Morning Wire Podcast Summary: "How European Censorship Laws Affect You"

Release Date: August 3, 2025

Introduction

In this insightful episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into the implications of European Union (EU) censorship laws on American society. Featuring Jeremy Tedesco, Senior Vice President of Corporate Engagement at Alliance Defending Freedom, the discussion sheds light on the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and its far-reaching consequences for free speech and online expression in the United States.

Understanding the Digital Services Act (DSA)

Jeremy Tedesco begins by elucidating the essence of the Digital Services Act:

“The Digital Services Act has actually been around for a while. It's just now becoming truly mandatory. But what it is is essentially a blueprint for total narrative control in the digital age.” ([02:29])

He explains that the DSA imposes stringent speech standards from the EU onto global platforms, including American companies. These regulations threaten substantial fines—potentially billions of dollars—if platforms fail to censor content deemed as hate speech or disinformation according to EU definitions.

Impact on American Free Speech

John Bickley probes deeper into why the DSA poses a significant threat to American free speech:

“These standards are absolutely going to apply to the kind of speech we can engage in online in the United States.” ([03:18])

Tedesco emphasizes that the EU cannot geofence these regulations, meaning they cannot limit the applicability of the DSA solely to EU member states. As a result, American platforms must comply globally, eroding the First Amendment protections that safeguard free speech in the U.S.

He cites past instances during the COVID-19 pandemic where the EU mandated the removal of content related to vaccines and the lab leak theory—content that, in hindsight, proved to be valid. This precedent illustrates the DSA's capacity to suppress legitimate discourse under the guise of combating disinformation.

Furthermore, Tedesco recounts how EU authorities interacted with American platforms during the 2020 presidential election:

“Thierry Breton... sent a letter to Elon Musk and X... saying... we're really concerned that your interview of President Trump is going to violate the DSA's hateful conduct and incitement standards.” ([07:06])

This move exemplifies the EU's intent to regulate and censor political speech in the U.S., undermining the democratic process.

Response from Social Media Companies

When questioned about social media companies' reactions to the DSA, Tedesco highlights the severity of compliance requirements:

“The companies have to start deleting, restricting, shadow, banning any speech that could possibly come into conflict with EU laws on hate speech and disinformation.” ([05:24])

He references the suspension of 11,000 Twitter accounts under the EU's definitions of COVID disinformation as evidence of the DSA's impact. With the DSA transitioning from voluntary to mandatory compliance, Tedesco warns of increasing censorship:

“The censorship isn't going to get better. In a mandatory world where the companies truly are facing these crippling fines...” ([05:24])

This shift positions the EU as the arbiters of truth online, posing a direct challenge to American free speech norms.

Administration Responses: Trump vs. Biden

The conversation shifts to the differing approaches of the Trump and Biden administrations regarding online censorship. Tedesco outlines a stark contrast:

“It's 180 degrees difference with the Trump administration. The Biden administration was a full participant in the censorship aims...” ([06:43])

Under Biden, there was active collaboration with various entities in what Tedesco describes as a "censorship complex," targeting organizations like the Daily Wire. In response, the Trump administration has taken steps to dismantle these efforts by halting federal funding to key nonprofits involved in content flagging and shutting down departments like the Global Engagement Center.

However, Tedesco cautions that these measures only address domestic efforts, leaving international censorship initiatives like the DSA unchallenged:

“The international aim and goal to censor through the DSA and other international efforts to censor is on our doorstep. It's already affecting American speech. It's only going to get worse.” ([07:07])

He expresses hope that leadership figures like JD Vance and Ambassador Anthony Puzder will escalate efforts to negotiate with the EU and counteract the DSA's encroachment on American liberties.

Conclusion

John Bickley wraps up the discussion by acknowledging President Trump's proven ability to exert influence on international policy, referencing his "strong-arming" tactics at the NATO summit. This sets the stage for potential diplomatic efforts to challenge the EU's censorship laws.

“Well, we've just seen how effective Trump can be in strong arming Europe at the NATO summit. So we'll see if he can force Europe's hand here as well.” ([08:34])

Tedesco concurs, emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy and negotiation to protect free speech from overreaching regulatory frameworks like the DSA.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Morning Wire underscores the growing concerns over international regulations impacting domestic freedoms. Jeremy Tedesco's expert insights illuminate the pressing need for vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard American free speech against expansive censorship laws imposed by the EU.

Notable Quotes

• Jeremy Tedesco ([02:29]): “The Digital Services Act is essentially a blueprint for total narrative control in the digital age.”

• Jeremy Tedesco ([03:18]): “These standards are absolutely going to apply to the kind of speech we can engage in online in the United States.”

• Jeremy Tedesco ([05:24]): “The censorship isn't going to get better. In a mandatory world where the companies truly are facing these crippling fines...”

• Jeremy Tedesco ([06:43]): “The Biden administration was a full participant in the censorship aims...”

• Jeremy Tedesco ([07:07]): “The international aim and goal to censor through the DSA and other international efforts to censor is on our doorstep.”

For more in-depth discussions on pressing political and cultural issues, tune in to future episodes of Morning Wire.