Recently, I wrote a column about Meta’s restoration of free speech protections after the company admitted to censoring users on platforms like Facebook. The company also revealed that it was pressured by the Biden Administration to conduct such censorship. Now, Google has taken the same step in restoring a number of YouTube accounts and pledging to show greater respect for free speech.
Google made the disclosure in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH):
“Reflecting the Company’s commitment to free expression, YouTube will provide an opportunity for all creators to rejoin the platform if the company terminated their channels for repeated violations of COVID-19 and elections integrity policies that are no longer in effect.”
This is another major victory for free speech. Google specifically acknowledged past political censorship and stated that it “values conservative voices on its platform.”
The company, for the first time, admitted that it yielded to comprehensive pressure from the Biden Administration to censor Americans. It acknowledged that the Biden censorship pressure was “unacceptable and wrong” and pledged to resist such pressure in the future.
Meta has substantially reduced censorship by replicating the approach of Elon Musk at X. These changes are a testament to Musk’s legacy in the restoration of free speech on social media. As I previously noted, we need companies like Facebook and Google. These are companies that are big enough to stand up to the European Union (EU) and its unrelenting campaign against free speech.
The censorship on Google and YouTube had a harmful impact beyond the loss of free speech. It suppressed opposing views on Covid policies from the efficacy of masks to the need to shutdown our schools.
The very figures claiming to battle “disinformation” were suppressing opposing views that have now been vindicated as credible. It was not only the lab theory. In my recent book, I discuss how signatories of the Great Barrington Declaration were fired or disciplined by their schools or associations for questioning COVID-19 policies.
Some experts questioned the efficacy of surgical masks, the scientific support for the six-foot rule and the necessity of shutting down schools. The government has now admitted that many of these objections were valid and that it did not have hard science to support some of the policies. While other allies in the West did not shut down their schools, we never had any substantive debate due to the efforts of this alliance of academic, media and government figures.
Not only did millions die from the pandemic, but the United States is still struggling with the educational and mental health consequences of shutting down all our public schools. That is the true cost of censorship when the government works with the media to stifle scientific debate and public disclosures.
The disclosure is also a blow to many Democratic members of Congress who long attacked witnesses, including myself, who testified against the coordinated censorship by corporate and government officials. Before the release of the Twitter files, members insisted that there was no evidence of such coordination. Some still deny such coordination despite multiple companies now confirming it.
The greatest challenge, however, still lies ahead for these companies. The EU remains the greatest threat to free speech facing Americans. After Musk purchased X with a pledge to restore free speech, figures like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded that the EU use its infamous Digital Services Act to force X to censor Americans.
The EU has threatened Musk with confiscatory fines that could surpass $1 billion, according to The New York Times.
The Trump administration has warned the EU about its efforts to censor Americans. Meta and Google can now join X in creating a formidable corporate alliance for free speech. For the first time, the free speech community might have a coalition of government and corporate allies that could stand up to the EU.
There will likely remain a degree of mistrust from the free speech community towards these companies after years of censorship and stonewalling. However, we also need to accept our allies where and when we can find them. Free speech is in a free fall in Europe and many on the left are encouraging similar censorship laws for the United States. We need these companies and should support them as they take meaningful actions in favor of free speech.
So bravo, Google, bravo.
Here is the full letter: Google Letter
I think I saw him over at your Moms house, he had a six pack of Colt 45, her favorite!
“Bravo Google”, my @ $ $. The one and only reason that the company that started off preaching against being evil, then went on to define the word by their behavior is making this pretense now is because the political wind has shifted and is blowing hard from a different direction. The moment that wind switches back, those b @ $ t@ r d $ will be up to their old tricks, and worse. I am sometimes truly astonished at the depths of Turley’s gullibility on some subjects.
In the 1950’s, I liked ‘Ike.’ Not because he was a Republican, but due to his surrounding himself with individuals who understood the great threat posed to this nation by the Soviet threat, and later, the military industrial complex.
In 2025, I regret that I likely won’t live long enough to see America as a nation return to its core values — I hope my kids and grandkids will help bring that about.
“individuals who understood the great threat posed to this nation by the Soviet threat, and later, the military industrial complex”
Ummm. Careful distinctions need to be made there. A great many of the individuals who created the MIC were simultaneously posturing as patriots damning the USSR.
google also “censored” and still does in search resposes.
Big fan of ‘Google Earth’, but their search is almost useless for me .. . and frustratingly time consuming to use.
*YouTube, otoh, continues to invite the mind to leap forward . .. although at great risk to its present hegemony 🙂
“Big fan of ‘Google Earth’”
I used to be. On all of the sections I look at, Google stopped updating photos several years ago, condemning it to a slow fade into obsolescence and obscurity. YouTube is pretty close to a total waste of time, unless for some reason one needs a rich field from which to easily mine examples of error, misinformation, and general fecal matter in video form.
So what?? The damage is done!!
The So What is that who prevents them from doing that again? Short thinker!
As Flip Wilson famously said, “The Devil Made Me Do It”, what I’m saying is the Democratic Party has a malignant dogmatic precept of Nirvana.
As Flip Wilson famously said, “The Devil Made Me Do It”, 👍
Flip Wilson!!!!!…… LOL ….. Jeezeeee, how OLD are you Grandpa>>>? As old, older, than me!
🤣
Yes, bravo Google. They are finally “pledging to show greater respect for free speech”. Bravo. All hail Google!
But what happens after the next change of administration and to make the new powers-that-be happy they start censoring the opposition again? I do not for one second accept that Google is acting out of principle with this latest change.
So the sniper who tried to kill ICE agents. Instead kills two Illegals.
Jezzzz
According to Dallas police and officials three Ice detainees were shot by a rooftop sniper. Two of the detainees were killed in the shooting, and one other was transported to a hospital.
Well at least we now know it wasn’t a professional cartel hit to shut someone up. Rather doubt a pro would spray bullets into a container where the intended target(s), could not be clearly seen…
Another halfwit.
——————————-
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
“So the sniper who tried to kill ICE agents. Instead kills two Illegals.”
Maybe the illegals and/or the cartels will retaliate against Antifa or Transtifa or whoever was behind this attack. So far as I am concerned, they can annihilate each other wholesale so long as there is no collateral damage.
