A Wyoming senator's remarks about free speech stunned a Capitol Hill reporter for The New York Times on Friday.
Annie Karni joined CNN's "The Arena" with host Kasie Hunt on Friday afternoon to discuss remarks made by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R), who made an eye-popping statement to Semafor that she no longer feels the First Amendment is the "ultimate right."
"Under normal times, in normal circumstances, I tend to think that the First Amendment should always be sort of the ultimate right. And that there should be almost no checks and balances on it. I don’t feel that way anymore,” Lummis told the outlet on Thursday following the public suspension of late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
“I feel like something’s changed culturally. And I think that there needs to be some cognizance that things have changed,” she said. “We just can’t let people call each other those kinds of insane things and then be surprised when politicians get shot and the death threats they are receiving and then trying to get extra money for security."
Karni was taken aback by Lummis's comment.
"That’s stunning. Like she's saying, I don't believe the First Amendment is the end-all be-all. I agree that there kind of is a divide," said Karni.
Karni noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi caught flak online for saying there's "free speech" and "hate speech."
"And she got blowback from conservatives who said, 'Sorry, hate speech is awful, but it's still free speech.' It's not inciting violence. You may not like it, but it's protected," Karni added.