"It’s a challenge to talk about free speech because with where we are at, it sounds conspiratorial to talk about the state of free speech"
I have noticed that too and it is a real problem. To say that the established authority or ruling class does not like having its narrative challenged and will jump at the chance to limit speech is not on par with ranting about lizard people or something.
Exactly, but they're doing a good job of stigmatizing it as so :( That's why credible people need to spread more awareness about this!