In a powerful and wide-ranging discussion, broadcaster Megyn Kelly and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi have issued a stark warning about the state of free speech in America, accusing powerful institutions of a coordinated assault on the First Amendment.
The interview, which has since gone viral, centred on what Kelly described as a 'dangerous weaponisation' of government and legal tools to silence dissent. 'They're trying to shut us up,' Kelly declared, arguing that the tactics extend beyond public criticism into the realm of financial and legal intimidation.
The Chilling Effect of 'Operation Choke Point 2.0'
Bondi, a key figure in the Trump administration's impeachment defence, drew parallels to a controversial Obama-era initiative, dubbing the current climate 'Operation Choke Point 2.0'. The original program sought to discourage banks from servicing industries deemed high-risk, such as payday lenders.
'This is far worse,' Bondi asserted. She detailed a modern-day version where financial service providers, including banking giants like Bank of America and Chase, are allegedly pressured to 'choke off' individuals and organisations based on their political views, effectively cutting them off from the modern economy.
From Financial Blacklisting to Legal Harassment
The conversation took aim at the recent criminal convictions of activists involved in the January 6th Capitol protests. Kelly and Bondi framed these legal actions not as straightforward justice, but as a 'warning shot' to any citizen considering vocally opposing the government.
'They want to make an example out of them,' Kelly stated, suggesting the prosecutions are designed to have a 'chilling effect' on conservative speech nationwide. Bondi echoed this, lamenting the portrayal of parents at school board meetings as 'domestic terrorists' for expressing concerns about curricula.
A Unified Stand for Foundational Rights
Both women positioned this battle as a fundamental defence of America's founding principles. Bondi passionately argued that the First Amendment is the 'foundation for all of our other rights', and its erosion threatens the very fabric of the republic.
The segment concluded with a call to action for Americans of all political stripes to recognise the threat. Kelly emphasised that today it might be conservatives in the crosshairs, but tomorrow it could be any group that falls out of favour with the prevailing political power, making defence of free speech an essential, non-partisan issue.
