Power User with Taylor Lorenz Trump Official Brendan Carr's War on Free Speech
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Mar 20, 2025 
Mike Masnick, founder of TechDirt and a leading voice on free speech and internet policy, joins to discuss Brendan Carr's alarming influence as an FCC chair. They dive into how Carr's intimidation tactics affect journalists and media outlets, reshaping America's free speech landscape. Masnick highlights the hypocrisy of Carr's 'free speech warrior' narrative while threatening dissent through government power. The conversation navigates the complex relationship between social media censorship, regulation, and the critical need to safeguard expression in a polarized environment.
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Carr's Background
- Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, has a history at the FCC, serving under Ajit Pai and Trump.
- His career trajectory reveals a deep involvement in telecom policy.
Carr's Transformation
- Carr's shift towards a more combative stance on free speech seems recent.
- Some observers express surprise at this transformation, noting his earlier, more conventional views.
Carr's NBC Threat
- Carr threatened to investigate NBC's license after Kamala Harris appeared on SNL, citing the equal time rule.
- NBC preemptively offered Trump equal airtime, yet Carr persisted, revealing partisan motivations.