DustOff,
Read this. Truly disturbing.
“Earlier today, Joshua Jahn, the shooter at the Dallas ICE facility, shot three people before taking his own life.
This incident reflects what many call nihilistic accelerationism—a rising phenomenon in domestic extremism that mirrors the martyrdom embraced by jihadist terrorists. These are individuals who feel so driven by their extremist beliefs that they are willing both to kill and to die for their cause.
Many conversations must take place, and much work remains to be done, but none of it can begin until Democrats acknowledge that far-left extremism exists, and recognize the importance of toning down political rhetoric.
This is not the first time left-wing extremists have attempted to assassinate ICE officers, a recurring theme the left has used to rally voters against the current administration.
The federal government has significant catching up to do, and an interagency approach will be necessary to address the problem.
Far-left extremism extends far beyond groups like Antifa. There is an entire revolutionary (marxist) ecosystem of interconnected entities: billion-dollar progressive NGOs, anarchist networks, political organizations such as the DSA, foreign influence operations like the Singham network, gaming platforms, Discord servers and reddit threads, the dark web, and even civil-rights organizations staffed with “movement lawyers” fully dedicated to waging war against the West until it collapses.
Until the government addresses the root causes, it will only be treating the symptoms. Experts must be brought in to dismantle this machine before it’s too late.
As soon as we have more government leaders with the same pro-Luigi worldview as the DSA, Hasan Piker, and Taylor Lorenz, political assassination will become normalized in the same way that we decriminalized crime in major cities.”
https://t.co/afmAGPPaB1
— Jason Curtis Anderson (@JCAndersonNYC) September 24, 2025
Upstate Farmer: True, and I am surprised that there is no mention of the copy-cat tactics/recent trend of messages scribed into the bullet casings and bullets.
(although I do not know that I completely agree with “These are individuals who feel so driven by their extremist beliefs that they are willing both to kill and to die for their cause.” Methinks it is more narcissistic attention-getting, self-aggrandizement-as one who “will go down in history as_______” in an otherwise unremarkable and unaccomplished life.)
DEar Prof Turley,
I’m shocked, Shocked, to discover there is censorship going on! .. public and private.
Lets review a few highlights:
1. The events on 9/11. Anyone who still believes the 9/11 commission report or the final, final, much revised NIST report. .. I’ve got some ocean front property in Appalachia for sale. *see also Tucker Carlson’s new 9/11 Documentary.
2. The Global War on Terror (gwot) response to 9/11. You are either with us .. . or a terrorist subject to elimination with extreme prejudice, no questions asked.
3. Covid 19. .. and the pandemic of the unvaccinated. *Disclaimer. I reluctantly received the 2-step jab (i.e. they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.) and promptly got Covid.
4. Ukraine war and genocide in Gaza. Don’t believe a word you read and only half of what you see.
*ps. straight from the horse’s mouth: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back .. .”
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115256938634035559
DG
Following the MSN lies I see
genocide in Gaza.
Talk to hamas who still have prisoners
Dusty. According to most news sources, Israel assassinated Hamas ‘leadership’ (citation needed) in Qatar recently.
*who should we talk to? Be specific. ..
So you jumped to something else. Release the people… Frankly I don’t care if Hamas is removed from this earth.
I guess lefties like yourself support them.
Yeah’r, it ain’t like the good ole days when itchy trigger Obama was spraying drone missiles all over the middle East, violating everyone’s air space, and shooting up weddings, funerals, stray vehicles and an American or two he didn’t care for.
What’s all the hub bub?
——————————–
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
You could post something like, “the earth is 4.57 billion years old,” and DG Snowden would reply, “That reminds me of the genocide in Gaza.”
Don’t be silly. The Warsaw Ghetto during WWII most reminds me of the genocide going on in Gaza.
*I know free speech advocates .. . and you are no ‘free-speech-advocate’
Really? When were you in Gaza?
Wasn’t in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII either.
Thanks to a proper education and the miracle of modern communications, I can see the whole wide world now. .. sitting at my tiny shack in the dark heart of Appalachia.
*because the world is round, it blows my mind.
“I can see the whole wide world now.”
Naw, you cant, deluded one. You have no idea what is going on in Gaza.
And your education doesnt seem to have given you much ability to read between the lines or understand innuendo.
Maybe you’re just not as smart as you think.
The population of Gaza is larger now than in Oct 2023.
If it’s genocide, its the least successful in human history.
Dustoff, there is no need for you to answer my question. dgs is both an antisemite and dumb.
S. Meyer. You think Abraham, Moses and sweet baby Jesus are antisemites. .. so I’m sitting in good company.
*also, you’re a little late to the ‘antisemite’ pee party. .. ketchup.
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus cannot, under any stretch of history or logic, be characterized as antisemites. That you suggest otherwise only exposes your ignorance.
I motice you skipped right over PROVING that whats happening in Gaza is genocide or that you have any inkling whats actually going on there.
Taking the word of the “Palestinian Health Authority” aka Hamas means you have no clue,
So, dgs, you think all Hamas leadership in Qatar is dead? Not true. You don’t think there are people to talk to? No discussion is needed, Hamas needs to free the hostages and put their weapons down. That is it.
Dustoff, dgs has been given many explanations why genocide is not occurring in Gaza. He continues with his claims without explanation. Is that type of behavior antisemitic or just dumb leftism?
Looks like we will finally get to see the Epstein files.
Thomas Massie’s discharge petition only needs one more vote to force a vote.
Adelita Grijalva won her race yesterday in Arizona by 40 points, 10 points more than her father.
She is the 218th vote that Massie needs.
Get your popcorn ready folks !!!!
This will be as exciting as opening Al Capone’s bank vault.
Don’t hold your breath. Some O-dumber app judge with stop it. Just like before
Hey Dusty. You claim to be a weapons expert .. . was that a 30.06 round that killed Charlie Kirk?
What about it GD?
AND? Are you talking about the doc’s report.
Never made that claim, (expert) but I have used many guns since I was 10 yrs ols 410 shot gun to start off with.
But I know a great deal about bullet wounds. Having been a flight medic in the US Army, then a flight medic for Life-Flight.
Almost certainly – because you can not release the records of a criminal investigation of a person who is not charged. It is unconstitutional.
