Living Objectivism Episode #1: What Happened to Freedom of Speech?

What has happened to the freedom of speech?

The slaughter of journalists at Charlie Hebdo in Paris is part of a longstanding war against the freedom of speech. Before that horrific incident, there was a long line of threats and attacks. Recall the intimidation of Sony Pictures over "The Interview"; the 2011 firebombing of Charlie Hebdo; the deadly global riots in 2006 over cartoons of Mohammad in a Danish newspaper; Iran's death decree in 1989 against novelist Salman Rushdie. The list goes on. A climate of fear and self-censorship has set in. TV networks have removed shows from the air. Publishers have scrapped plans to release new books. Colleges have dis-invited commencement speakers like Ayaan Hirsi, because of their views. 

What is the right to free speech? Does it include the right to offend? Is there such a thing as "hate speech" or "Islamophobia"? What should be the response of the media, and more important, our government when Americans' freedom of speech is threatened? What can we do to safeguard our freedom of speech?