Free Speech Under Siege: Responding to the NYT’s Misguided Narrative by Jessica Arndt

The Constitution Isn’t Dangerous—Attacking It Is
After hearing Joe Rogan in a YouTube short break down The New York Times’ absurd article, “The Constitution Is Sacred. Is It Also Dangerous?”—I had to read it myself. Honestly, it felt like a fever dream. The NYT isn’t just questioning the Constitution—they’re framing it as a threat. This isn’t satire; this is real. It’s part of a growing trend in elite circles, where the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment are seen as inconveniences rather than protections. The media is selling fear, and they need a villain to make the sale—whether that villain is Donald Trump, the First Amendment, or even free speech itself.

It’s obvious what’s happening here. Freedom of speech isn’t the problem—the problem is that freedom makes control difficult. As Rogan pointed out, “If you don’t have someone that is an imminent threat on the horizon, it’s very difficult to justify all the [censorship].” The Constitution blocks anyone—government, media, or otherwise—from silencing voices they don’t like. Without a bogeyman like Trump to rally against, how do you convince people to hand over their freedoms?

Think about it—what if the 2024 presidential race was between Kamala Harris and someone like Tim Scott or Asa Hutchinson? No Trump. No villain. How would they sell the idea that the First Amendment needs to be curtailed because it’s too dangerous? They need a crisis to justify censorship. No crisis, no control.

This isn’t just an American problem. Brazil banned Twitter (now X), making it illegal to access the platform—even through a VPN, with violators facing $8,000-a-day fines. We’re seeing a global war on speech. Governments are silencing dissent and calling it “safety.” Whether it’s misinformation, disinformation, or whatever buzzword they come up with next, the pattern is clear—free speech is becoming the enemy.

What’s happening in Brazil is a preview of what authoritarianism looks like. And make no mistake—when elites here suggest that the Constitution is a threat, they are laying the groundwork for similar crackdowns. The NYT article isn’t just questioning the past—it’s preparing the public for a future where speech isn’t free.

This attack on the Constitution isn’t happening in a vacuum. We’re seeing a coordinated move away from national sovereignty toward global governance, where organizations like the WEF and NATO gain influence over policies that affect your everyday life. These institutions aren’t accountable to voters. They don’t care about your freedom—they care about control. It’s not a coincidence that the erosion of free speech aligns with broader geopolitical crises and even health crises. Censorship is no longer about protecting people—it’s about power consolidation.

The Constitution stands in the way of that agenda. That’s why it’s being framed as a relic—something sacred but also “dangerous.” The truth is, it’s only dangerous to those who want unchecked authority. Free citizens are unpredictable. They question, resist, and disrupt narratives. That’s what the First Amendment guarantees, and that’s why it’s under attack.

The article implies that the Constitution’s principles need to “evolve” with the times, but let’s be clear—progress without principles isn’t progress. It’s chaos. Without the guardrails of the Constitution, we risk sliding into a world where truth is whatever the loudest voices say it is. Today’s disinformation is tomorrow’s inconvenient truth. If we let go of the First Amendment because it makes people uncomfortable, what’s next? Will the right to protest go too? Will religious freedom be sacrificed next in the name of unity or safety?

Once we start down that road, there’s no coming back. When governments decide which speech is acceptable and which isn’t, freedom becomes an illusion. What makes the Constitution sacred is that it doesn’t change based on what’s fashionable—it stays constant, even when it’s inconvenient. That’s not dangerous. That’s essential.

Freedom Is Uncomfortable—and That’s the Point

The NYT article misses the mark entirely. Freedom isn’t supposed to be easy or comfortable—it’s supposed to be challenging. The best ideas rise from debates that are messy, controversial, and even offensive. If we start censoring speech because it’s uncomfortable, we lose the very thing that keeps us free. The Founders understood this, and that’s why the First Amendment exists—to protect the voices nobody wants to hear.

Yes, misinformation exists. But the solution isn’t censorship—it’s more speech. Suppressing dissent doesn’t eliminate falsehoods; it just hides them until they fester and grow stronger. The way forward isn’t to tear down the Constitution but to lean into it. That’s how we stay free.

