All Have Free Speech, But Some Have Freer Speech: Orwell’s Animal Farm and Today’s Media Double Standard

George Orwell's most famous and cited book is 1984. While 1984's Big Brother is often cited by people across the political spectrum, another one of his works comes to mind during recent days.

That book is Orwell's Animal Farm.

In Animal Farm, the animals rise up against the cruel farmer to create a society founded on the principle that "all animals are equal." But as the pigs consolidate power, the famous commandment is revised to read: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

This cynical paradox captures the essence of hypocrisy—equality in name, hierarchy in practice. Today's media landscape increasingly mirrors this dystopian allegory.

Even though modern democracies proudly proclaim a commitment to free speech, the reality is that some voices are allowed to be heard while others are swiftly silenced.

Consider the recent dichotomy between two high-profile incidents: late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's suspension for remarks about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Fox News host Brian Kilmeade's comment suggesting that homeless people should be summarily killed.

Kimmel's controversial statement was satirical primarily, part of the traditional DNA of late-night comedy. Yet he was swiftly suspended and now faces possible termination by Disney, the owner of ABC

Kilmeade, by contrast, made a chillingly literal remark advocating violence against an already marginalized population. His consequence? A brief public apology, after which he returned to the air as if nothing had happened.

This divergence is not merely about differing corporate policies; it reflects the growing asymmetry in how speech is punished or protected depending on its political alignment. Kimmel's criticism targeted a conservative figure closely aligned with former President Donald Trump, while Kilmeade is part of the Fox News ecosystem, a network that has become one of Trump's personal platforms.

The result is that speech that threatens the prevailing political machinery around Trump is swiftly sanctioned, while speech that flatters or reinforces it is treated with indulgence. Cancel culture rules!

This dynamic echoes the corruption of language and power in Animal Farm. There, the pigs rewrote the rules to shield themselves from scrutiny and to preserve their control, convincing the other animals that repression was for their own good.

Today, media conglomerates and political power brokers deploy selective outrage as a tool of control: punishing dissenters to send a message, while excusing those who serve the dominant narrative as guaranteed free speech. The First Amendment nominally protects all speakers, but cultural gatekeepers increasingly decide whose speech is "acceptable" based on their proximity to power.

As Trump maneuvers to reassert control over the media—through friendly outlets, intimidation of critics, and calls to weaken press protections—the Orwellian warning grows louder. The principle of universal free speech is being hollowed out, replaced with a tiered system where speech aligned with power is protected, and speech that challenges it is punished.

The irony is sharp and bitter: America boasts that "everyone has free speech," but the reality is closer to Orwell's dark farm satire. In today's media landscape, everyone has free speech, but some have freer speech.