Democrats Against Free Speech

Having been honored to help review the Twitter Files, I watched last week’s hearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government – the one featuring Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger – with a keen and vested interest.

There were two easy assumptions about what would take place going into the hearing. First, Taibbi and Shellenberger would explain in detail their discoveries of pressure on Twitter from the federal government and government contractors to suppress or remove content. Second, House Republicans would go on the attack, condemning these violations of the principle of free speech and the First Amendment.

The only question mark had to do with the Democrats’ response, as the story isn’t just about what the Twitter Files have revealed. The story is also how those in power respond.