Publishing company Simon & Schuster said Thursday it has canceled an upcoming book from GOP Sen. Hawley, who has been widely condemned in the wake of the Capitol riots. The publisher cited ’disturbing, deadly insurrection’ as the reason. Hawley slammed Simon & Schuster’s move as ’a direct assault on the First Amendment.’
Michael Malice and Lex Fridman had a very interesting conversation in Lex's podcast about the opportunities and challenges of self-publishing in comparison with having a publishing house. While this is for sure politically impressive move, I doubt the representative will be worse off.
Hawley clearly fails to understand the nature of the first amendment. Having the right to free speech in no way obligates anyone to listen to you, promote you, provide you with a platform or take you seriously. The right to free speech has never meant and should never mean freedom from consequence.