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Tag: censorship
Trump orders government not to infringe on Americans’ speech, calls for censorship investigation
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday ordered that no federal officer, employee or agent may unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen, an early step toward his campaign promise to dismantle what he called government “censorship” of U.S. citizens.
The president’s executive order, issued just hours after he was sworn in to a second term, comes after Trump and his supporters have accused the federal government of pressuring social media companies to take down lawful posts over concerns around misinformation.
The order also instructs the attorney general, in consultation with other executive agency heads, to investigate how federal government actions over the four years of the Biden administration could have infringed on free speech and propose “remedial actions” based on the findings.
Trump’s order, which he signed onstage at Capital One Arena along with a slate of other executive actions, shows how motivated he is to crack down on what he calls the “censorship cartel” on his first day in office.
It’s a winning stance among his supporters, many of whom feel that the federal government has unfairly targeted lawful speech from right-wing voices.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently echoed that accusation, saying senior Biden administration officials pressured his employees to inappropriately “censor” content during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elon Musk, the owner of the social platform X, has accused the FBI of illegally coercing Twitter before his tenure to suppress a story about Hunter Biden.
While former Twitter executives conceded they made a mistake by blocking that story just before the 2020 presidential election, they have adamantly denied that they acted in response to government pressure.
The Supreme Court last year sided with former President Joe Biden’s administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.
Trump’s executive order does not acknowledge the gravity of harmful online falsehoods, which have increasingly snowballed into real-world threats, harassment and targeted violence. Four years ago, Trump’s own torrent of lies about the 2020 election prompted threats against election officials and culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
It’s not yet clear how the order could affect the work that several U.S. agencies do to track false claims that pose threats to election security, including the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA.
CISA, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has faced criticism from Republicans for its efforts to counter misinformation. Trump’s pick to head DHS, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, said during a Senate confirmation hearing last week that she was willing to rein in the agency’s work if that’s what federal lawmakers want.
Outgoing CISA Director Jen Easterly has defended the agency’s work, saying it “does not censor, has never censored.”
Nina Jankowicz, the CEO of the American Sunlight Project, said that with the order Trump “seeks vengeance for a slight that never happened.”
Jankowicz, who ran a federal government Disinformation Governance Board under Biden’s Department of Homeland Security that was disbanded after it was attacked by conservatives, said the order emboldens foreign actors and others “who use disinformation as a tool to destabilize our country and profit from lies.”
Trump’s order focuses on Americans’ speech. It’s too soon to tell how that will influence the way federal agencies communicate with social media companies about false claims that originate abroad. Many disinformation campaigns from U.S. adversaries, which have targeted voters, are promoted online by American citizens.
Trump has styled himself as a champion of free expression since his first presidency, when he lashed out at the social platform then known as Twitter for posting fact-check labels on his tweets about mail-in ballots.
At the same time, he frequently targets the press, calling journalists the “enemy of the people,” and has threatened to seek retribution against the news media in his second administration, including suggesting that the broadcast licenses of certain television news networks should be pulled.
After having a rocky relationship with social media companies in the past, Trump has recently cozied up to the tech billionaires who run the platforms where Americans communicate with each other.
He gave prime seats at his inauguration to Elon Musk, the owner of X, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, which owns YouTube. He also has taken credit for the return of TikTok in the U.S., and welcomed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at the Capitol for his swearing-in ceremony.
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President Trump has issued a bold directive to the government, ordering agencies to refrain from infringing on Americans’ freedom of speech. In a recent statement, Trump expressed concern over the growing trend of censorship on social media platforms and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.The president’s stance on free speech comes at a time when many Americans feel their voices are being stifled by tech companies and other entities that control the flow of information online. Trump’s order signifies his commitment to upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens, regardless of their political beliefs.
In his announcement, Trump emphasized the importance of a free and open exchange of ideas, stating that censorship goes against the fundamental values of democracy. He called on government agencies to protect Americans’ right to express themselves without fear of retribution or suppression.
The president’s call for a censorship investigation has sparked controversy among critics who argue that social media companies have the right to moderate content on their platforms. However, Trump’s supporters have praised his efforts to combat what they see as a growing threat to free speech in the digital age.
As the debate over censorship and free speech continues to unfold, Trump’s directive serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving Americans’ fundamental rights. Only time will tell how this investigation will impact the future of online discourse and the protection of free speech in the United States.
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Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship – The White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, an amendment essential to the success of our Republic, enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference. Over the last 4 years, the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms, often by exerting substantial coercive pressure on third parties, such as social media companies, to moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech that the Federal Government did not approve. Under the guise of combatting “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation,” the Federal Government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate. Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to: (a) secure the right of the American people to engage in constitutionally protected speech;
(b) ensure that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen;
(c) ensure that no taxpayer resources are used to engage in or facilitate any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen; and
(d) identify and take appropriate action to correct past misconduct by the Federal Government related to censorship of protected speech.
Sec. 3. Ending Censorship of Protected Speech. (a) No Federal department, agency, entity, officer, employee, or agent may act or use any Federal resources in a manner contrary to section 2 of this order.
