In this segment, Dennis Prager debates the boundaries of free speech with a guest, emphasizing that while the First Amendment protects against government censorship, it does not shield individuals from consequences imposed by private entities or social reactions. Prager argues that private tech platforms—Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter—claim immunity from lawsuits while effectively silencing dissenting voices, a practice he likens to private airlines refusing passengers based on political views. He critiques the mainstream media’s role in shaping the narrative and contends that the notion of “free speech until it’s taken away” is a contradiction. The discussion underscores the tension between legal free speech rights and real‑world repercussions, especially in the digital age.
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You're restating it for me to respond to. Well, yeah, you have freedom of speech, but you're not free to avoid the consequences of your free speech. Is that what you're saying?
Yes, sir. Basically, so if you are fired or if you are taken off the air or if you are censored, then that's just how it is. You don't have freedom of speech in that way. It's just involving the government. So it is perfectly fine for you to be fired for your political beliefs. That's what That's what people on the left say.
Well, wait, that's a second argument. That it's not the government doing it is irrelevant to the first argument. Of course there are consequences to what I say. If I say to somebody in the street, you know, you're truly ugly, there are consequences. I may get punched. They may curse me. They just may walk away. Of course, to say that there are consequences to speech is not one of the great insights of modernity. As regards being shut down, then you don't have free speech. They can't have it both ways. Oh, you have free speech until we take it away.
That's exactly right. That's my viewpoint as well.
All right, let me leave it at that. I mean, it is unbelievable. The words that are spouted today is because the people read the Washington Post, the New York Times too much. So they actually think, or they go to school and they actually think that those are truly deep points. Oh, you have freedom of speech, but if you exercise it, I take it away. Then you don't have free speech. It's, as regards the argument, well, they're private companies, they're They're not the government. The private companies got their immunity to lawsuits on the promise that they would be an open forum. Google lives a lie. YouTube lives a lie. Facebook lives a lie. Twitter lives the biggest lie among the lies. Yes, give us immunity to lawsuits, But we'll shut down whatever we differ with. So I always ask a question with this new notion that, oh, private enterprise can do what it wants. Really? So if the big 3 airlines, Delta, American, and United, announce if you come on board with the Wall Street Journal, you can't fly with us, can they do that? Yes or no? Yes or no? Private company, correct? Or how about this? Who'd you vote for? You voted for Trump? Can't come on our American flight. Why not? It's a private company. And it's even worse. I mean, theoretically, if you can't get on American, United, and Delta, you could still get to a destination on Southwest or Alaska. Or what have you. But if you don't get on the highway of Google, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, you don't go anywhere. I'm Dennis Prager. We return.
