Supreme Court Justice Alito halts ban on Biden officials' tech platform contact

Justice Samuel Alito temporarily paused a lower-court order that limited Biden administration officials from contacting social media firms. The Justice Department had filed an emergency request to block the injunction, arguing that it would hinder officials from responding to online posts that pose a danger to public health or safety. The Republican attorneys general from Louisiana and Missouri, who brought the case against the administration, have until September 20 to respond. The lawsuit claims that the Biden administration violated the First Amendment by pressuring tech platforms to remove certain content. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the injunction was "vague" but left in place a modified order banning certain administration officials from contacting social media companies.