- Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is calling for American athletes to be removed from Team U.S.A. if they speak negatively about the Trump administration, with 232 athletes currently representing the US at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
- Olympic skier Hunter Hess expressed "mixed emotions" about representing the US, prompting Trump to label him a "real Loser" on Truth Social, while skier Chris Lillis criticized the administration over the recent killings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
- Hess and Lillis' comments have ignited a debate about freedom of speech and patriotism, with Hess stating "we have the right and the freedom to point out" the country's flaws, and Lillis feeling "heartbroken" about the current state of the US, as reported by CNN and The Daily Beast.
JUSTICE MATTERS
AlterNet and NPR differ significantly in their coverage of the Olympics, with AlterNet focusing on Sen. Rick Scott's call to punish athletes who criticize the administration, using phrases like "strip American athletes of their uniforms" and "First Amendment rights." In contrast, NPR's article omits this controversy, instead reporting on athletes self-quarantining due to COVID concerns, using phrases like "extreme measures to stay healthy" and "protect my health." This framing difference obscures the debate over free speech and athletic representation, as seen in AlterNet's quotes from Olympic skier Hunter Hess, which are absent from NPR's coverage.
Cross-referenced with: NPR
