# Freedom of speech in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** magazines-newspapers\ **Created:** [February 26, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833 "2025-02-26T16:23:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/61 "2025-03-24T17:47:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Although dating back centuries it’s been true that “freedom of the press attaches to the person who owns one.” Namely that you’re only as free as your audience is large. Or perhaps better said, your freedom extends to the audience you can attract and hold. Others’ freedoms attach to their respective audiences Yeah, though my take is not that we should change how freedom of speech is policed by the state (I actually think the clear unambiguous way the 1st amendment protects freedom of speech is very good, and much better at protecting people’s freedom than more wordy ambiguous versions other countries have). Instead we should make sure there is no such thing as a single company (or person) who is rich enough to buy out the media relied upon by billions of people. The problem that gives freedom of speech is in only one of the issues that kind of the inequality caused in society. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/62 "2025-03-24T17:52:56Z")
Agreed. “Equal power for all” is a decent basis for a good society. But when power is mostly denominated in dollars, equality of power almost demands equality of dollars. Tough sell to the folks on the upper half of that current dollar distribution. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/63 "2025-03-24T17:56:03Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > That said I don’t think what’s described in the OP is a violation of the 1st amendment. A private individual choosing what appears in their newspaper is not a violation of the 1st amendment I did acknowledge a bit later that I hadn’t picked a great example for the OP. It’s unusual for the owner of a newspaper to get involved in editorial decisions to that extent, but not necessarily a free speech issue. Some of the later examples are clearer. Whether or not they technically are 1A infringements is up to the courts but they are definitely examples of government attempting to punish, or intimidate, on the basis of political opinions. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/64 "2025-03-24T19:18:22Z")
Related to the topic of freedom of speech in the US… Will message boards like this one become an “unsafe” place for people to air their opinions? I’m worried that we’ll end up with a huge police state in the US, and online communications will be monitored, and even citizens (not just immigrants and tourists and visitors) will be “charged” with crimes if they post something that’s anti-MAGA on an internet message board or on social media. It’s something that never occurred to me as a risk in the US until last November. But now I wonder about it. I guess it depends how far this administration goes to attack speech. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/65 "2025-03-24T19:30:14Z")
I wish I could say “no”, but honestly I think it’s possible. One thing we can say though, is we’ll see it coming: the Straight Dope will be way down the list of “commie, woke propaganda” sites. We’ll see the tsunami sweeping away many other sites long before it gets here. (and sweeping away doesn’t mean cancelled, it can just mean new rules, either externally imposed or pre-emptively due to the risk) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/66 "2025-03-24T21:10:11Z")
It could – at the very least – herald the resurrection of the abbreviation, **[CFSG](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=CFSG)**, formerly frowned upon among the Doper cognoscenti 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/67 "2025-03-25T01:12:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Evidently my sarcasm was insufficiently overwhelmingly obvious. When Trump is involved, it is hard to separate sarcasm from reality. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/68 "2025-03-25T02:12:00Z")
Have not heard from citizens, but phones were grabbed from green card holders entering, then going through their social media. TIP: delete all apps off phone if you are entering US. You can put them back at the hotel. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/69 "2025-03-25T12:58:20Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > One thing we can say though, is we’ll see it coming: the Straight Dope will be way down the list of “commie, woke propaganda” sites. We’ll see the tsunami sweeping away many other sites long before it gets here. > (and sweeping away doesn’t mean cancelled, it can just mean new rules, either externally imposed or pre-emptively due to the risk) I hope we see it coming before it hits. I can’t believe I’m typing this as I sit here in what used to be one of the safest countries in the world to have free speech. > [@TeroSunbear](#): > > Have not heard from citizens, but phones were grabbed from green card holders entering, then going through their social media. > TIP: delete all apps off phone if you are entering US. You can put them back at the hotel. If they can do it to green card holders, they will eventually do it to citizens. It’s just a matter of time. I’m traveling outside the US at least 3 times in 2025. I’ll need to think about what I’m doing when I go, even though I doubt any search of my phone will occur. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/70 "2025-03-25T14:04:21Z")
Nothing wrong with “free speech” as long as the right people have that freedom. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/71 "2025-03-25T14:17:32Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > (yes I’m aware this particular case wasn’t a US citizen Fun fact: The First Amendment isn’t restricted to citizens. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Tough sell to the folks on the upper half of that current dollar distribution. Most folks in the upper half of the current dollar distribution would also benefit from equality of dollars, at least in the short term. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/72 "2025-03-25T15:14:25Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > If they can do it to green card holders, they will eventually do it to citizens. It’s just a matter of time. I’m traveling outside the US at least 3 times in 2025. I’ll need to think about what I’m doing when I go, But … If they can do it at immigration they can do it at a traffic stop too. Are your taillights in order? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/73 "2025-03-26T13:35:42Z")
Someone started a thing on Facebook that “_Star Jones called Elon Musk ‘stupid’ on the air – and then was hit with a $20 million fine!_” I’d link to it, but there are no legitimate cites – only to Facebook pages, Threads posts, and YouTube videos. The reality is bad enough. Nothing is helped by these BS shock posts on social media. Sheesh. Gives future cover to right-wingers to wave away real travesties of justice because “_it’s just like that Star Jones story - fake news!_” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/74 "2025-03-29T02:22:11Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Columbia accedes to Trump But was that enough? > **[Columbia’s president steps aside for new leadership at embattled university](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/28/columbia-university-katrina-armstrong)** > > Interim president Katrina Armstrong to transfer to medical center with appointment of board of trustees co-chair Claire Shipman ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833/75 "2025-04-24T23:13:35Z")
I reluctantly admire the decision of those at Columbia University to refrain from going into encampment this afternoon. I’m sure the leaders are just biding their time for Trump to enrage people with some astoundingly illegal activity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech-in-the-us/1014833.md?page=3)