ADVERTISEMENT The storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob enraged by Trump’s false election claims has emboldened the tech giants and liberal critics of conservative media to push for new restrictions on misinformation and extremism on the right. Trump’s removal from Facebook and Twitter, and Amazon’s de-platforming of Parler, were controversial moves that have further enflamed Republican anger at Silicon Valley. GOP pollsters say censorship is the top issue animating the conservative base and that it will define Republican politics in the next presidential cycle. “This will be the defining issue for conservatives going forward in the same way that immigration was the defining issue that catapulted Donald Trump in 2016,” said Trump pollster Jim McLaughlin. “The issue of freedom of speech and taking on Big Tech, it’s top of mind for conservatives, but also I think for regular voters in battlegrounds that feel like something is wrong. I don’t think the media and Big Tech have any idea about the can of worms they’ve opened.”