“Can a politician punish the press for getting something wrong?” In 1960, The New York Times ran a full-page ad supporting the civil rights movement. It was called “Heed Their Rising Voices.” And yes — some details were wrong. Then L.B. Sullivan, a Montgomery, Alabama city commissioner who supervised the police, sued for libel. The ad didn’t even name him. But an Alabama jury awarded him $500,000 — a massive judgment meant to send a message. His case went all the way to the Supreme Court. And in 1964, everything changed. The Court ruled that public officials can’t win libel cases over criticism of their official conduct unless they prove actual malice — meaning the publisher knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. That decision gave the press breathing room to investigate powerful people without being bankrupted for honest mistakes. This is Civics in 60, Our 250. Because the Constitution promised a free press — but Americans had to fight over what “free” ...