Obvious as it may sound, people with authoritarian beliefs hiding behind free speech actually consider it as a weakness akin empathy. It allows losers like them to amplify their reach despite not being in power. They abandon their “free speech absolutist” postures the moment they think they are in power.
I’m right there with you, friend. Scary times we’re living in, I wish there weren’t so many events taking place that’ll be in future history books.