free speech
What was Jonathan Turley's response to Margaret Brennan's suggestion that free speech led to the genocide of Jews?
Jonathan Turley strongly disagreed with Brennan's assertion, stating he 'almost spit out my coffee' upon hearing it. He emphasized that the Nazis' first action was actually to suppress free speech, not promote it. Turley argued that 'censorship is the harbinger of authoritarianism' and that the Nazis recognized free speech as 'the enemy of totalitarian rule.' He criticized the notion that free speech invites fascism as an 'old saw used by the anti-free speech movement,' particularly in Germany, suggesting that history demonstrates the opposite relationship between free expression and authoritarian regimes.
Watch clip answer (00:45m)
Fox News
03:20 - 04:05
Why does Jonathan Turley argue that President Trump has the right to examine government expenditures?
Jonathan Turley argues that Trump, elected by a majority of voters on a platform to reduce government size and eliminate waste, has both the mandate and responsibility to scrutinize government spending. Turley emphasizes the importance of examining financial records, stating 'You've got to look at the books... look at the receipts' to properly identify where government money is being allocated. Turley characterizes opposition to this scrutiny as 'a level of denial that borders on delusion,' highlighting the disconnect between Trump's clear electoral mandate and resistance to financial transparency in government operations. He supports the need for designated people to investigate government expenditures as part of fulfilling campaign promises to voters.
Watch clip answer (00:21m)
Fox News
00:29 - 00:50
What was the significance of Vice President Vance's speech in Munich regarding free speech?
Vice President Vance delivered a powerful speech in Munich where he confronted allies about defending free speech, stating as an American he would fight for this fundamental right. He challenged European nations for claiming to defend democracy while simultaneously undermining the very right that defines it - pointing out that free speech rights are in free fall across Germany, the United Kingdom, and other allies. Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley described this as a 'Churchillian moment' for the free speech community, both in the United States and Europe. The speech represented a critical stand against censorship, with many European colleagues welcoming Vance's defense of free expression at a time when these rights are being rapidly eroded across democratic nations.
Watch clip answer (00:44m)
Fox News
02:35 - 03:20
What percentage of Germans feel comfortable expressing their opinions in public?
According to a recent poll cited by constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley, only 17% of Germans feel comfortable stating their views in public. This alarmingly low figure highlights a significant crisis in free expression in Germany, where the vast majority of citizens appear to feel constrained or intimidated when it comes to voicing their opinions openly. Turley critically observes that "They're silencing the wrong people," suggesting that current censorship measures or social pressures in Germany may be misdirected and potentially harmful to democratic discourse. This statistic represents a troubling indicator for the state of free speech in one of Europe's leading democracies.
Watch clip answer (00:13m)Fox News
04:12 - 04:25
What was Jonathan Turley's response to the CBS host suggesting that free speech caused the genocide of the Jews?
Jonathan Turley strongly disagreed with this suggestion, stating he 'almost spit out my coffee' when he heard it. He explained that censorship, not free speech, is actually 'the harbinger of authoritarianism,' and pointed out that the first actions of the Nazis were to crack down on free speech and deny it to others. Turley emphasized that the Nazis recognized free speech as 'the enemy of totalitarian rule,' directly contradicting the CBS host's implication. He characterized the idea that 'free speech invites fascism' as 'an old saw used by the anti-free speech movement,' particularly in Germany. His response highlights the historical misrepresentation of free speech's role in relation to authoritarian regimes.
Watch clip answer (00:45m)Fox News
03:20 - 04:05
What was the key message of Vice President Vance's speech about free speech in Europe?
In his recent speech, Vice President Vance criticized European institutions for becoming 'brittle' while emphasizing the urgent need for cultural awakening regarding fundamental democratic values, particularly free speech. He pointed to concerning political trends, noting that far-right movements like AfD in Germany and similar groups in France are gaining significant political ground, which he views as a consequence of censorship policies. Vance's core message was a warning that shared values of free expression are at risk without meaningful change. His 'Wake up' admonition suggests that restricting free speech not only undermines democracy itself but also inadvertently empowers the very movements that European institutions are attempting to suppress through censorship.
Watch clip answer (00:27m)Fox News
01:47 - 02:14