BRITAIN must avoid the “very dark path” of silencing free speech, JD Vance urged today.

The US Vice President warned the West has grown “a little too comfortable with censoring” during a press conference with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

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Britain must avoid the ‘very dark path’ of silencing free speech, JD Vance urged today[/caption]

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Vice President Vance talks with Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a meeting at Chevening House in Kent, England[/caption]

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The pair even had a spot of fishing during their bilateral meeting[/caption]

The Veep said: “I think the entire collective West, the transatlantic relationship, our Nato allies, certainly the United States under the Biden administration, got a little too comfortable with censoring rather than engaging with a diverse array of opinions.”

Mr Vance has previously slammed Britain for enforcing some of the toughest restrictions on free speech globally.

In February, during a televised meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump in the Oval Office, the Vice President flagged that “infringements on free speech” are now impacting not only Brits but also American tech firms, “and by extension American citizens”.

Vance’s latest tirade comes after the UK launched a divisive new Online Safety Act which targets children’s social media usage.

Striking a more measured tone this time, Mr Vance explained: “The thing that I’d say to the people of England or to anybody else, to David, is many of the things that I worry most about were happening in the United States from 2020 to 2024.

“I just don’t want other countries to follow us down what I think was a very dark path under the Biden administration.”

When asked by Mr Vance if he had anything to add, Mr Lammy remained silent.

The Vice President and his family are spending two days with Mr Lammy at Chevening before heading to the Cotswolds for a summer break.

During their bilateral talks, the duo tackled issues including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as advancements in technology.

Highlighting their ideological differences, Mr Lammy reflected on the “joy of living in a democracy like ours,” where debate thrives despite opposing views.

He said: “But, you know, there are areas where there are actually joint concern, we both have a joint concern about outcomes for working people, that is the truth of it.

“And we have also discussed issues like irregular and illegal migration and how we deal with those issues.

“So there are commonalities and there are differences and that is the joy of living in democracies like ours.”

Vance is expected to make the short trip across to Scotland next week.

The visit from the latest high-profile American politician comes shortly after Donald Trump’s five-day trip to Turnberry and Aberdeenshire, where he opened the new 18 holes at his golf course at Trump International in Menie.

Mr Trump met with the First Minister, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and played several rounds of golf during his visit.

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The two influential politicians shaking hands[/caption]

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The pair even shared a laugh during the meeting[/caption]

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Some were quick to bash Trump Jr.’s post as the comedic equivalent of an air ball.

SOME air conditioners could be banned entirely soon for Americans as part of a rule first introduced a few years ago.

It was specifically implemented to protect the environment.

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Finalized by former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2023, the use of certain gases in refrigerators and air conditioning units was restricted, as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that they were contributing to ozone depletion.

Those gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have been used in cooling and refrigeration for years but are powerful pollutants, per the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Hydrofluorocarbons are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide and trap heat much better, hence the usage in systems that attempt to cool.

On August 1, 2025, a federal appeals court rejected arguments against the restriction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from several top refrigerant manufacturers, per Reuters.

The manufacturers claimed that the rule was invalid that the move from the EPA to get the legislation past was unconstitutional.

Still, a three-judge panel with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied the appeal.

The ongoing rule is also a provision to the 2020 American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, a law that seeks to reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 85% as of 2036.

Since the finalizing of the rule in 2023, there has been a nationwide shortage of refrigerants, and a prominent new one known as 454B won’t work with older AC systems.

CONSUMER COST

This has meant either replacements or repairs for many Americans to adjust, which has become costly, according to James Langley, owner of Las Vegas-based HVAC company We Care Air.

“The mandate is calling for a lower GWP — Global Warming Potential refrigerant,” he explained to CBS affiliate KLAS this summer.

“That’s what 454B is. For us, our install guys have to use different installation tools and adjust our pricing.”

“Prices of units have gone up by 30 to 40%,” Langley added.

According to the expert, it’s also left room for some companies to price gouge homeowners and renters, as they know there’s no alternative sometimes but new units that will be able to handle the rule-abiding refrigerant.

“Let’s say, I came to your home and your compressor is out,” Langley told the outlet.

“We can change that compressor, but now there are those who will charge you double because your only alternative is to get a whole new system which is even more.”

He also said that some components for HVAC units like “cylinders” aren’t being manufactured fast enough to keep up with the demand of refrigerant needed for the new units.

TARIFF TURMOIL

Tensions amid the US and China with global reciprocal tariffs also made the situation worse, as many of those components are imported.

“Eighty percent of the refrigerant gas we need today is now coming from China. That’s 100% against Trump’s initiative, Jorge Alvarez, co-founder of iGas USA, told NewsNation.

“A 5-ton air conditioning system a year ago installed used to cost roughly $8,000 today.”

“That exact same system is a minimum of $11,000,” he added.

Alvarez also estimated refrigerant cost to be up 600% as of 2025.

Energy bills are also the highest they’ve been in over a decade for the summer months this year.

There’s a “vampire solution” that can help cut $200 off the costs, and offer at least four other little-known benefits.

At least five simple mistakes could also be contributing to high bills.

The TV news business is in flux, but the veteran Fox News anchor believes that it has a place in a world being rapidly disrupted.