New Mexico – “what’s free speech worth?”

Having recently pointed out the rapidly expanding authoritarianism of the State of Colorado, we at TPOL now turn our attention to their de-facto ally to the south. The State of New Mexico is yet another example of how history, culture, politics, and government have worked together to create a Woke State that demonstrates the evils of government more and more.

While the Demo Socialists of America are making headlines by having members (or fellow-travelers) of their Communist (International Socialist) philosophy winning more and more Democratic Party primaries, it is easy to overlook the fact that California, Colorado, and New Mexico already have implemented large portions of a typical socialist agenda. And for that matter, most States have significant elements of authoritarianism, even totalitarianism, as they seek to accommodate and coddle (read get the votes of) the products of modern government-run, tax-funded educational institutions.

These all feature attacks on, and denial of, various liberties of individuals and groups. Not just those “protected” by the federal and the State constitutions, but those that fall into the categories of the common law, traditional morals and ethics, and “other rights not enumerated.”

The most recent stupidity generated in Santa Fe is an attack on various satirical publications. Most notably, the Babylon Bee. As reported by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), New Mexico has joined two other States in requiring warnings on all AI-generated political content, and on prohibiting such content within a certain window of time before elections.

(We are unsure and were not able to confirm which two States are similar, but suspect it is California and Hawai’i. Although other source suggest it is Texas and Colorado.) But what we did discover is that the problem is far more than just three States. This map comes from Axios.

If this were the only sign of authoritarianism on the part of the Legislature (and Executive Branch) of New Mexico, we would not make the claim we do in the headline.

But it is just the latest, and far from the worst.

As we opened with, it is not just the Blue or Purple States who are pushing back against free speech. Consider South Dakota:

South Dakota prohibits the use of AI-generated deepfakes to influence elections within 90 days of a vote. Under a bill signed by the current governor in March 2025, disseminating an unlabeled deepfake with the intent to injure a candidate is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. 

We ask, is that free speech?

Oh, and what is “injure” anyway? Hurting their feelings? Getting someone to not vote for them? Getting someone so angry that they pull out a rifle or handgun and go gunning for the candidate?

The law mandates that any political deepfake must include a clear disclosure stating it has been “manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence.” For video, the text must be legible and no smaller than the largest font on screen; for audio, the disclosure must be spoken at the beginning and end. In other words, not just denying free speech, but mandating free speech. (Of course, this is what tobacco and other manufacturers and sellers have been forced to do for decades.)

Key exemptions and enforcement details include:

• The “legitimate” media (Broadcasters and news outlets) are explicitly exempt from liability for hosting or reporting on deepfakes. (Babylon Bee, Casper World Daily, etc. are not “legitimate” because humor and sarcasm don’t count.)
• Content classified as satire or parody is not subject to these penalties. (Ah, but who decides how something is the be classified? Especially today when we see so many Republicans and Democrats who we think must surely be exaggerating for effect, only to find out that their particular version of hubris, egotism and mental illness let them “consistently” enjoy mental dissonance!)
• Injured candidates, the attorney general, or individuals depicted in the deepfake can seek civil remedies to prevent dissemination. (In addition to the criminal classification. Herein is a great danger: criminal and civil action, and the threat of civil action are a tremendous disincentive for people.)
• The law applies specifically to content circulated within 90 days of an election; deepfakes shared outside this window are not regulated by this statute. So at least for now, South Dakota has a time limit for their denial of liberty. But not much of one, when you consider how the State and its various jurisdictions spread out elections. In a typical election year, as much as nine months (270 days) might be in the blackout window.

Like paying out (“a few billion here, a few billion there; pretty soon you are talking about big bucks.“), liberty is nibbled away a few freedoms at a time.

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Source: https://freedombunker.com/2026/08/21/new-mexico-whats-free-speech-worth/