When can the federal government use its coercive regulatory powers to silence ideas it doesn’t like on social media? That was the question presented to the Supreme Court on Monday, and while a majority seems ready to protect the First Amendment, too many justices seemed ready to give the government the benefit of the doubt.

The key exchange came between Justice Samuel Alito and Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher when Alito asked Fletcher if print media outlets such as the New York Times or Associated Press would ever be subject to the threats, harassment, and “constant pestering” that the Biden administration applied to social media companies Twitter, Facebook, and Google.