A prominent Republican senator is breaking ranks with his party to voice concern over alarming threats made by the U.S. government against Disney and local broadcasters that aired an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Senator Ted Cruz, who oversees the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), expressed his dismay on Friday regarding FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s warning to take regulatory action against networks over their programming content, deeming it a perilous precedent for free speech.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Cruz referred to Carr’s comments as “dangerous as hell,” likening them to a scene straight out of Martin Scorsese’s classic gangster film, “Goodfellas.” He vividly illustrated his point, stating, “That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It would be a shame if something happened to it.’”
Carr’s threats were directed at broadcasters following an opening monologue by Kimmel that discussed the murder of Charlie Kirk, a political ally of former President Donald Trump. This segment ignited outrage among Trump’s supporters, prompting Carr to threaten fines or even the revocation of licenses for networks that continued to air the show. Following this warning, the television network ABC, owned by Disney, announced it would suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and several local TV stations affiliated with ABC also opted to stop airing the program.
In his monologue, Kimmel addressed the controversy surrounding the tragic death of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was involved in Kirk’s murder, criticizing the MAGA movement for attempting to distance themselves from the incident. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel remarked.
Cruz’s outspoken criticism of Carr represents a rare instance of a prominent member of Trump’s own party taking a stand against the administration’s actions, signaling growing bipartisan apprehension about threats to free speech in America. “We shouldn’t be threatening government power to force him off air,” Cruz cautioned. “It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it.”
Despite Cruz’s dissent, Trump publicly disagreed with the senator, praising Carr as “an incredible American patriot with courage.” The former president has also condemned Kimmel’s remarks regarding Kirk while previously suggesting that broadcasters critical of his administration should have their FCC licenses revoked.
“I’m a very strong person for free speech,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office, attempting to clarify his stance. However, he subsequently characterized media outlets that criticize him as an extension of the Democratic Party, labeling their actions as “really illegal.” He stated, “That’s no longer free speech … That’s just cheating, and they cheat.”
In response to the Trump administration’s pressure on Kimmel and broadcasters, prominent Democrats and civil rights organizations have rallied to defend free speech. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, declared that Carr represents “one of the single greatest threats to free speech America has ever known,” urging for either his resignation or for Trump to dismiss him from his position.
Additionally, Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called upon the FCC’s inspector general to investigate Carr’s comments and actions regarding the case.
As the situation unfolds, the future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” hangs in the balance, and Kimmel has yet to make a public statement regarding his show’s suspension. The political implications of this incident continue to resonate, as it highlights a significant clash between the principles of free speech and the pressures exerted by governmental power in the current political landscape.