This NYT article is more than just a misguided opinion—it’s a dangerous narrative that undermines the foundations of liberty. The Constitution isn’t a threat to politics—it’s the only thing standing between us and authoritarianism. And the people trying to convince you otherwise are the ones who fear freedom the most.

The fact that mainstream media can casually suggest that one of the greatest documents ever written is a danger shows how far we’ve drifted from our principles. But the solution isn’t to dismantle those principles—it’s to defend them, loudly and unapologetically.

Because when the dust settles, it won’t be the censors or authoritarians who are remembered—it will be those who refused to let freedom die quietly.

2 responses to “Free Speech Under Siege: Responding to the NYT’s Misguided Narrative by Jessica Arndt”

  1. Unfiltered with Jessica, A Reply

    As much as I enjoy seeing the lovely pictorials that you share with IG on a regular basis, I found myself particularly intrigued with the fact that you are an aspiring writer. I enjoyed reading “Free Speech, under siege…” I read the New York Times article about the constitution is sacred, is it also dangerous?? Although I agree with many of the things that you stated, I feel that you’ve conflated the opinions of the author who is a book reviewer with the editorial stance of the NYT. having been a regular subscriber to that paper for a number of years, I find your characterization to be overly broad, and somewhat unfair. Because what she’s describing are primarily two books that she’s reviewing, not the principles of the New York Times. It’s a book review, which has as much to do with the principles of the newspaper as the recipe section.

    First, let me point out that the book reviewer, Jennifer Szalai, describes herself: 

    I write essays and reviews about nonfiction books, often with an eye to how they connect to our current moment. Sometimes those connections are obvious: I’ve reviewed memoirs by politicians like Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence, and biographies of figures like Sam Bankman-Fried and Elon Musk. But I’ve also reviewed books about history, philosophy and economic ideas, among other subjects.

    There are so many issues that you raise. Let me just comment on one, originalism. Contrary to religious documents, like the Bible that are static and unchanging, the Constitution was designed to be a living document. 

    “I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” 

    ― Thomas Jefferson

     If the constitution were not designed to have mechanisms for amendments, you, as a woman, wouldn’t have the right to vote, or property, and we would still have the institution of slavery in our society; to name two major changes to this foundational document of our country.

    Regardless, I’m quite impressed with your writing style, and to paraphrase Malcolm Gladwell, anybody who does anything 10,000 times becomes an expert. So keep writing, I’ll keep reading. Hopefully, people of good conscience can always disagree, but still remain friends. I hope we can as well. 

    Thanks for your contributions, Theo

    Like

    1. Hello Theo!
      Thank you for taking the time to read my article and for your thoughtful response. I appreciate your engagement with the topic of free speech and the complexities surrounding the interpretation of the Constitution.

      While I understand your point about the distinction between the book review and the editorial stance of The New York Times, my article specifically addresses the implications of the narrative presented in the NYT piece regarding the Constitution itself. The framing of the Constitution as “dangerous” is not merely an editorial oversight; it reflects a broader trend in certain media narratives that seek to undermine foundational principles of free speech.

      I agree that the author, Jennifer Szalai, is presenting her perspective on two specific books. However, the broader context in which she does so is crucial to understanding the potential ramifications of her statements. By suggesting that the Constitution is both sacred and potentially dangerous, she inadvertently opens the door to a more generalized critique of the principles that underpin our freedoms. This is particularly concerning in a climate where free speech is increasingly under attack, often justified by claims of safety or social progress.
      Regarding your reference to the Constitution as a living document and its amendments impacting women’s rights, I fully acknowledge the importance of these changes. However, my argument emphasizes that while the Constitution has evolved, its foundational role in protecting individual liberties must remain steadfast. The ability to amend the Constitution is indeed crucial for progress, but that should not undermine the rights it guarantees.

      As a woman, I recognize that the right to vote and participate in democracy was hard-won. It is essential that we protect the mechanisms that ensure open discourse and the right to express differing opinions. The notion that certain speech should be curtailed in the name of progress can lead us down a path where even fundamental rights are called into question.

      I appreciate your encouragement and hope we can continue to engage in constructive dialogue! 🙂

      Thank you again for taking the time to write a passionate, well-thought-out comment.

      Like

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