Appeals court pauses order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a lower court’s order limiting executive branch officials’ communications with social media companies about controversial online posts. Biden administration lawyers had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to stay the preliminary injunction issued on July 4 by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Doughty himself had rejected a request to put his order on hold pending appeal. On Friday, the appeals court issued what it called an “administrative stay” pending further orders. It said arguments in the case will be scheduled soon.