Free Speech Is Under Attack. Here's What I Want Congress to Know

I went to Congress on behalf of Free Press Action on Feb. 12 to talk about censorship. The hearing the House Judiciary Committee called on the “Censorship-Industrial Complex” was largely the Republican majority’s attempt to recycle old grievances about social-media platforms and the Biden administration.

But what we should be talking about is the government censorship happening right now — and the unprecedented threat that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr pose to free speech, the free press and our democracy.

We’re facing a constitutional crisis as Trump and Musk try to consolidate their power, carry out personal vendettas and ravage the federal government in brazenly illegal ways. With Carr’s help, they’re trying to silence critical voices and independent reporting on their activities.

While for some reason the committee still hasn’t posted it to its website, here is the link to my full written testimony. I also had some thoughts to share after the hearing, which you can find in part two of this post.

While some on Capitol Hill still have their heads stuck in the sand, many members of the committee did speak out and condemn the Trump administration’s attacks on free speech.

Here’s what I told lawmakers:

A free-speech emergency 

To my understanding, this hearing is motivated by concerns over free speech, censorship, government interference with private companies, and the influence of billionaires who control our media system. I share these concerns.

I worry about government censorship — which is what the First Amendment protects us against.

I worry about collusion between government officials and powerful tech executives.

I worry about algorithmic discrimination used to push partisan agendas or spread hate.

I worry about independent journalists and whistleblowers being attacked, harassed, doxxed and muzzled for asking hard questions or simply reporting facts. 

We should all be worried. Because right now we are facing a true free-speech emergency.

Musk’s hostile tech-over

Musk, the owner of X and one of the richest men in the world, is now embedded inside the federal government — unelected and unaccountable to anyone. He’s a “special government employee,” with all the privileges of a high-ranking official but no regard for accountability, transparency or the laws of this Congress. Musk also has shocking conflicts of interest and a giant social-media megaphone he uses to threaten and retaliate against his critics.

 With his power to distort narratives and spread falsehoods, he’s fueling a constitutional crisis. Inside the government, Musk is attempting to tear down vital institutions, sabotage essential programs, carry out personal vendettas, and terrify civil servants.

He’s sent a gang of hackers to breach core government systems, giving him unfettered and unprecedented access to our most sensitive information. Yet members of this committee tasked with oversight have been blocked from even entering federal government buildings to investigate.

Journalists trying to tell the public about the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are being harassed at Musk’s instigation or threatened with prosecution by the U.S. attorney. These government employees are actively trying to suppress speech about government activities.

This is a free-speech emergency. And it’s not the only one.

The FCC censorship czar

Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, wants to revoke broadcast licenses because he doesn’t like the viewpoints he sees on TV. That’s censorship.

The FCC also has threatened news organizations over editorial decision-making, reporting on law enforcement, and basic fact-checking.

The FCC is now threatening to block a merger sought by CBS. At the same time, President Trump is suing the company for $20 billion because he didn’t like how 60 Minutes chose to edit an interview with the former vice president.

Giant media and tech companies — Disney/ABC, Meta, maybe now CBS — are paying tens of millions of dollars to settle specious lawsuits. They appear to be paying off the president to shield themselves from reprisal or gain regulatory favors.

Social-media companies, too, are making drastic changes to content in response to the new administration. Meta, for example, went from promising to step away from politics to actively pushing the president’s agenda — after Mr. Trump threatened Mark Zuckerberg with life in prison.

If you were concerned about low-level officials sending emails to social-media staffers five years ago, then you should be very worried when all the billionaire owners of these companies line up on the dais at the president’s inauguration clutching million-dollar checks to show their loyalty.

The Trump administration is using the power of the government to shake down the media and quash dissent.

Focus on the real threats to free speech

This country was founded on the premise that our public sphere and our free press should be protected against government manipulation or retribution, including from the president or “special government employees.”

I’m a former journalist, sitting here with a panel of journalists. I may not agree with them, but I will defend their rights to speak and write without fear of intimidation and harassment by government officials, without fear of unlawful government surveillance for simply speaking to their sources, without fear of unconstitutional censorship and retaliation.

 I hope we can agree on that. I hope we can set aside our differences and speak out against true government censorship, no matter who’s in power.

Free speech isn’t reserved for certain viewpoints. Free speech isn’t meant to just protect the rich and powerful. Free speech isn’t just for billionaires.

The First Amendment protects everyone’s freedom and free expression. And we must defend it.

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