Commentary Big tech, social media, and the press used the violence on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6 as a pretext to purge their platforms of conservative figures and Republican officials, most notably President Donald Trump. Amazon, Apple, and Google conspired to de-platform Parler, regarded as a conservative, or free-speech, alternative to Twitter. Critics of the sweeping actions argue, rightly, that censorship violates not only First Amendment freedoms but also the spirit of the law protecting internet service providers from liability. But this is not censorship. Rather it is part of the strategic logic of mass conflict. The leadership of the political, corporate, and cultural establishment that today rules America shut down the communications of those against whom they are waging war. The moves fully expose the architecture of the American oligarchy—Big Tech is a Democratic Party funding mechanism and part of its operational arm, with social media and the prestige …