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Is the EU’s Spat with Elon Musk Really About Free Speech?

Summarizing Lee Smith in Tablet · Published Thursday, December 11, 2025
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JL;DR SUMMARY Elon Musk's clash with the European Union (EU) over free speech and social media regulations highlights deeper geopolitical and commercial tensions. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

United States  Elon Musk  Social Media  First Amendment  Free Speech  Geopolitics  European Union  Maga  Trade Relations  Digital Services Act 

Places mentioned

United States
"According to the team of White House strategists who drafted the document, Europe is an uncertain ally that violates its citizens rights, is a security burden, and cant even defend the civilization it built."
Pakistan
"He confirmed in an X post that a large part of the audience for Nick Fuentes antisemitic rants are based in Jew-hate hothouses like Pakistan and the Middle East."
Berlin, Germany
"For instance, in January, Musk hosted a Spaces discussion on X with the leader of Germanys Alternative fr Deutschland Party, Alice Weidel."
London, United Kingdom
"In a video feed addressing the estimated 1.5 million protesters whod gathered in London for British opposition figure Tommy Robinsons Unite the Kingdom march, Musk warned, Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you."
Malmö, Skåne, Sweden
"Its the digital version of open borders: Theres little point in opposing opening Western countries to third-world castoffs who wield machetes in London, Paris, Malm, and soon perhaps New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C."
Paris, France
"Its the digital version of open borders: Theres little point in opposing opening Western countries to third-world castoffs who wield machetes in London, Paris, Malm, and soon perhaps New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C."
Los Angeles, California, United States
"Its the digital version of open borders: Theres little point in opposing opening Western countries to third-world castoffs who wield machetes in London, Paris, Malm, and soon perhaps New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C."
New York, United States
"Its the digital version of open borders: Theres little point in opposing opening Western countries to third-world castoffs who wield machetes in London, Paris, Malm, and soon perhaps New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C."
Washington, D.C., Washington DC, United States
"Its the digital version of open borders: Theres little point in opposing opening Western countries to third-world castoffs who wield machetes in London, Paris, Malm, and soon perhaps New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C."

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