Scrolling through Facebook between classes, I’ve seen memes claiming America is “just like North Korea” when it comes to press freedom. Some friends even tossed it around in the dining hall after Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension—not firing—made headlines. I get it: social media thrives on big, scary comparisons. But as someone who actually reads the stories behind the posts, I can tell you the facts don’t support the drama.
Free Speech Isn’t Dead
Yes, the U.S. has had some tense moments between journalists and government. The Obama administration caught heat for subpoenaing phone records and going after leakers under the Espionage Act. Those were serious debates about national security and privacy, and people from both parties pushed back.
But here’s reality: nobody has been tossed in prison in this country just for criticizing a president or posting a spicy TikTok about Congress. You can open Twitter (or X, or whatever it’s called this week) and see people ripping into every branch of government in real time. That doesn’t happen in Pyongyang or Tehran.
The “Filmmaker” Cases
A lot of memes point to arrests of filmmakers as proof of censorship. Take Deia Schlosberg, who got detained in 2016 while filming pipeline protests. She was hit with felony charges that could have meant decades behind bars—but those charges were about alleged trespassing and conspiracy, not her opinions about the administration. They were dropped.
Then there’s the Innocence of Muslims saga after the Benghazi attack. The Obama team initially blamed the crude video for sparking violence. Its producer, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, was later arrested—but for violating federal probation (using fake names and bank fraud from an earlier case). Later intel showed the Benghazi assault was planned by militants, not a spontaneous movie riot. So the idea that he was jailed for “criticizing the president” doesn’t hold up.
Leak Prosecutions ≠ Jailing Reporters
Obama’s Justice Department also prosecuted several people who leaked classified info to journalists—Jeffrey Sterling, Stephen Kim, and others. But those prosecutions targeted the leakers, not the reporters. Even Fox News’ James Rosen, whose emails got flagged in an affidavit, was never dragged off in handcuffs for making the White House look bad.
We can (and should) debate how far leak investigations should go, but they’re not the same as outlawing political speech.
Look at the Real Authoritarian Playbook
Want to see actual media crackdowns? Try criticizing Kim Jong Un in North Korea—that can cost you your life. In Iran, dozens of journalists sit behind bars for “insulting the Supreme Leader.” Saudi Arabia has locked people up over tweets. Russia has forced entire newsrooms into exile.
Here, late-night hosts roast politicians nightly. Reporters press presidents live on camera. Even the memes calling America a dictatorship are created and shared without fear of police raids. That gap isn’t a footnote; it’s the foundation of the First Amendment.
Stay Alert, But Stay Honest
None of this means we should shrug off overreach. Heavy-handed arrests at protests, secret subpoenas, and leak prosecutions deserve scrutiny. Free speech is only safe if people defend it. But we can’t defend it well if we exaggerate every controversy into “America = North Korea.”
Perspective matters. Our system isn’t flawless, but it’s still a place where you can write, film, joke, or tweet about leaders without risking a gulag.
So next time you see a viral post equating Washington with Pyongyang—or hear a classmate say Kimmel’s suspension proves the death of free speech—pause before sharing. Freedom’s fragile, sure, but it’s also alive and kicking. Let’s protect it with facts, not fear.
Rusty Sullivan is a contributor to Direct Line News. He can be contacted at Rusty.Sullivan@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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