building families. The ad included a cover of John Denver's iconic song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and featured an in-stadium sing-along, live from the Super Bowl.

2. Secret Service: "A History of Protection"

Donald Trump made history by being the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, which required the efforts of hundreds of Secret Service agents to ensure his safety. The Secret Service boasted of this feat during their minute-long commercial, which lauded American values and achievements and featured iconic American imagery.

3. Brad Pitt: "Huddle Up"

The Super Bowl introduction celebrated snapshots of American achievement accompanied with a powerful commentary about unity narrated by Brad Pitt. The message is clear: Americans can achieve great things when we work together. The ad conjures up American ideals such as hard work, ingenuity, self-sacrifice, and teamwork.

4. Jeep: "Big Game"

Movie star Harrison Ford appeared in Jeep's Super Bowl commercial to promote freedom and to remind us that "freedom isn't free." Ford treks through the mountains while ruminating on what freedom means in America and the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it.

How Trump is WINNING at the Panama Canal

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

Despite the doubts of the nay-sayers, Trump's Panamanian plans have already borne fruit.

Shortly before his inauguration, President Trump drew national attention to the Panama Canal. He reminded Americans of just how important the canal is for the U.S. and highlighted the Chinese influence that has been slowly taking control of the vital passage ever since America handed it over to Panama.

President Trump was immediately mocked and ridiculed by the Left, who called him delusional and an imperialist. However, earlier this week, Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, made a trip to Panama and spoke with the Panamanian President, José Raúl Mulino, and Rubio made some serious headway. As Glenn has explained, Trump's boisterous talk is part of his strategy. Invading Panama was never the goal, just one of several options to get what America needed, and after Rubio's visit, it seems like America's needs will be met.

Here are the TOP THREE takeaways from Marco Rubio's visit to Panama:

1. Marco Rubio makes headway

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

On February 2nd, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha and President José Raúl Mulino where they discussed critical regional and global challenges, including the canal. Rubio drew attention to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal in which the U.S. promised Panama ownership of the canal on the condition of its guaranteed neutrality. Rubio argued that China's growing influence qualified as a breach of the treaty and that it gives the U.S. the power to take necessary measures to rectify the faults, given Panama doesn't act. As of this week, reports say Panama agreed and promised to take immediate action to purge Chinese influence from canal operations.

2. Panama is ditching China's Belt Road

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / Contributor | Getty Images

After his meeting with Rubio, Panamanian President Mulino agreed that Panama would step away from China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). The BRI is a Chinese effort to establish China as the main economic power in developing nations across the world. In 2017, Panama signed on to this initiative, and China's influence in the small nation has exponentially grown. However, after Rubio's visit, President Mulino has not only stated that Panama will not renew its agreement with China, but moreover, the country will also look for ways to back out of the agreement early. This is a massive win for the Trump Administration and the American people.

3. The Chinese may lose their ports on the canal

MARTIN BERNETTI / Contributor | Getty Images

Shortly after Rubio left Panama City, two lawyers spearheaded the effort to kick out a Chinese company that controls two major ports on the Panama Canal. The Chinese company—CK Hutchison Holdings—has operated one port on both ends of the canal since 1997, which could potentially give China a massive degree of control over traffic. After analyzing the contract, the Panamanian lawyers argue that the contract is potentially in violation of the Panamanian constitution and should be revoked. It is unclear if the constitutional issues relate to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, but even on its own merit, this is a huge victory for America.