Restoring America

Conservative values, National renewal

Let freedom of speech ring

By Ian Haworth

Published February 23, 2025 6:00am ET

Let freedom of speech ring — A federal employee who asked not to be named holds an U.S. flag that she flew upside down "as a sign of distress," during the "No Kings Day" protest on Presidents Day in Washington, in support of federal workers and against recent actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, by the Capitol in Washington. The protest was organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for 50 Protests 50 States 1 Movement. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Every few years, there’s a clip from the HBO show The Newsroom that goes viral as a supposedly damning indictment of America’s decline on the world stage.

“America is not the greatest country in the world anymore,” declares Jeff Daniels’ character, a pompous news anchor who breaks the mold by being ever-so-slightly anti-American.