If you didn’t get a chance to catch this week’s Hot Takes Happy Hour live show,
and I hope you will watch the recording.The main takeaway here is simple: if Charlie Kirk's murder has taught us anything, it's that we must stop demonizing one another simply because we disagree. People who hold beliefs different from ours are not bad people. Period. We need to make space for those with different viewpoints - we don't need to agree with them, but they may teach us something. Whether you agreed with Charlie or not, Dany pointed out that he didn’t let his supporters trash those who opposed his views and came to challenge him.
There's been considerable concern about free speech following Jimmy Kimmel's suspension by ABC. Dany and I agree his comments were ill-timed, insensitive, and in poor taste. They weren't funny. We also agree that he has the right under the First Amendment to say them. When the government attempts to censor free speech through intimidation or regulatory pressure, it crosses a line that is distinctly un-American.
Let us know what you think in the comments. And join us next week for coverage of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Dany and I will be discussing President Trump's speech and those of other world leaders, as well as the hot button issues being debated - Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine.
Let us know what you think in the comments. And joint us next week for coverage of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Dany and I will be discussing President Trump’s speech and that of other world leaders, as well as the issues being discussed like Israel, Iran and Ukraine.
SHOW NOTES
Pam Bondi Needs a Free Speech Tutorial (Editorial Board, WSJ, Sept. 16, 2025)
Pam Bondi’s First Amendment Follies (Editorial Board, National Review, September 17, 2025)
Bondi Prompts Broad Backlash After Saying She’ll Target ‘Hate Speech’, New York Times, Sept. 16, 2025
After Kirk’s killing, a growing conservative campaign seeks to get his critics ostracized or fired, PBS, Sep 15, 2025 11:41 AM EDT
JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration, BBC, Feb 15 2025
McCain Counters Obama ‘Arab’ Question (Associated Press, Oct 11, 2008)
The Dividing Line ( Erick Erickson Substack, Sept 16, 2025
Trump, allies seek to punish speech they dislike following Kirk killing, Washington Post, Sept 18, 2025
Ronald Reagan on Constitution, Reagan Foundation
FIRE statement on FCC threat to revoke ABC broadcast license over Jimmy Kimmel remarks about Charlie Kirk , September 18, 2025
Why Kirk Assassination Is a Warning to the Left, New York Times, Sept 16, 2025
Advice for Liberals (Jim VandeHei, Axios, Sept 17, 2025)
and if you didn’t see my last Cosmopolitics post, Late night with Viktor Orban, please check it out!
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