The first amendment has been intercepted to mean the government can never pass laws that limit speech in any way

This is not entirely accurate. While the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, there are certain limitations and restrictions that the government can place on speech. These restrictions include laws against defamation, incitement to violence, obscenity, and certain types of commercial speech. The government can also regulate the time, place, and manner of speech, as long as these regulations are content-neutral and narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest. Additionally, the government can prohibit certain types of speech in specific locations, such as restrictions on speech in schools, prisons, or military bases.