TLT Explains

Supreme Court Allows Mississippi's Social Media Age-Verification Law to Proceed

By The Liberty Tribune Staff

Published: 9/16/2025 · Updated: 9/16/2025 · 5 min read

The U.S.

What's happening

Supreme Court Allows Mississippi's Social Media Age-Verification Law to Proceed — Supreme Court decision allowing illegal aliens access to public schools have resurfaced in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week. Following the Department of Homeland Security's announcement of enforcement operations in the city, local reports indicated a significant spike in student absences. Approximately 30,000 students were reported absent from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) on Monday, a figure that more than doubles the average daily absences from the previous week. Explainer Supreme Court Questions Legality of Trump's Emergency Tariffs Initial reports cited 20,935 absences, but this number was later revised. Of the reported absences, 28,136 were categorized as unexcused, according to Queen City News. The following day, CMS recorded another 25,697 absences, with 23,770 unexcused. While officials have not confirmed a direct link between the absences and immigration operations, similar trends were noted in Chicago after ICE initiated a sweep there. CMS has a substantial Hispanic student population, with over 44,000 students identified as Hispanic. Census Bureau data from 2023 indicates that 11 percent of North Carolina's K-12 students have at least one undocumented parent. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has emphasized the critical role of civic education in America, warning that neglecting shared history and responsibilities poses a significant threat to the nation. During an appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Gorsuch discussed his new children’s book, The Heroes of 1776, which aims to educate young readers about the Founding Fathers and lesser-known patriots from the Revolutionary War era.

What's at stake

Explainer Supreme Court Questions Legality of Trump's Emergency Tariffs In the interview, host Lawrence Jones prompted Gorsuch to elaborate on a quote from his book regarding the Constitution establishing the first modern republic where people govern themselves. Gorsuch referenced the Declaration of Independence, highlighting three fundamental ideas: the equality of all individuals, the unalienable rights granted by God rather than government, and the right of the people to self-govern. "Those three ideas really shook old Europe and were never before tried in history," Gorsuch stated. He noted that while these concepts are often taken for granted today, they required significant courage from individuals in 1776 and continue to demand the same commitment from contemporary Americans. He cited Thomas Jefferson's warning that an ignorant populace cannot remain free for long, underscoring the necessity of understanding history to preserve it. Jones raised concerns about the decline in teaching foundational stories in schools, asking Gorsuch if this trend has negatively impacted society. Gorsuch affirmed that the lack of civic education is a shared concern among his colleagues on the . He pointed to alarming statistics indicating a decrease in civic knowledge across the United States, asserting that this ignorance represents an existential threat to the country's future. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a significant case regarding the counting of mail-in ballots, specifically whether states can accept ballots that arrive after Election Day.

Republican National Committee (RNC), stems from a Mississippi law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to five business days afterward. Explainer Supreme Court Allows Mississippi's Social Media Age-Verification Law to Proceed Currently, Mississippi's law permits ballots from a Tuesday election to be counted if they arrive by the following Tuesday, provided they meet the postmark criteria. Similar laws exist in approximately 30 states. They argue that such practices disproportionately benefit Democratic candidates, stating that accepting ballots after the election "deprive[s] the electorate of a clear nationwide deadline." The debate over mail-in ballots intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in mail-in voting as states sought to accommodate social distancing measures. Plaintiffs are feeling “very optimistic” ( ) the U.S. Supreme Court will rule in their favor in a pivotal elections case recently heard before the justices, legal counsel and Judicial Watch attorney Russ Nobile told The Federalist. The RNC argues that this practice violates federal , which they claim establish a uniform deadline for voting. Brianna Lyman, an elections correspondent for The Federalist, reported that the RNC contends, "Congress established a uniform, national day to elect members of Congress and to appoint presidential electors," and that Mississippi's law contravenes these federal regulations by extending the voting period. The RNC asserts that allowing ballots to be counted days after Election Day could lead to electoral chaos and undermine public confidence in the election process. What to watch next is whether new filings, agency actions, votes, or court decisions change the timeline—and how officials respond in the weeks ahead.

Why it matters

The coverage highlights: Supreme Court Allows Texas to Implement New Congressional Map. The coverage highlights: Supreme Court Defers Decision on Trump's Firing of Library of Congress Official. The coverage highlights: Pro-Life Center Takes Its Fight Against Dem Lawfare To SCOTUS. The coverage highlights: It's Past Time Red States Work To Topple SCOTUS' 'Plyler' Ruling. The coverage highlights: Trump Has The Power To Impose Tariffs Via IEEPA. The coverage highlights: Gorsuch: 'The Greatest Danger America Faces Today' Is 'Itself'.

Key facts & context

2025-12-05: Supreme Court Allows Texas to Implement New Congressional Map. 2025-11-26: Supreme Court Defers Decision on Trump's Firing of Library of Congress Official. 2025-11-21: Pro-Life Center Takes Its Fight Against Dem Lawfare To SCOTUS. 2025-11-20: It's Past Time Red States Work To Topple SCOTUS' 'Plyler' Ruling. 2025-11-17: Trump Has The Power To Impose Tariffs Via IEEPA. 2025-11-13: Gorsuch: 'The Greatest Danger America Faces Today' Is 'Itself'. 2025-11-11: Supreme Court to Rule on Counting Mail Ballots Received After Election Day. 2025-10-10: Plaintiffs 'Very Optimistic' About SCOTUS Elections Case. 2025-10-08: Kavanaugh Questions Illinois' Stance on Election Litigation. 2025-10-03: Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Revoke TPS for Venezuelan Nationals.

Timeline & key developments

Primary sources

Www.courtlistener — courtlistener.com