"Free speech has consequences" almost never refers to those consequences being imposed by the government of the day. It's generally used when (to pull an exampl

"Free speech has consequences" almost never refers to those consequences being imposed by the government of the day. It's generally used when (to pull an example out of the air) some woman cycling around might come across the Trump and Trumpets out and about in their convoy. Said woman might clasp one bicep while vigorously pumping that arm up and down in the air, with one single finger extended towards the top. Sadly, that woman's employer might be more delusional than herself, support the pedophile rapist, and decide to terminate her employment. Now those are indeed consequences of her exercising her right to free speech, at least in a symbolic form, but it wasn't the pedophile-in-power imposing them, it was the toadying employer.