We all want to know what is in these records. But that does not mean we are entitled.
Epstein records that do not name uncharged individuals who have not given permission to make those records public can be released – but those likely all have been.
Everything that names someone else requires either that you charge them, or that you get their permission.
You can not use a criminal investigation as the means to defame someone.
So that’s why Biden couldn’t release the records. But Trump promised to do so. Also the victims of Epsteins crimes have agreed to the release of the records. Doesn’s that solve the problem of confidentiality of the vicitms?
Well said John say
Do not bet on it.
I am not sure that a House Subpeona Trumps a Court order – atleast with respect to making records public.
Overall I do not care much about this and do not expect that making records public will tell us anything we do not already know, and I do expect the records to eventually be made public.
But there are constitutional issues making the records of investigations of individuals NOT part of government and NOT charged public
A Congressional subpoena sure trumps a court order. The power of oversight belongs to Congress does it not? The release of records which are no longer part of an active investigation should be no problem by now.
“A Congressional subpoena sure trumps a court order.”
Wrong as usual, mr civics.
All the apologies from the Tech industry reminds one of a swaddled child denying their hand was in the cookie jar! What if anything will be done with the treasonous actors that silenced the public it’s any one’s guess? This is the consequence of set-aside regulations on the conduct of the operators of the internet [230] and trust in their honor of the Constitution and the Laws there under. The Wild West had gunslingers; the Modern West has speech barbarians who are fearful of Facts.
These two things are undisputed: (a) the Left promoted and ran the government-media-censorship complex to suppress free discussion, (b) the Left accuses the right of being “fascist” and a threat to democracy.
Primary conclusion: in the Left’s lexicon, “fascism” means having and promoting freedom of expression including speech that contradicts the government’s narrative, and a “threat to democracy” is someone who promotes democracy and a free debate of the issues by the people.
Derivative conclusion: in the Left’s lexicon, words mean the precise opposite of their true meaning.
Very much on topic, with great clips of the Left’s farcical two-faced position:
Yes, Jimmy got emotional. So what. He’s emotional for himself because he almost torched his entire career. Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils. What he’s really saying is that he still thinks it’s fair game to slander conservatives. He would rather advance his own political and cultural agenda than confront the truth. The truth is that his own side has been fanning the flames of political assassinations for years. The truth is that someone on the left picked up a gun and murdered someone on the right who advocated for peaceful debate. It’s critical that liars admit they lied. There can be no restoration without that. Anything short of that is a fake and scripted cry line designed to endear him to his fans, not to make right the wrong he committed.
-Andrew Kolvet
SO TIRED of hearing about Jimmy Kimmel crying….at this point, I’d welcome the “Man Show” more than his effeminate tears and lies.
Jimmy Krimminal
(1) Google staff are sophisticated and clever enough to play this game such that it appears that they have made substantive changes and no longer abide by the government’s pressure to censor; in reality,
(2) Google’s biases are now more cleverly nuanced:
If you search Google for any polemic issue of the day, search results that compete with or present oppositional positions from the favored/Leftist position are often buried, i.e., way way way way down on the list of search results.
Forced with criticism over this finding (heavy/outbalanced search results that favor the Left, by 32 to 5), Google defended itself by pointing a finger at innocent/ innocuous causes, such as SEO [Search Engine Optimization] algorithms that heavily favor “backlinks.”
SEO and AI expert Nathan Gotch (“The Ultimate Content Strategy for Dominating Google”) offers this, including the use of backlinks:
https://www.gotchseo.com/google-biased/
(also review the comments at the end of the above link^^^)
Professor Turley’s grievances against Google are farcical. Perhaps we could take a page from an old wise comedian who made a very good point and it’s still valid today. George Carlin. Google is not the only search engine out there. If you don’t like using Google there are other search engines out there.
Then there’s the hypocrisy of Turley’s position about the EU’s supposed censorship of Americans on social media. Social media platforms operate in other countries because they are allowed to. As long as they abide by their rules. We expect social media companies that operate here to abide by ours, TikTok Tok anyone?
Trump’s FCC openly threatened the licenses of TV networks if they didn’t do something about the late-night TV hosts’ mockery and criticism of the President. Apparently, those on the right are fine with direct threats by the government to censor speech they find offensive. It’s only free speech if it’s just their views. Not the offensive stuff from the left.
Trump’s attempt to censor Jimmy Kimmel for making a benign statement, a truthful statement, about MAGA made Kimmel more popular than he was before the threats. The President seems to have a knack for unintentionally creating martyrs at the worst possible moments.
George: Today’s Why Why Wednesday quiz:
Why did you post a response to me, -when your response has zero/zippo/nothing/nada substantively to do with what I said?
Why do you come here every day, prepared to argue. about nothing?
Why do you and gigi consistently render personal attacks on Turley (“farcical,” “hypocritical” “naive” “failing to understand” “false” “misleading” “disingenuous”)?
Why do you believe that your views and opinions are superior to Turley’s?
Why don’t you just go to different blog sites that favor your views on things?
Why don’t you, alternatively, simply utilize your superlative intelligence, reading comprehension, and clairvoyance into others’ minds and motives -to create your own blog?
Why do you believe (if you truly do, which I doubt) that your opinions are superior to other commenters?
Why do you believe that your comments are influencing or in any way changing anyone’s mind or opinion?
Why do you enjoy such masochistic suffering, based on the copious negative ownership feedback you get from others responding to your comments?
Why don’t you just chill out and take a nap under the willow tree?
As I have said on numerous occasions, inquiring minds want to know.
thanks, your truly, lin.
Lin,
That was great!! Another one of your epic take downs of the slow and dumb one!! Well done!
Lin, I appreciate your curiosity about my intentions here. I assumed it would be clear, but let me elaborate.
The primary purpose of this blog is to champion free speech and the expression of diverse viewpoints, even those that might be deemed offensive or controversial. As you may know, Professor Turley is a staunch advocate for this principle, and I feel we can both agree on the fundamental importance of allowing a variety of opinions to be voiced, regardless of their nature.
One of the most compelling aspects of this platform is Turley’s openness to having others express their opinions, particularly those that may challenge his own views. He actively encourages critique, dialogue around various positions, and constructive disagreements. Wouldn’t you agree that fostering such an environment is vital for healthy discourse?
