Liberals who came of age after 9/11 remember when the right led speech crackdowns, and are therefore more skeptical of progressive 'cancel culture' that peaked around 2020. Cohort experience with earlier cancellations shapes today’s willingness to punish or tolerate controversial speech.
— If cohort memory steers speech norms, institutions and parties should expect—and plan for—age‑structured splits in reactions to provocations and sanctions.
Nate Silver
2025.09.19
100% relevant
Silver’s claim that 'liberals in their 40s' were noticeably more wary of 2020‑era progressive cancellations because they recall post‑9/11 conservative cancellations (e.g., ABC’s 2002 Bill Maher firing) while pointing to Jimmy Kimmel’s current suspension.
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