Is Publishing 3D Printer Firearm Files Protected Speech? SCOTUS May Decide | The States

Facing scrutiny over surveillance concerns and security breaches, Flock announced it's cutting license plate data retention from 30 to 7 days, adding an "evidence mode" for active investigations, letting cities restrict which offense categories other agencies can search, and requiring all customers to adopt upgraded audit-log tools by year's end. CEO Garrett Langley said Flock also added automatic account lockouts for abnormal user activity and hired security firm Bishop Fox for an independent review, with findings expected to be published later this year.   Second Amendment Foundation's Bill Sack said the DOJ let a stay expire without appealing a ruling that struck down NFA registration and fingerprinting requirements for short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and suppressors, creating inconsistent rules between plaintiffs covered by the injunction and other Americans while the DOJ continues defending the same law in separate cases. Sack also discussed a new DOJ memo broadening lawful firearm carry in post offices open to the public, and a pending Supreme Court petition in Defense Distributed v. New Jersey Attorney General over whether 3D-printed gun file schematics are protected speech under the First Amendment.   Also, in this episode: Governor Kathy Hochul announced $7.25 million in state funding for legal representation for roughly 1,400 unaccompanied migrant children, following the Trump administration's cancellation of a federal legal-aid contract, while also opposing local police involvement in civil immigration enforcement. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city has spent $153 million on immigrant legal representation, as Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ remains committed to enforcing federal immigration law. Kapitus COO Ben Johnston said gasoline prices rose 24.6% over the past year, the leading driver behind July's 3.4% annual CPI increase (down slightly from June's 3.5%), while shelter rose 3.2% and used cars/trucks fell 1.9%. Johnston said the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target remains a full percentage point-plus away, keeping pressure on rate policy, and advised small businesses to watch cash flow and diversify financing amid tariff and gas-price volatility. Economist Orphe Divounguy said net interest payments rose roughly $78 billion over the past year — nearly half of the federal government's total spending increase and now the second-largest budget line after Social Security and Medicare — while education spending's budget share shrinks. Divounguy said the debt burden ultimately reaches households through higher taxes, higher interest rates, or higher inflation, and that only faster economic growth or spending cuts can reverse the trend. The Anti-Defamation League launched a campus antisemitism-tracking and reporting initiative.   Washington State primary results are still being finalized ahead of the November 3 general election. Ohio voters will decide a November constitutional amendment (Issue 3) enshrining the state's existing voter ID law.   The Illinois State Fair, backed by $190 million in taxpayer infrastructure investment, is projected to generate about $100 million in economic impact.   Plus, America's Talking: Higher Education: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_d641f124-ee4d-4f21-9aa0-9b9a90288f88.html Washington: https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_bb5d2930-0dc9-4101-aaf3-4e567daff6c9.html Ohio: https://www.thecentersquare.com/ohio/article_fb704b84-a367-434d-9665-34eb465bd6a8.html Illinois: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_5c826519-4401-4b3a-9c8e-3062a52233e3.html   The States delivers taxpayer-focused reporting from around America, powered by The Center Square. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.