However, it’s evident in the comments that many participants are engaging in various forms of discussion, some of which veer into trolling, insult-laden exchanges, unrestrained political rhetoric, or even conspiracy theories that seem quite far-fetched.
I find myself here with a purpose similar to yours: the desire to express an opposing perspective on Turley’s interpretations of specific topics. I feel compelled to critique inaccuracies in his arguments and to present alternative viewpoints in response to his or others’ writings. Just like you, I’m here to share my thoughts.
It’s clear that some individuals may not appreciate my perspectives or my critical view of Turley’s opinions on various issues. But honestly, I don’t mind if others are bothered or fatigued by my contributions. The beauty of this space is that no one is obligated to engage with my posts; they can choose not to read them or respond if they wish. I believe we both see the value in that freedom.
Free speech encompasses not just the right to voice opinions but also the right for those opinions to be challenged, scrutinized, ridiculed, or even criticized. That’s an integral part of the discourse, and I’m confident we share that belief.
So, does this clarify my reasoning for participating here?
I have a hunch that many may feel unsettled by the presence of opposing viewpoints—not just those related to Turley’s positions but also those that challenge the prevailing sentiments of others. It often seems that when faced with the difficulty of defending a viewpoint, some resort to insults or mockery rather than engaging in a substantive dialogue. This reaction speaks volumes about the challenges of defending one’s beliefs.
“. . . my critical view of Turley’s opinions. . .”
Your chronic smears, ad hominem attacks, and pathological dishonesty are not a “critical view” of anything. Though they are a view into a twisted psychology incapable of introspection.
It’s a view, Sam. The moment Professor Turley pens a column expressing his position and leaves it open to discussion on his blog he’s fair game. Smears and all. That’s part of free speech. If he’s going to smear and accuse others in his column why would he be immune from the same by others?
Turley does not “smear and accuse” others, georgie. The problem with you is that you do not counter his position with a counter-argument, you just make some disparaging put-down, then change the subject. We’re on to you, ole boy!
“The moment Professor Turley pens a column [. . .] on his blog he’s fair game.”
Once a sculptor erects a statue, he’s fair game — said the drive-by-shooter.
No one here likes you because you are an ignorant person AND a liar, yet you pretend to condescend to everyone. It has nothing to do with your “viewpoint”.
And as if to prove my point You’re lying once again about your purpose for being here.
Why did you disappear and come as George, Svelaz? Why did you disappear again and come back as X, George? Why do you continue to lie about it when WE ALL KNOW that you are lying and you know that we know?
Also, can you tell us yet the definition of perjury?
I skip X because it’s boring.
I’m not buying any crazy. I’m all stocked up.
“Mockery”, you mean like constantly stating “you must have a reading comprehension problem”??
Is that your idea of substantive dialogue, Svelaz? You cant even admit who you are, but you want people to take your comments seriously???
You are delusional. And thats a compliment.
You are in no position to recognize “farce.” ALL mainstream media and informational sources pander to your ideology, and in that grave mistake made against the whole of society, only one side gets affirmed, thus you have a gaping blind-spot.
This is called CONFIRMATION BIAS.—> persistent “proofs” that information provided (rumors, theories, slanted data) are validated, thus believed.
X, You are a prime example of the ease with which propaganda takes over weak minds.
Dianna,
Also a great take down of the slow and dumb one!! You and Lin are forces to reckon with!!
Dianna Bec, do you really mean all mainstream media? Are you sure it’s ALL? What about Fox News, Newsmax, Breitbart, National Review, and others?
I read a variety of sources, including those that lean to the right. While my bias is more towards the left, I can acknowledge that sometimes right-leaning outlets make valid points.
We all have our information silos that we cling to in order to uphold our biases, and I’m sure you can agree with me on that.
You have never once agreed with Turley, douche. So much so you take an opposing stance on a subject, then accuse him of being a hypocrite when you again take the opposite stance on the same subject. Failing to realize that makes you a hypocrite.
You dont lean left, you are way left. Bill Maher leans left. Otherwise you would have agreed with Turley at least once in 3 friggin years. Even Bill Maher has agreed with Turley on occasion.
Save that crap, Liar. It dont float here.
X – the issue is not that Google engaged in censorship – it is that it did so driven by the Government – that violates the first amendment.
Absolutely there are other search engines – and I use them.
Absolutely there are other video streaming platforms – and I use those.
Though I am still glad that Google has decided to reduce its censorship.
“Social media platforms operate in other countries because they are allowed to. ”
Typical left wing approach – the only freedom you have is what government allows you.
NO the EU can not using its idiotic rules for its own citizens, censor the speech of americans in the US.
Would you allow China or Iran or North Korea to dictate what speech is allowed world wide ?
That is complete absurd.
As is typical with the left – we are in the midst of a 1984 style wordplay game over “globalism”
In the 20th century globalism was a positive trend that DISEMPOWERED the governments of the world.
It was about ACTUAL free trade and FORCING nations to compete against each other – not just with respect to goods and services – but with respect to liberty and freedom – repressive nations lost trade to those that were freer. Higher tax nations lost trade to those that were freer.
But the left fought back – those in power got together and unfortunately the US was heavily complicit in this.
Globalism got redefined as more of the Davos crowd deciding what the rules were for all countries – rather than free markets.
That New 1984 style globalism is a force destroying liberty. It degenerates into a least common denominator approach – the most freedom you have is that the most restrictive country will allow.
You left wing nuts rant about Fascism and Trump’s supposed assault on free speech,
But while the Obama and Biden administrations actively sought to get OTHER countries to concoct rules that would ultimately restrict americans liberties – Trump is fighting FOR the freedom of US citizens regardless of the garbage that left wing nut countries wish to do to their own citizens.
Though in some cases – the US is even fighting FOR the liberty of people all over the world.
That is American Greatness. THAT is America as the beacon of liberty for the world.
And you idiots on the left oppose that.
“TikTok Tok anyone?”
TikTok is the exact opposite of what you are claiming.
The chinese government partly owns as well as controls the remaining ownership of TikTok and it has leveraged that ownership to collect data on americans and to spy on them.
