Following controversial comments made by Jimmy Kimmel regarding Charlie Kirk, ABC has indefinitely suspended *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*. Former President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension, taking to Truth Social to express his approval and criticize Kimmel’s talent and ratings. The Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr, condemned Kimmel’s remarks, suggesting they violated the public interest obligations of broadcasters and hinting at potential regulatory action against ABC affiliates. Nexstar, which owns numerous ABC affiliates, was the first to preempt the series, followed by the network’s official indefinite suspension announcement.
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Following Jimmy Kimmel’s comments regarding Charlie Kirk’s death, ABC announced the indefinite suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” prompting outrage from politicians, media figures, and free speech organizations. These figures expressed concerns over censorship and the silencing of critics of Donald Trump, with some calling the move a coordinated and dangerous attack on free speech. Donald Trump and his allies, however, celebrated the decision, with some figures seemingly encouraging the cancellation of other late-night shows. Free speech advocacy groups and other commentators view the suspension as a result of pressure from government actors.
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German journalists union criticises decision to take Jimmy Kimmel off air, and that’s where this story really begins, doesn’t it? It’s a situation that’s clearly caught the attention of a lot of people, and for good reason. The core of the issue is pretty straightforward: a prominent voice, a late-night comedian known for his political commentary, is suddenly removed from the air. And naturally, that sparks concerns about freedom of speech and the potential for censorship. When you have a union of journalists speaking out, that carries weight. They understand the importance of a free press and the dangers of suppressing voices, so their criticism carries significant weight.… Continue reading
Sinclair, a media conglomerate, will replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliate stations with a Charlie Kirk tribute special and is offering it to all other ABC stations due to Kimmel’s recent comments. The company is also demanding Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and donate to Turning Point USA. This move follows Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group pulling the show from their ABC stations, leading to ABC suspending production. Sinclair emphasized a commitment to professionalism and accountability and will not air the show until those standards are met, and is also conducting a strategic review of its broadcast business, subject to FCC review for any deals.
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The article contends that the cancellation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is a symptom of a broader threat to free speech and democracy. Kimmel’s remarks about the politicization of Charlie Kirk’s death were met with criticism from the right, but were quickly defended by the host himself, and were not deemed to be offensive. However, in response, the FCC and media conglomerates like Disney and Nexstar seemingly colluded to silence Kimmel, citing unprecedented threats from FCC chairman Brandon Carr. These actions, including the preemptive suspension of Kimmel’s show, are seen as a strategic move by media companies to appease the FCC and maintain business interests, especially given pending regulatory approvals. The author views this as a dangerous precedent, representing the further erosion of free speech and the suppression of dissenting voices.
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The recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel highlights the Trump administration’s tactic of weaponizing regulatory powers to silence critics, echoing methods used by autocrats. FCC head Brendan Carr threatened broadcasting licenses due to Kimmel’s comments, despite legal limitations on censorship. Faced with potential repercussions, Nexstar, a major station owner, and subsequently ABC/Disney, suspended Kimmel, demonstrating a chilling effect on free speech. This incident exemplifies a concerning trend of democratic backsliding where seemingly neutral rules are exploited to punish political enemies, emphasizing the ease with which media outlets capitulate to government pressure.
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Following the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration and conservative figures have equated leftist critique with “terrorism,” sparking fears of a new McCarthyist era. High-ranking officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have vowed to dismantle organizations and networks perceived to be promoting violence. This rhetoric has led to widespread calls for retribution against those expressing dissent or celebrating Kirk’s death, resulting in firings, suspensions, and public shaming across various sectors. Civil rights advocates and free speech proponents have warned of a chilling effect, as employers and social media platforms amplify calls for punishment, suppressing political activity and free expression.
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ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show due to his comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk, which prompted Nexstar Communications Group, operator of 23 ABC affiliates, to pull the show from their stations. Kimmel’s comments on Monday and Tuesday nights, which were critical of responses to the killing, were deemed “offensive and insensitive” by Nexstar. There was no immediate comment from Kimmel or ABC regarding the suspension.
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Former high-ranking CDC officials testified before the Senate, alleging that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cultivated an anti-scientific environment characterized by censorship and policy manipulation. These officials, including former CDC Director Susan Monarez and Deputy Director Debra Houry, stated that Kennedy demanded vaccine policy changes without scientific justification and silenced dissenting voices within the agency. They also expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of these actions on public health, particularly vaccine skepticism and declining vaccination rates across the US. The witnesses warned that these actions put the nation at risk of being unprepared for future disease outbreaks.
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DOJ quietly removes study showing right wing attacks ‘outpace’ those by left
The revelation that the Department of Justice (DOJ) quietly removed a study from its website highlighting the disparity between right-wing and left-wing domestic terrorism is, frankly, concerning. The study, conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), reportedly showed a significant imbalance, with right-wing incidents far outpacing those originating from the left. The very act of removing such research raises eyebrows and invites questions about transparency and the potential suppression of inconvenient truths. The fact that the archived version of the study is still accessible via the Wayback Machine, a digital preservation tool, is a testament to the enduring power of the internet and the difficulty of completely erasing information.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood