Perhaps the most significant (and underappreciated) issue in the election was the left's war on free speech. 

While speech was not exactly a niche issue with voters, it wasn't top of mind compared to the border and the economy. However, the war on free speech helped create the "Dream Team," uniting Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr., and many of the entrepreneurs who moved significantly toward the Republicans this election cycle. 

Without the war on free speech, Musk might have stayed out of the election, and Musk's move to Trump helped move the Overton window for these people. 

So imagine how pleased I was to see this cross my Twitter feed:

Donald Trump's plan to DESTROY & DISMANTLE the CENSORSHIP Cartel & Reclaim the rights of FREE SPEECH to ALL AMERICANS! pic.twitter.com/6tbEgnAKNe

— H. Pearl Davis (@pearlythingz) November 8, 2024

No waffling, no compromise. Instead, we see a bunker-buster bomb dropped on the censorship establishment here, and I expect abroad as well. 

I have zero doubt that the expansion of the censorship regime was directed by the Biden administration, which not only funded much of the infrastructure here and abroad but also encouraged foreign countries to turn their sights on social media companies to censor Americans. The State Department, the FBI, and our intelligence agencies funded and coordinated these efforts, and Trump will have none of it. 

NEW: Jim Jordan torches a highly combative Dana Bash over Trump’s mission to protect free speech — cites the “Dream Team” —

JORDAN: He's going to focus on protecting the First Amendment. I mean, think about this. Did you ever think you would see Donald Trump, @elonmusk, RFK Jr… pic.twitter.com/wdQBNOHJja

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 10, 2024

The media are going to be sorely disappointed because censorship of "misinformation" was a key tool they were hoping to use to save their dying business. Their effectiveness in propagandizing the public has been declining, but they hoped the silencing of alternative voices would help them retain their power, at least to some extent. 

This cannot be posted enough. pic.twitter.com/bHldaXfc4a

— Joe Rogan Podcast (@joeroganhq) October 26, 2024

It is impossible to overstate how important censorship has been to the left. The near monopoly on the flow of information has been crucial to the success of many of the hoaxes Democrats have promulgated. Whether it is the Russia collusion hoax, the "fine people" hoax, the "drinking bleach" hoax, the Hunter Biden hoax, or any of the COVID hoaxes, without the near monopoly on information, the left loses its greatest weapon--the perpetration of hoaxes. 

The media has lost a lot of trust, but trust is not the only currency they have. Choosing what information gets out, what gets covered, what people see--that is a powerful took the media still has that cannot be easily matched yet by alternative media. Notice how the flow of information on the Butler assassination attempt was strangled or how little information we get out of North Carolina about the damage wrought by Helene. 

Alternative media has to grow and thrive in order to rival the Associated Press, and censorship organizations exist to prevent that. 

JD Vance on how the U.S. should respond when NATO countries threaten Americans like Elon Musk over free speech.

“If NATO wants us to continue supporting them, and NATO wants us to continue to be a good participant in this military alliance, why don't you respect American values… pic.twitter.com/LXH1cuuvza

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 10, 2024

I have argued multiple times that, while I support NATO, I have done so because it has been key to maintaining a freer world as things stand. That hasn't been the case. And if it wants to become a force for repression, the US should be out. NATO Secretary General Rutte is threatening Trump and America. I say FAFO. 

--> It is unclear if this report is accurate, and Newsweek is trying to track it down, but there is some reason to believe that Mark Rutte said this. Whether he did or didn't, our threat to punish NATO if it does not pull back on free speech restrictions should stand. 

The American government has to stand up for Americans' rights. Whether it is threats from abroad or from our own government, the pushback necessary to preserve liberty should come now and come at them hard. 

I am so happy that the fight for freedom and free speech has unified the Dream Team. The drive to deprive Americans the liberty to think and say what they will brought this unlikely team together, and together, I expect they will put the censors in their place: the trashbin of history. 

Good riddance to bad rubbish. 

UPDATE: I struck through the couple of sentences there since the claim that Rutte threatened US membership in NATO is disputed. Reporters are trying to track down the claims.