The US govenrment has demanded an end to the chinese governments control of TikTok to end that.
You idiots on the left were frothing at the mouth because Russia MIGHT have some limited ability to use the internet to influence US elections. But you have no problem with China going far beyond influencing elections.
Regardless, while I have a bit of an issue with the US law divesting TikTok ownership.
That is mostly a question of Form. The easier answer would be – TikTok is blocked from US access (as any other company of ANY kind) so long as a foreign government – any foreign government can excercise control of that entities actions inside the US.
“Trump’s FCC openly threatened the licenses of TV networks if they didn’t do something about the late-night TV hosts’ mockery and criticism of the President.”
Did not happen – more left wing rewriting history.
FCC chair Carr – one of 5 members of the FCC responded to FALSE and defamatory political remarks by Kimmel – not targeting the president, but half the american people. His EXACT words were “We can do this the easy way or the hard way” – The easy way was for Kimmel to correct the FALSE statements.
Regardless Carr is ONE of 5 – and 3 votes are needed for the FCC to act.
There was no mention of licenses or mergers.
But since you are fixated on licenses – Under Biden the FCC revoked 22 broadcast licenses of Sinclair over political remarks – likely over Covid. Nor was that even close to all the political license shenanigans of the FCC under Biden. The FCC threatened the License of a Fox OTA station – completely unaffiliated with Fox Cable over a Fox News report that never aired on an OTA station.
BTW there were hundreds of licenses canceled by the FCC under Biden for political/Covid “misinformation”
Carr has made the list public.
I will be happy to join you is eliminating the FCC completely.
But the fact is that you do not want that.
You only beleive in “Free speech for me, but not for thee”.
“Apparently, those on the right are fine with direct threats by the government to censor speech they find offensive.”
Not on the right – and I want the FCC completely gone. But I am not getting my panities in a bunch over an off the cuff remark by the FCC chair While Bob Iger of Disney was ALREADY in the process of suspending Kimmel.
But to Quote Carr “We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way”
Kimmel can appologize or Disney/ABC can face the wrath of half the american people.
Sinclair and Nexstar are Not carrying Kimmel – he has lost 30% of his audience.
He had already lost almost 80% of his audience since 2015.
Either ABC will pull kimmel because he is losin money hand over fist – and this has made that MUCH worse.
OR they will just hemorage red ink on the Kimmel show.
I am perfectly happy with Bob Iger deciding that he will pay the financial cost to keep Kimmel on the air.
But I doubt Disney stockholders feel the same.
You rant about FCC/FTC approval of the sale/merger of ABC – Disney badly wants to get rid of a Lemon.
But you Fail to grasp that Kimmel cost Disney a fortune – ABC is much less valuable today than it was a week ago.
“Trump’s attempt to censor Jimmy Kimmel for making a benign statement, a truthful statement, about MAGA made Kimmel more popular than he was before the threats. The President seems to have a knack for unintentionally creating martyrs at the worst possible moments.”
ROFL
You could be right – Kimmel’s ratings could recover just because of this event.
And pigs could fly.
Kimmel’s remarks were malignant and false.
They were also defamatory – worse than Alex Jones’s remarks that resulted in a $1B judgement.
I am entirely supportive of keeping the FCC out of politics ENTIRELY – but that has NEVER been what any democratic president has done, and leaving this to the free market.
But I am not stupid enough to think this made Kimmel more popular.
There were 100M streams of Charlie Kirks Funeral SO FAR. there were 20M people who viewed it LIVE.
That is 20-100 times Kimmel’s viewers.
I would further note – and you can confirm that from posters here.
Kirks assassination has resulted in hundreds of millions of people finding and viewing his content.
These people are all learning that YOU LIE, That Kirk was NOT some hateful hating hater.
This is particularly happening among young people – GenZ is moving right.
This is huge – every generation gets more conservative as it ages.
It is amazing how getting a job, getting a spouse, getting a home, and getting kids makes people conservative.
But Democrats are starting the the smallest advantage they have had in my lifetime with Genz.
As GenZ becomes more conservative – like other generations as they age – democrats are in trouble.
But they may be in trouble NOW – we will have to see what the impact on coming elections is – but if post Assassination polling is correct – there has been a significant right shift in the polls from the Kirk assassination.
John Say,
Great comment!
John Say, good lord man. You have a knack for ranting a lot. Why don’t we stick to the subject matter instead?
“ Social media platforms operate in other countries because they are allowed to. ”
Typical left wing approach – the only freedom you have is what government allows you.
NO the EU can not using its idiotic rules for its own citizens, censor the speech of Americans in the US.”
You don’t seem to understand the point. US social media companies are allowed to operate in other countries as long as they abide by THEIR rules. They can demand that those companies moderate or censor certain content that is deemed illegal in that country. I’m sure you understand that concept. Professor Turley is arguing the EU is tryrannical or censorious because they require American social media companies operating IN their countries that American spreading misinformation, or what they consider violent rhetoric or false claims are moderated or banned. Because it violates THEIR rules. You or Turley may not like it, but everyone who signed up to use those platforms agreed to those restrictions and controls the moment they hit, “I AGREE” before joining the platform. Nobody forced them to sign or agree to the conditions.
Similar conditions apply to social media companies that wish to do business in other countries. For the privilege of being able to operate in their market, they agreed to certain restrictions and government requirements. As a free market advocate, you understand that.
“ FCC chair Carr – one of 5 members of the FCC responded to FALSE and defamatory political remarks by Kimmel – not targeting the president, but half the American people. His EXACT words were “We can do this the easy way or the hard way” – The easy way was for Kimmel to correct the FALSE statements.”
Big problem there John. Kimmel’s statements were not false or defamatory. They were just offensive to some MAGA and Charlie Kirk supporters who were on a cancel culture binge. Trump demanded broadcast licenses be pulled because he didn’t like what late-night TV hosts were saying about him. Carr openly and clearly threatened to do just that if they didn’t do anything about Kimmel’s benign remarks.
Kimmel said MAGA was working to distance itself from the idea that Robinson was MAGA. That is true.
It’s extremely difficult to claim defamation based on a comedian’s opinion.
You can’t even point out exactly what was a lie in Kimmel’s statement. Why don’t you quote the exact words that you think are a lie?