(b) The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of executive departments and agencies, shall investigate the activities of the Federal Government over the last 4 years that are inconsistent with the purposes and policies of this order and prepare a report to be submitted to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, with recommendations for appropriate remedial actions to be taken based on the findings of the report.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.
The White House has announced a new initiative to restore freedom of speech and end federal censorship in the United States. This groundbreaking effort aims to ensure that all Americans have the right to express their opinions and ideas without fear of government interference or suppression.In a statement released today, the White House outlined its commitment to upholding the First Amendment and protecting the fundamental right to free speech. The administration is taking steps to dismantle any policies or regulations that restrict or control the flow of information and ideas, both online and offline.
“We believe that a free and open exchange of ideas is essential to a thriving democracy,” said a White House spokesperson. “We are committed to protecting the rights of all Americans to speak their minds and engage in robust debate without fear of censorship or retaliation.”
The White House is calling on Congress to support efforts to safeguard freedom of speech and eliminate any government-sponsored censorship. The administration is also working with technology companies and social media platforms to ensure that they respect and uphold the principles of free speech.
This initiative is a major step towards restoring the principles of freedom of speech and expression in America. The White House is determined to protect this fundamental right for all citizens and to ensure that the voices of the people are heard loud and clear. Let’s stand together to defend our freedom of speech and end federal censorship once and for all.
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- The White House
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Comedian ended her ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ with the left, says it’s become ‘party of censorship’
Stand-up comic Whitney Cummings is fed up with the left, accusing them of abandoning their principles and slamming those who are annoyed that she has been calling out liberals in recent public appearances.
In the latest episode of her “Good For You” podcast, Cummings railed against the political left, saying that end of the political spectrum has become hypocritical and censorious in recent years.
“I always thought of myself as a pretty liberal person,” Cummings said, “But I don’t think the Left is as liberal as it used to be. It’s like the Left became the party of censorship.”
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Comedian Whitney Cummings ripped the left during an episode of her podcast, accusing it of becoming too hypocritical not to criticize.
The comedian said she had to start speaking up about the problems on her side of the political aisle.
“It’s just wild to me that we are in a time where, if you are on the left and you don’t criticize your party, how much do you even care about your party? Do you know what I mean? It’s like what’s going on on the left – I had to say, like, I finally just broke,” she said.
Cummings continued, characterizing her previous support for the left as her having “Stockholm Syndrome.” She added her realization that “if you love your party, you have to be able to criticize it, you know? And I don’t really take sides.”
The comic then quipped about liberal hypocrisy, saying, “’My body, my choice, but you have to take this vaccine,’ and ‘My body, my choice, pro-choice party, but you don’t have a choice in your candidate.’”
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The comedian made waves last week for ripping the Democratic Party during CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.
“I’m not an expert on politics, which is why I’ve always said I’m not weighing in on it, but I am an expert on hypocrisy, OK? I was raised by hypocrites, I’ve dated them, and I know hypocrisy when I see it,” she added.
Cummings’ statements were motivated by liberal critics who slammed her recent bit on CNN’s live New Year’s Eve special, where she mocked liberal media and the Democratic Party’s handling of President Biden and the 2024 election while speaking to show hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
She even ripped the network hosting her during the broadcast, joking that the 3,000-person crowds that frequent her stand-up shows are the same as the audience size for CNN.
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CNN New Year’s Eve hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
On the podcast, Cummings stressed that she was motivated by calling out obvious hypocrisy, not for the sake of dunking on the left or scoring political points. She added, “So to me, I didn’t think I was being political, you know? I thought I was just like, pointing out hypocrisies across the board.”
Responding to the specific complaint that she didn’t go after Trump in her New Year’s Eve monologue, she said, “Because that’s hacky to do. Everyone’s done that and to do it on CNN, that’s just like, that’s home court advantage, cheap shot, hack – There’s nothing risky or dangerous about that.”
Original article source: Comedian ended her ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ with the left, says it’s become ‘party of censorship’
In a recent stand-up special, comedian Sarah Jones made headlines for her scathing critique of the left, claiming that she has finally ended her “Stockholm Syndrome” with the party of censorship.Jones, known for her sharp wit and no-holds-barred comedy, took aim at what she sees as a growing trend of censorship and thought policing within the left. She argued that instead of promoting free speech and open dialogue, the left has become increasingly intolerant of dissenting opinions and quick to shut down any ideas that don’t align with their own ideology.
“I used to be a card-carrying member of the left, but I can’t stand by and watch as they become the party of censorship,” Jones said in her special. “It’s like they’ve forgotten the very principles that they claim to stand for. It’s time to call them out on their hypocrisy and demand better from our so-called allies.”
Jones’ bold stance has sparked a heated debate within the comedy community, with some applauding her for speaking out against what they see as a troubling trend, while others have accused her of betraying her progressive roots. But one thing is for sure: Jones is not afraid to speak her mind and challenge the status quo, even if it means going against the grain of her former allies.
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- Left
- Party of Censorship
- Political Comedy
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