For the second time this week, Donald Trump and his allies flip-flopped on free speech after Trump got his feelings hurt by Jimmy Kimmel.
Trump’s FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, publicly pressured ABC to punish the late-night host and comedian following his criticism of Trump. This comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened Americans’ right to free speech.
Donald Trump is conducting the most concerted, blatant attack on free speech in modern times, and Americans across this country will not stand for his government trampling on their fundamental rights.
REMINDER: Here’s what Trump and his inner circle have previously said about free speech:
Donald Trump: “America is a free nation once again. On day one, I signed an executive order to stop all government censorship.”
JD Vance: “There is a new sheriff in town, and under Donald Trump's leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square.”
Elon Musk: “You can't make fun of anything. Legalize comedy!”
Brendan Carr: “Should the government censor speech it doesn't like? Of course not.”
Trump seems hellbent on restricting and censoring speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government hammer on First Amendment rights if he doesn’t like what people are saying. Just today, he said that TV shows are “not allowed” to criticize him — that doesn’t sound like a leader of a so-called “free speech” party.
###
The GOP have *never* been the party of free speech - don't call them that. They have always used speech as a bludgeon to oppress - as a pretext for stepping other civil rights (covid mask BS, crating legal ways for public businesses to selectively avoid serving gay people, extortion of universities over Palestine rights demonstrations, deporting protesters, etc.). They are the party of oppression of expression. Tell ot like it is. Otherwise people may believe you.
Frightening to think the only "news" we're going to get is Trump approved news - in other words, Fox news! That's the real fake news!!! He is totally out of control. I don't know what is the most frightening of all the chaotic doings - rhe end of free speech; extortion of colleges and private business; weaponizing the law against law firms and prosecutors; the vicious attack on our immigrant community; declaring war on Americans by deploying military police to our streets; the destruction of our health care science and system; the death sentence for our environment or just generally dismantling our government!!!