freedom of speech Archives

Kelly: Trump Will ‘Double Down on Stupid’

February 14, 2026 Buck Banks

“I wouldn’t put anything past Donald Trump and this administration. We’ve seen these guys over and over again double down on stupid.”

— Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) told Politico he wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump administration tries to take another run at punishing him over a video telling troops not to obey unlawful orders.

Kimmel Returned to a Huge Audience

September 25, 2025 Buck Banks

6.3 million

Nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the Jimmy Kimmel broadcast last night, despite the blackouts in many cities, the AP reports. And there was a larger audience online, with more than 15 million people watching Kimmel’s opening remarks on YouTube by Wednesday evening.

Trump Administration’s Open Oppression

September 22, 2025 Buck Banks

“There’s no hiding the political retaliation and weaponization. It’s all out in the open.”

— Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Freedom of (Some) Speech

September 13, 2025 Buck Banks

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, social media is in disarray,
And the right wing’s impulse to control free speech is fully on display.
It’s a campaign of naming and shaming,
Of doxxing and blocking and blaming,
Where the First Amendment only guarantees my right to decide what you can say.

Tag: freedom of speech

Kelly: Trump Will ‘Double Down on Stupid’

“I wouldn’t put anything past Donald Trump and this administration. We’ve seen these guys over and over again double down on stupid.”

— Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) told Politico he wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump administration tries to take another run at punishing him over a video telling troops not to obey unlawful orders.

Kimmel Returned to a Huge Audience

6.3 million

Nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the Jimmy Kimmel broadcast last night, despite the blackouts in many cities, the AP reports. And there was a larger audience online, with more than 15 million people watching Kimmel’s opening remarks on YouTube by Wednesday evening.

Trump Administration’s Open Oppression

“There’s no hiding the political retaliation and weaponization. It’s all out in the open.”

— Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Freedom of (Some) Speech

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.