Carr’s comments were direct threats to broadcasters. It was not a mere suggestion. You agree that Carr’s and Trump’s comments were wrong. I will add not only wrong, but also unconstitutional.
John why don’t you post the exact words Kimmel said that you think are defamatory or lies and we can debate the validity of your claim. We can minize any tangential comments and arguments and just focus on that particular claim you make. What exactly in Kimmel’s statement is a lie?
George, why do you want to continue to look so dumb when it has been explained to you several times what Kimmel was saying and why it was a lie.
It was YOU who posted NO LESS than 20 times that there was no evidence he was a lefty. When ALL of the available evidence said he was a lefty.
So what Kimmel should have said is “the antifa gang is trying desperately to characterize Tyler as anything other than a lefty”. THAT would have been true.
Instead, he was IMPLYING that Tyler was MAGA, when he knew full well he wasnt.
You still try to deny it. You’ e hysterically tried to deny it, including linking to articles and mischaracterizing what they say. Lefty is a disease. You are eaten up with it.
John Say, the free market agrees that Kimmel’s removal was wrong. ABC viewers support Kimmel enough by showing they can boycott Disney with their dollars and it seems to have gotten their attention. I don’t think it helped that Disney’s planned price increase coincided with Kimmel’s suspension under government threat.
George
Why do you enjoy talking out of your a$$ so much?
I had dinner at Disney Springs this past weekend. The place was rocking. Pretty pathetic boycott.
The “free market” has Kimmel off the air in several large markets and numerous smaller ones.
Kimmel will be gone by the first of the year. Care to make a wager?
Point being, Google’s “admission” was palliative, not regenerative, so we can expect that their insidious biases remain.
Exactly.
I see nowhere in any of Google’s statements that they’re promising to never do this again.
As soon as the next “unprecedented” health emergency is tagged by a Dem administration, or election info that calls into question the accuracy of election results are refuted by a friendly admin, Google is sure to side with the censors rather than take a stand for the 1st Amendment and Americans it was written to protect..
“As soon as the next…emergency is tagged…Google is sure to side with the censors rather than take a stand for the 1st Amendment….”
And this is exactly why there was no sincere apology.
Someone here says that if we don’t like Google, we are free to use other search engines. True. And I have done that, only to find that they ALL have a strong and verifiable leftist bent in which leftist articles —“facts,” opinions, and news—predominate. It takes a lot more digging and tenacity to find right-leaning information with fair and equal time.
Regardless of Googles self-serving admission, we STILL have a problem with EQUAL TIME on a platform that should be objective if it’s going to live up to its remedy.
Dianna Bec: I just don’t know that there can be any balance in messaging when mass communications systems/networks and platforms have been swept up (swooped up, ha ha) and purchased by left-thinking billionaires and conglomerates.
There certainly IS enough money on both sides so I am not sure why one political ideology dominates these systems/platforms? And the owners ain’t sellin’ their stock holdings in these entities; we need more Musks and I am glad that the “conservative” son is the one who is taking over Murdoch holdings, I think?
Lin, how about this for perspective regarding Google? What if the reason for left-leaning results or bias when using the search engine is due to how people phrase their inquiries?
Because people who use Google all the time may have discovered that if you type in a question in a certain way or look something up using certain keywords it will bring up what you really want. Those complaining of a left-leaning bias may not be very…knowledgeable or proficient enough with the full capability of the search engine?
People, left or right tend to perceive bias if they keep using the search engine “the wrong way” and getting results they don’t expect. What do you think?
I heard some use Duck Duck or other search engines and keep getting left-biased results. I suspect they make the same mistake in how they make their queries and keep getting left-leaning results thus giving the impression that there is a bias against their views from search engines. What do you think?
Completely made up in your empty head
George: How ’bout this for responsive perspective:
Your musing/opinion/idea in your first paragraph^^^ is precisely taken and reworded from the ideas and findings expressed in the very hyperlink and commentary that I provided in my original post!!! (indeed, the very 2nd comment from “Robert”)
Thanks for reading it.
Amazing. I’ll have to save this one.
Dianna Bac,
“ Someone here says that if we don’t like Google, we are free to use other search engines. True. And I have done that, only to find that they ALL have a strong and verifiable leftist bent in which leftist articles —“facts,” opinions, and news—predominate. It takes a lot more digging and tenacity to find right-leaning information with fair and equal time.”
Maybe it’s because most facts, opinions, and news is naturally left leaning. It may be harder to find right leaning sources because it’s often the case right-leaning sources are not as truthful as they seem. Just my opinion.
How often do you find yourself digging down to find an original source of a story and find out the reporting is skewed or omits critical information? It’s hard and often requires work. Do you take the time to do the work or just accept what your’re told from your preferred news sources?
“Do you take the time to do the work or just accept what your’re told from your preferred news sources?”
LMAO this is so rich. You are the KING of the 5 minute google expertise, George, My god how many times have you been shown to be woefully ignorant because you relied on your so called “sources”??
You are truly delusional.
“It takes a lot more digging and tenacity to find right-leaning information…”
That isn’t entirely a drawback. It forces the right to sharpen its thinking, while the left risks sinking into complacency.
The right adapts, learns to maneuver as the landscape shifts, and in the process becomes more agile. Over time, that resilience produces not just better arguments, but better citizens.
Google will go to wherever the least resistance is in an attempt to avoid trouble. Their motto must be- the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
They’re amoral. The attempt from the current government is to give Google a law to live by- Freedom of speech.
There are laws additionally regarding children. Follow those , as well. Check with Google lawyers on the remainder. Laws regarding drug trafficking, human trafficking and other laws already in law.
Basic western morality and free speech and you’re home free.
Dianna, Google runs on profit first. Ethics trails behind, and morality is near non-existent. It should be the reverse.
@lin
This is true. Has always been true. Trusting Google or Meta at this point is like battered wife syndrome. Focus instead on keeping those that would do this again out of power, because it goes much deeper, and when dollars are at stake, that is all these cretins see. Wish I could share the Professor’s optimism, but I don’t. Not a damn thing has changed at Google but the minor inconvenience that for now, they have been somewhat hamstrung. Let’s keep that going; this is too little, too late, and likely boosheet just as with the MSM. Nobody has forgotten the past five years, and we aren’t going to let it happen again. Europe can self-destruct for all I care. We do not have to follow them.
