I deemed it real because I believed and still believe that private companies (even if I dislike them) have the right to moderate speech as they please. A big se

I deemed it real because I believed and still believe that private companies (even if I dislike them) have the right to moderate speech as they please. A big section of the right wing believes differently and passed laws in several states overriding that principle, while proclaiming that a direct and obvious violation of the First Amendment was actually “free speech.” I also believed and still believe that this fake free-speech posturing would lead directly to what’s happening now: direct governmental attacks on speech the administration doesn’t like. You may be a troll or so lost in politics that nothing reaches you anymore. But if you’re actually an American who cares about the bill of rights, the time to stand up has already arrived. It’s going to be hard for you to do so if you’re busy telling people “well, the government using police to target opponents is bad, but here’s this other thing that manifestly isn’t as bad and I am going to dismiss the former and dwell on the latter.”