[zapperdulchen]

That is your POV. I fear that democracy erodes when there's insults, belittling, ... instead of exchange of arguments and the contest of ideas. Because at some point insults turn into ugly actions. Whether it's Charlie Kirk or Melissa Hortman.

[johnsimer]

There is a reason the founding fathers put freedom of speech as the first amendment

Insults should absolutely be protected speech.

In countries that make insulting politicians illegal, all a politician has to do to become a dictator is say that speech criticizing them/their behavior is insulting and therefore illegal

Would you like if Trump arrested anybody who insulted him?