James: It was your comment earlier today to which I started to respond and agree, then decided simply to write my own comment. See my exchange with “Dianna Bec.”
I believe there is equal money on both sides of the spectrum, so we certainly can change this dynamic, but for some reason, the vast majority of mass communication systems and platforms (here and globally) are bought and controlled by one dominant political ideology. I do not have the answer as to “why.” Is it the glamour and visibility of Hollywood and mass global wealth that makes their positions appear so appealing?
Lin,
My take on it is the left seems to have a need to control everything and everyone around them. I tend to think of it as a classic James Bond villain. Just look at all their demands during COVID. Censorship. Masks. Mandatory vaccines. The 6ft rule.
Being someone who regularly researches data concerning various aspects of WWII, particularly the air war, I began noticing a few years back that anything referencing “Russia”, or “Soviets”, or Red Army, or Red Air Force, despite all the context input to the search like WWII, World War II, Eastern Front, 1940, 1941, 42, 43, etc., and for goodness sake anything referencing Ukraine in WWII, automatically brings up all manner of leftist dribble concerning modern affairs in the past week or month, or since Trumps first administration, and puts the specific information being searched for, if any, at the rear of the stream. Prior to the lost/last administration, that was not occurring to the degree it is now. For historical research I’ve found enough dedicated sites at this point, I seldom need to depend upon their search engines for historical information.
And most of the time get a good laugh at the historical errors it’s AI generates in summaries regarding WWII, where it is obvious the AI’s educational level regarding history is, well, like someone rewrote it perhaps!?!
Same thing applies to any reference to Trump, or any conservative or nearly conservative or any controversial entry automatically takes one to published articles in modern times, where if you find anything at all it will best result if one is specifying the exact publisher’s name (i.e., NewsMax), otherwise then your best hope of finding anything is to automatically go to the end of the search stream and if it’s provided at all, that’s where you’ll find it. Been doing that for years.
Actually, I use several browsers, most are all alike in this regard, but often there are variables where Yahoo or Yandex, will show things Google does not. Sometimes…
Any search content on any engine is best looked for at the end of the stream. And nothing has change in that regard on any of these search engines despite what Google says. Is it just a stupid AI, or an AI that is at least a bit more clever than most users?
——————————————
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
You have to be careful with the AI WWII stuff. They will be discussing the Japanese Zero, while showing a pic of a BF109. Also, there are plenty of deep fakes. One, I saw a video with Taraja Henson saying that black women do not get married because a legacy of slavery lived in them, and the slave owners would not let them get married. That was a fake, and I discovered that she actually made the claim about why black women do not laugh – because slaves were prohibited from laughing. Equally stupid statement, but somebody word-switched her with the marriage stuff. You also have to double-check every quote you come across.
For example, I came across this quote, today: ““They lie. We know they’re lying. They know we know they’re lying. …and yet they still keep LYING”
-The Gulag Archipelago”
I searched it, and got that it was not from the Gulag A, at all.
“Reply from Quote Investigator: QI has not yet found a match for this series of expressions in the books or speeches of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
A close match appeared in the 2010 book “A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir” by Elena Gorokhova who was born in 1955 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). One theme of her memoir was the “game of vranyo”, i.e., the game of pretending. Gorokhova described a set of rules for the game. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1
The rules are simple: they lie to us, we know they’re lying, they know we know they’re lying but they keep lying anyway, and we keep pretending to believe them.
The quotation above occurred in a section about Gorokhova’s experiences as a teenager, but she did not specify an exact time period for the quotation. Partially matching statements have been circulating for decades, but QI believes that the formulation above should be credited to Gorokhova.
Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.
see link, below:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2023/10/14/know-lie/
True Floyd. Nothing I like better than reading about the German Mark 6, Tiger I, and it’s 88 millimeter gun looking at a picture of a Mark 4, with it’s 75mm barrel. Missed my calling…
I’m a writterist!
—————————————
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.
Does this surprise anyone???
Fine. 7 grams will killya.? Docs?
Omg, they’re reproducing?
*. NIH reports that acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure and transplants. People think it’s harmless. They don’t follow directions. Ibuprofen is also dangerous. 7 days and stop. Read and follow directions.
So, will Nick Fuentes and Alex Jones be back? Did they ever even go away, because I still watch Nick Fuentes on youtube.
Interesting that Google says their actions (censorship and deletions) were “wrong,” but did not apologize…..
“Don’t take my word for it, though. Take Google’s word for it. In a letter to the House Oversight Committee, the attorney for their parent company Alphabet admitted that they shut down content that didn’t violate their terms and conditions, under pressure from “senior Biden administration officials,” including some at the White House itself. They now will offer to allow all creators booted off YouTube and other Alphabet platforms a chance to return:
Google vowed on Tuesday to offer YouTube accounts that were permanently banned for political speech the ability to be reinstated, and the big tech giant admitted that it once faced pressure from the Biden administration to remove content about COVID-19 [and questioning the 2020 election].”
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2025/09/23/google-hey-sorry-for-participating-in-bidens-censorship-regime-n3807096
Never forget how Democrats destroyed America.
THE CENSORSHIP-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: HOW TOP BIDEN WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS COERCED BIG TECH TO CENSOR AMERICANS, TRUE INFORMATION, AND CRITICS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
This interim report details the months long campaign by the Biden White House to coerce large companies, namely Meta (parent company of Facebook), Alphabet (parent company of YouTube), and Amazon, to censor books, videos, posts, and other content online. By the end of 2021, Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon changed their content moderation policies in ways that were directly responsive to criticism from the Biden Administration.
While the Biden White House’s pressure campaign largely succeeded, its effects were devastating. By suppressing free speech and intentionally distorting public debate in the modern town square, ideas and policies were no longer fairly tested and debated on their merits. Instead, policymakers implemented a series of public health measures that proved to be disastrous for the country. From unnecessary extended school closures to unconstitutional vaccine mandates that forced workers to take a newly developed vaccine or risk losing their jobs, the Biden
Administration and other officials needlessly imposed harm and suffering on Americans across the country.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/urls_cited/ot2023/23-411/23-411-2.pdf
Ah HA!
