Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley commended Vice President JD Vance for his critique of German censorship laws during an address at the Munich Security Conference. Vance challenged the conference organizers for excluding both far-left and far-right political parties from the dialogue. Turley, speaking on "America's Newsroom," also responded to a CBS host who controversially linked the Holocaust to free speech.

Vance's speech, reminiscent of John F. Kennedy's historic Berlin address, resonated with free speech advocates. He directly confronted European allies, arguing that the suppression of free expression undermines democratic principles. Turley, author of "The Indispensable Right," highlighted the declining state of free speech in Germany, the United Kingdom, and other allied nations, emphasizing the significance of Vance's remarks for the global free speech community. European colleagues, Turley noted, hailed the speech as a pivotal moment for free expression.

Vance specifically criticized the Munich conference organizers for barring representation from populist parties across the political spectrum, arguing that such exclusionary practices stifle open discourse. He asserted that internal threats to fundamental values, rather than external actors like Russia or China, pose the greatest danger to Europe's future. Vance contended that a fear of one's own constituents represents a self-inflicted crisis.

CBS host Margaret Brennan sparked controversy by suggesting a link between free speech and the Holocaust, a statement that drew widespread criticism. Brennan's remarks came during a discussion about Vance's Munich speech and his criticism of European censorship. She clashed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the issue.

Turley expressed astonishment at Brennan's statement, highlighting the Nazis' immediate suppression of free speech upon seizing power. He emphasized that censorship is a precursor to authoritarianism and argued that Brennan's assertion misrepresents the historical context of Nazi Germany. Turley pointed to the flourishing neo-Nazi movement in modern Germany despite robust censorship laws, suggesting that censorship silences the wrong voices and fails to prevent extremism. He referenced a poll indicating that a mere 17% of Germans feel comfortable expressing their views publicly.

Vance himself reacted to Brennan's comments, labeling them "crazy" and questioning the media's understanding of the Holocaust's origins. The exchange sparked widespread debate and criticism of Brennan's perspective.