President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his claim that critical television coverage of him is “illegal” and pushed back on criticisms that his administration was taking actions that chill free speech.
“When 97 percent of the stories are bad about a person, it’s no longer free speech,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, complaining about an apparent asymmetry between his victory in the 2024 election and his treatment by media organizations. It was not immediately clear what statistics or laws he was referencing.
Trump’s comments came days after Disney indefinitely suspended the late night host Jimmy Kimmel after Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr suggested on a podcast that his agency may take regulatory action against ABC, which Disney owns. Kimmel drew ire over comments he made about Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and White House ally who was shot and killed last week.
After Kimmel was suspended, Carr said “I don’t think this is the last shoe to drop” and suggested the FCC — an agency, overseen by Congress, designed to act independently from the president — may target other shows, including ABC’s “The View.”
The Kimmel saga caused Democrats and some free speech hawks to protest. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded Carr’s resignation.
One notable Republican also weighed in: Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who on a podcast released Friday called Carr’s actions “dangerous as hell” and “right out of ‘Goodfellas.’”
Trump in the Oval Office defended Carr, calling him “incredible” and “a great American.” He said he disagreed with Cruz.
“I think he’s a courageous person,” Trump said of Carr. “He doesn’t like to see the airwaves be used illegally and incorrectly.”
Queensland Police would have consulted a counterterrorism unit before approaching a rural property where six people were fatally shot if NSW detectives had shared threatening…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/police-patrol-public-parks-to-enforce-the-coronavirus-physical-distancing-laws-in-lafontaine-park.jpg?id=61146283&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C39%2C0%2C39"/><br/><br/><p>On a sunny day in Montreal, it's not unusual to see someone sipping a beer or a glass of wine in one of the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-parks" target="_blank">city's many parks and green spaces</a>. But is it actually legal?</p><p>Technically, yes — but only under specific conditions. </p><p>In Quebec, drinking alcohol in public spaces is generally banned unless a municipality makes exceptions. In Montreal, those exceptions usually come down to one thing: whether you're eating.</p><p>With that in mind, here's a closer look at the dos and don'ts of drinking in Montreal parks. </p><h2>What the law says</h2><p>According to <em><a href="https://educaloi.qc.ca/en/legal-news/picnics-in-the-park-whats-allowed-and-whats-not/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Éducaloi</a></em>, alcohol consumption is allowed in some public parks as long as it's paired with a "meal" and you're in a permitted area. That means no cracking open a cold one just anywhere — and definitely not without food.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-police" target="_blank">SPVM</a> also confirms this, stating that alcohol is only tolerated in designated park areas where consumption is explicitly allowed. It must also be consumed in moderation.</p><p>"You can't just take a case of beer and start drinking from morning to night in a park, it's forbidden," said SPVM spokesperson, André Durocher, in a 2020 interview with <a href="https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/05/22/le-spvm-rappelle-les-regles-concernant-lalcool-dans-les-parcs-1" target="_blank">Le Journal de Montréal</a>.</p><p>The City of Montreal echoed this in an email to MTL Blog, noting that alcohol is only allowed in parks where picnic tables have been installed by the city, and only while having an outdoor meal. The city also clarified that alcohol can sometimes be permitted during authorized public events (like festivals), but not in nature parks, which are subject to different rules.</p><p>If you're found drinking without food or outside a permitted space, you could face a <a href="https://spvm.qc.ca/en/PDQ38/Pages/Projects/Incivilities?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$100 fine</a> or at least get asked to stop. Meanwhile, drunken loitering could get you a $50 write-up. Fines may vary by borough, but officials say the first response is often just a warning.</p><h2>What counts as a picnic?</h2><p>This is where things get a little murky. Neither the city nor the police specify what exactly qualifies as a "meal." A granola bar probably doesn't cut it, but what about a bag of chips? Cheese and crackers? A salad?</p><p>We reached out to city spokesperson Marc-Antoine Bélanger for clarification. According to him, the vague definition of a proper meal might differ from one part of the city to another. As a result, he suggests checking with the park's borough before popping the cork on that bottle.</p><p>"Since the regulations can vary from one borough to another, we invite people to direct their questions to the borough in question."</p><p>In other words, it's up to the borough — and sometimes, to the officer — to decide. There's no strict citywide definition.</p><h2>Neighbourhoods may have their own rules</h2><p>Each borough can add extra restrictions about public drinking, which is something picnickers should be mindful of if they decide to lay down a beach towel in another part of town.</p><p> For example, in Ahuntsic–Cartierville, even if you're having a meal, you can't drink alcohol near sports fields, splash pads, or playgrounds. The same is true in Longueuil and neighbouring cities like Sherbrooke, where <a href="https://educaloi.qc.ca/en/legal-news/picnics-in-the-park-whats-allowed-and-whats-not/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">alcohol in parks is strictly prohibited</a>. </p><h2>So, can people drink in Montreal parks?</h2><p> Yes, you can drink in a Montreal park. However, you should probably keep the following things in mind:</p> <ul> <li>You must be in a location where alcohol is allowed (including festivals and restaurant terraces)</li> <li> You must be eating food (ideally a full meal)</li> <li> No glass containers</li> <li> And definitely no rowdy behaviour</li> </ul> <p>And until the picnic rules get clarified, if you're not sure, maybe just bring a sandwich along to be safe.</p>
