In the wake of a politically polarized nation, the media we consume is a key component in our political literacy. Debates over the First Amendment and freedom of speech and press have remained a popular topic throughout history; however, within recent years, due to the rapid growth of social media and digital content, issues surrounding the limitations on freedom of speech have proliferated. These restrictions on free speech are politically charged, but what’s important to note is who and where fingers are being pointed at.
Within President Trump’s second presidential term, there have been instances in which freedom of speech has been restricted. One of which was seen during the summer of 2025, when the Trump administration limited the press’s access to the White House and presidential events, minimizing the amount of media coverage regarding President Trump journalists could acquire. In addition, in February, the Associated Press (AP) was also banned from specific restricted-access political events by the Trump administration.
However, to say that the Republican Party is the only group responsible for minimizing freedom of speech would be inaccurate. During the Hunter Biden laptop scandal in October of 2020, just before Joe Biden took office, there were congressional reports that government agencies, such as the FBI, provided a warning to media outlets, restricting media coverage of the case. This ultimately led to the suppression of content produced on Hunter Biden, which was done to prematurely debunk any family issues surrounding the Biden family. Today, executives of the tech companies who were advised to restrict posts on the Hunter Biden scandal admit their wrongful censorship, thus highlighting how a Liberal Congress is also able to infringe on free speech.
A conservative senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, recently provided commentary on the need for consistency on the rights of free speech. While the Republicans who relished in rebellion against Liberal cancel culture lionized the suffocation of late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, Senator Cruz commented that it was “dangerous as hell.” On Senator Cruz’s podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, he said, “It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, yeah, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it.” His statements further elaborate on the hypocrisy that both political parties and their supporters have demonstrated.
The Biden administration’s use of the Espionage Act of 1917 resulted in disagreement and controversy in 2021. The Espionage Act is a U.S. federal law that makes it a crime to obtain or disclose information that could harm national security. The Espionage Act is intended to prevent spying; however, it has been used against those who’ve been accused of spreading or mishandling classified information. The founder of WikiLeaks, the website that published governmental documents and discussed military and presidential actions or plans from the past, Julian Assange, was prosecuted by the Biden administration due to the works of his website. This caused criticism from the press, who argued that this threatened journalism and public accountability. The Espionage Act was also used against President Trump for retaining classified documents, showing the diverse ways this law can be utilized. Many believe that Biden used the Espionage Act to continue aggressive administration, similarly to past presidents, rather than reforming it. Ultimately, the use of the Espionage Act demonstrates concerns about government transparency and the free press protections.
Issues surrounding the freedom of speech are only increasing, making it even more important to remain politically educated and to understand where and how you are receiving information, because in today’s world, what you know may be a result of who’s in office.
