In a stark shift from previous policy, Rubio has raised this issue directly with foreign leaders, including at a recent Oval Office meeting with the UK Prime Minister. The message: Attacks on free expression undermine one of the core values that unite Western democracies.

The man running this operation? Richard Stengel – who publicly claimed: "Donald Trump talks just like a Russian spy, he talks just like a terrorist, and so do the people around him." This wasn't just talk. They had a sophisticated system to silence opposition.

Here's how the censorship machine worked: The State Department funded supposedly "impartial" NGOs with taxpayer money. These third-party groups then tagged American commentators and media outlets as "foreign agents." But that was just the beginning...

The consequences were real and devastating. These weren't just labels – they led to Americans getting deplatformed and silenced online. High-profile targets included Ben Shapiro and The Federalist. But countless everyday citizens were also caught in the dragnet.

Just when you think it couldn't get more shocking: Before Trump took office, they didn't shut down the unit. They simply renamed it and moved it elsewhere in the bureaucracy. A classic government shell game to avoid accountability.

The most disturbing part? American taxpayers were unknowingly funding this censorship apparatus. Your tax dollars were being used to silence fellow Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights.

Sec. Rubio's team has been quietly dismantling this system over recent months. They're documenting what happened for two critical reasons: So those harmed can prove they were targeted to ensure it never happens again.

But that's not the end of the story. We're now facing an even bigger threat from abroad. The European Union has become increasingly aggressive in censoring speech, including targeting Americans speaking about American issues.

A concrete example: When Elon Musk hosted Donald Trump on X during the election season, EU officials threatened him with penalties. This was two non-EU citizens, discussing American politics, being threatened by foreign censors. The stakes couldn't be higher.

Here's what's even more concerning: The foreign censorship laws in places like the EU were partly shaped by the same ecosystem partners that were funded by the State Department. It created a global censorship machine that's still operating.

The EU Digital Services Act now threatens Americans with fines for speech that would be protected under our First Amendment. They've already threatened a billion-dollar fine against X for "non-compliance with disinformation" standards.

The State Department is now refocusing on pro-American messaging and protecting free speech globally. A complete reversal from the previous censorship approach that targeted Americans.

What's the lesson here? As Rubio put it: "Sometimes, some idea that starts out as innocuous or maybe even good intention can metastasize, becomes a weapon that can be turned into something else by someone else."

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Make it part of the tariffs

Damn, like Mr. Rubio. This whole cabinet,… On it. All of it. Thank you,Mr. Trump.🇺🇸 You all!🚀✊Solid! 🇺🇸❤️🫵🏻✨😎🏴‍☠️

@EatDrinkNBeMery I didn’t watch the full video but it seems by free speech Republicans mean “supporting pro American speech and silencing anything else” seeing as how that’s exactly what Trump and Elon have done. Which also isn’t free speech. Just call it what it is

I❤️🇺🇸

The UK PM is as bad as the Europeans.9

Is that sausage hanging behind them?and What is the message that that sends?making sausage is messy, and you may not want to watch the process, but the end result is wonderful,maybe.