Staff Reports
Censorship has become the go-to tactic for the left, especially when it comes to suppressing free speech from conservatives. Jonathan Turley, a distinguished professor of constitutional law, is one of the latest targets in a long line of voices being silenced. In Turley’s most recent works, he tackles an increasingly pervasive issue in the digital age: the organized effort to stifle speech that doesn’t conform to the left’s rigid ideological framework. This isn’t just academic musings; it’s a dire reality impacting conservatives in every realm of public discourse.
The left’s preferred method of silencing dissent is as simple as it is effective: drown out opposing voices. This tactic has been seen repeatedly on college campuses where conservative guest lecturers such as Ben Shapiro and Ann Coulter are met with a cacophony of protests and shouts from vocal mobs. It’s a straight-up bullying tactic where logic can’t compete against the blaring noise of the intolerant. With hundreds screaming slurs, the calm and rational arguments of the conservatives don’t stand a chance—especially when those arguments are often casually labeled as “Nazi” nonsense by the same folks who pride themselves on being “enlightened.”
Online platforms aren’t free from these suppression tactics either. Conservative personalities like Dan Bongino have found themselves the subjects of ruthless sponsor boycotts, an intimidation strategy that aims to cut off their financial support. Although these efforts often backfire—Bongino’s audience appears to have only grown in response to these tactics—it remains a constant threat to those who dare to voice conservative opinions online. The intent here isn’t just to challenge their ideas but to financially cripple those unwilling to conform.
In addition, self-proclaimed “fact-checkers” like NewsGuard and PolitiFact have emerged as the modern equivalent of ideological gatekeepers. They label sites like RedState as “unreliable,” taking it upon themselves to decide what qualifies as “acceptable” speech. Turley himself recently called out these so-called watchdogs for their predatory behavior that targets conservative thought. In an elaboration on these absurd tactics, Turley highlighted an incident where a humor piece was mistaken for serious news, showcasing the palpable disconnect between the self-righteous censors and the reality of creative expression.
Not long after I ran a column criticizing NewsGuard, the company came knocking to ask about my revenue sources and why I do not notify people that I write from what it views as a conservative or libertarian perspective… https://t.co/hhY0qWFJ4O
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) July 28, 2024
In an especially revealing exchange, Turley was interrogated by a NewsGuard representative about his blog and its pointing of view. The representative even challenged him on the very title of his blog, “Res ipsa loquitur,” questioning its meaning and relevance to his conservative stance. One can’t help but wonder if those at NewsGuard skipped their Latin classes. This level of ignorance underscores just how desperate they are to impose their preferred narrative.
With an election year looming, it’s clear that NewsGuard and its ilk are only ramping up their efforts to discredit and label conservative voices, treating them as too extreme or dangerous. The blatant double standard in this so-called fact-checking industry reveals its true purpose: to silence dissent rather than engage with it. As Turley puts it, reform is necessary, including stopping federal funds for entities that engage in suppression. Ultimately, the stakes are higher than personal reputations; it’s about the integrity of free speech itself. What remains to be seen is whether conservatives will fight back against the systematic effort to silence them or continue to politically disengage and cower in the shadows, leaving the public square to the screeching mobs of the left.
