Winning By Silencing Your Opposition

Perhaps no better example of malevolent government power is its willingness to target perceived enemies.

Allan J. Feifer | October 15, 2026

Perhaps no better example of malevolent government power is its willingness to target perceived enemies. During the Biden administration, a conservative organization devoted to “defending parental rights and promoting a culture of liberty” became entangled in a controversy that raises a troubling question: What happens when political opponents are treated not as citizens to be persuaded, but as threats to be contained by their government?

I’m talking about Moms for Liberty, but the implications and actions extend far beyond just this organization. Some political actors seek to win cultural battles not by refuting traditional beliefs, but by making those beliefs—and the people who hold them—socially undesirable. The goal is simple: weaken the opposition’s ability to engage in protected speech.

You might think this was fabricated, but it wasn’t:

A Justice Department report released October 5, 2026, revealed that the FBI investigated a mother after a tip cited her gun ownership and membership in a “right‑wing mom’s group.” The report traces the origins of the episode to a September 2021 letter from the National School Boards Association urging federal authorities to consider whether confrontations at school‑board meetings might constitute domestic terrorism or hate crimes. Attorney General Merrick Garland responded by directing federal officials to address threats against school personnel. The FBI ultimately opened 25 assessments involving parents before it became public and became an example of federal intimidation. Internal DOJ and FBI personnel raised concerns about the initiative’s political appearance and constitutional implications, yet the memo proceeded—shaped, the report says, by White House influence. One assessment involved a mother whose gun ownership and membership in a “right‑wing mom’s group” were cited as factors.Advertisement if (window.publir_show_ads) { document.write(''); }

A Justice Department report released October 5, 2026, revealed that the FBI investigated a mother after a tip cited her gun ownership and membership in a “right‑wing mom’s group.” The report traces the origins of the episode to a September 2021 letter from the National School Boards Association urging federal authorities to consider whether confrontations at school‑board meetings might........

© American Thinker