Proving it’s only a pond, if not common sense and rationality, that separates the two of us. The Red Coat leftists not to be outdone in propaganda artistry, have announced that it is.., Nigel Farage of all people, that is the existential threat to merry ole England. The Marxists are persistent, if not lacking in originality.
https://www.gbnews.com/politics/politics-news-latest-keir-starmer-union-jack-labour-reform-uk-lib-dems
———————————————-
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
Since hospitals and other providers had a real and significant profit motive via government handouts for attributing as many deaths as possible to COVID, I doubt if we will ever know just how many “millions” died of the pandemic. Spikes in diagnoses closely mirrored government reporting deadlines. The whole thing seems more and more like a colossal bunko scheme the more that is revealed. For a company like Google to say they did it, it was wrong but the government made us, we’re sorry and we’ll try to do better next time is no more believable than the rest of it.
Right on! We have no way to know how many died from COVID, and how many died from attempts to treat COVID, like respirators and shots. Pretty early on, when the bug hit the cruise ships, we knew the death rate was pretty low. To me, the big takeaway from the whole response, was how little actual, useful work is done by most people, particularly the white collar class. It is farmers, truckers, warehouse workers, and tradesmen, like electricians, who keep society functioning.
Society functions on MANY different levels, most of which are useful or needed. The real problem is the human heart, its selfishness and greed, a universal and insidious trait that shows up in all people (regardless of class), thus in all facets of work and life. The big takeaway is to realize when you’re excusing some to vilify others. Not good.
Diana
Adam Smith discovered 250 years ago that it is self interest that actually drives human improvement.
We all love to elevate the Mother Thersa’s to sainthood,
But the FACT is that Bezos, Gates, Jobs, and Buffett – as well as your ordinary multimillionaire do more good in the world than any actual saint. And I am not talking about Gates or Buffets charity.
These people are responsible for increasing global wealth by Trillions of dollars – and I am NOT talking about what is in their pockets. They produce things we want and need, and they provide jobs for millions producing those things.
While we need “SOME” constraints on greed – or it turns to criminality – to the use of FORCE or fraud.
For the most part the world is better off the more we each pursue our self interests.
Conversely altruism – which we regard highly – has done nothing to improve the human condition, and not all that much to improve individual lives.
Or to put it differently – if you give a man a fish he eats for a day. If you teach him to fish he eats for a lifetime.
Most people get rich by producing things the rest of us greatly value – and that continues until someone else produces something we value even more.
While charity is NOT ever self sustaining.
Greed may erode a person’s character, but it doesn’t automatically harm society. Many of the world’s wealthiest individuals could retire in comfort, yet they continue to build industries that expand opportunities and raise the standard of living for everyone.
The treatment for covid is simple. Prednisone or dexamethisone and antibiotic secondary. You’ll be fine. Treat immediately to decrease suffering.
Lets not make the same mistakes the left does.
While thate are LOTS of “scientific” claims out there on various subjects includinjg covid that are bogus
That does NOT mean that we can not know anything
The fact that experts constantly lied to us, just means that we have to look at the data ourselves – or find someone that we have good reason to trust.
The mortality rate in the US increased by about 1.3/1000 from 2020-2022.
In 2020 there were no meaningful treatments for Covid – therefore most of that increase is likely due to covid – not vaccines or treatment, or unrelated other factors.
The US (and the west) mortality was higher than most of the world – this was because better overall heathcare meant more of the population was in poorer health – people in the US in poor health – tend to live much longer than people in poor health elsewhere in the world. and Covid targeted those in poor health much more than any other disease we have ever seen.
So if you adust to an increase in mortality of about 1/1000 that means that about 8M people per year died of Covid from 2020-2022 that would have died significantly in the future. Or about 24M total global deaths from Covid from a global population of 8B.
Those are back of the envelope calculations – and likely an over estimate. Wikipedia estimates about 7M total deahs accross 3 years globally – while I tend not to trust Wikipedia for anything with even a slight political aspect – I suspect the 7M globally number is accurate.
The spanish flu by contrast killed an estimated 50M people out of a global population of just over 1B so the spanish flu was about 16 times more deadly than Covid.
While the 1968 Hong Kong Flu killed about 4M people globally – with about half the current population.
That makes the Hong Kong Flu in 1968 and Covid fairly comparable.
Again – I am doing back of the envelope calculations – but those are actually incredibly important as sanity checks on purportedly more accurate data from “experts”
Back of the envelope estimate done moderately well should be within less than an order of magnitude of the actual results.
None of the above changes the fact that we were LIED to repeatedly by the so called experts.
Covid was Bad – it was about as Bad as the hong Kong Flu in 1968 – which we did NOTHING about.
But it was not nearly as bad as the Spanish flu in 1918.
While it is near certain Covid was the result of a lab leak, even so it is about the equivalent of a natural virus that will occur about once every 50 years. Put differently – there WILL be another pandemic as bad as Covid – even if there is no future lab leak, and baring a miracle development in medicine an epidemic like Covid will occur atleast once in Everyones lifetime.
What we need to do is get past the left utopian nonsense that we live in a magical world where if we just did things right nothing bad would ever happen.
The world is far less dangerous than it was 100 years ago – but it is still dangerous and no one gets out alive.
It is important to be able to think critically – to see if there are other ways to verify the same information.
One of the geniuses of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is that in an era with very limited public and government data he was able to find data or proxies to evaluate the performance of different nations and determine the impact of polices on their economies.
We have a classic example right now – the FBI’s crime data DID decline through the Biden administration.
But the National Crime Victims Survey – an independent government source of crime data had crime Rising during that period. Further newspaper databases also keep track of deaths and deaths by crime also showed an increase.
With respect to Covid the US mortality rate in 2019 was 8.7 and the trend was SLOWLY rising.
That is because the US population is slowly aging as the Baby boomers age.
By 2023 the mortality rate had risen to 9.2 – fully consistent with trends going back to 2009.
But the 2020 Mortality rate was 10.27. 2020,2021, 2022, all show an outside of trend increase in mortality.
While we can not prove that was due to Covid – in 2021 ans 2022 it could be partly due to the vaccine
There was still an increase in mortality of 1.3/1000 that likely one way or another was related to covid.