Below is my column in the Hill on the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and how long advocates of censorship and blacklisting are suddenly alarmed over the threat to free speech. The greatest comedic relief came from Hillary Clinton, one of the most anti-free speech figures of the last decade. Without a hint of self-awareness or shame, Clinton expressed horror at a suspension over spreading disinformation.
Democrats were finally outraged this week. No, it was not about the murder of Charlie Kirk, but rather the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night comedy show.
Democratic leaders are taking to the airways to denounce the decision to take Kimmel off the air after he spread disinformation about Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer.
The same leaders and pundits who have for years fought for censorship in the name of combating disinformation are now making the very arguments they ridiculed just months ago. Democrats once wrote letters to Internet carriers suggesting that Fox News, the most popular cable news network, should be taken off the air in the name of combating disinformation. That was when the Democrats controlled the White House and were targeting conservatives.
Suddenly, now, disinformation is no longer a valid reason to censor and alleged government-corporate alliances are a menace to free speech.
After the tragedy in Utah, many on the left immediately tried to deflect responsibility for the murder by claiming that Kirk’s killer was actually a Trump supporter. On his show, Kimmel declared that “the MAGA Gang” was “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.”
The far-left motivations of the alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, were already well known. His family confirmed that he had been radicalized with leftist ideology and cited pro-transgender views. This was not even a joke — it was just a false factual claim made by Kimmel on national television. And it came at a time when others were spreading this lie.
Despite stories to the contrary, many repeated the false claim. For example, Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe posted that “Kirk’s apparent assassin seems to have been ultra-MAGA, exploding the GOP/MAGA attempt to pin the blame for this tragedy on liberals.” (Previously, Tribe had claimed that the October 2023 massacre of Israelis by Hamas was a “wag-the-dog” operation to distract from corruption allegations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu).
The disinformation took hold on the Internet and social media. One poll showed that a plurality of Americans think Robinson was a conservative.
Call it assassination denial. It is all the rage. Former MSNBC and ESPN host Keith Olbermann wrote after Kimmel’s suspension, “Burn in hell, Sinclair. Alongside Charlie Kirk.” He added that “nothing [Kimmel] said was untrue.”
Curiously, some of these politicians and pundits are claiming that, yet again, democracy will die if Kimmel is not allowed to spread disinformation. There are reports that Kimmel was refusing to apologize and planned to double down on the attacks on conservatives in his next show. Faced with a revolt by affiliates and a potential exodus of advertisers, Disney’s head, Bob Iger, pulled the plug. (By the way, Kimmel’s ratings had been falling for years, and he had a smaller audience than the Colbert Show, which was itself discontinued due to loss of money).
The hypocrisy was pure comedy. For years, these same voices demanded censorship of individuals deemed to be spreading disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. The last category was used by the Biden administration to target statements “based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.”
At the same time, they mocked claims that corporations were working with the government to maintain this censorship system.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) ran on a pledge to impose new criminal and civil penalties for anyone spreading disinformation. Now, however, censorship is intolerable. Warren told CNN “we know there was federal interference … We saw the government step up and give a hard shove and then we saw a compliant company turn around and suspend Mr. Kimmel.” She added that his collaboration with corporations “truly undermines the whole premise of the First Amendment.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called the suspension one of “the most blatant attacks on the free press in American history.” Schiff had previously demanded that Twitter suspend an array of users and “reduce the visibility” of blacklisted individuals — including a journalist who held opposing views. When Elon Musk reduced censorship at X, it was Schiff who warned Facebook not to follow his example by restoring free speech protections. Schiff threatened legislative action if the company moved to “alter or roll back certain misinformation policies.”
This week, Schiff is outraged by a company’s decision to suspend a host who refused to correct a false story he had spread.
For years, I appeared before these same leaders in Congress as they defended corporate censorship and dismissed allegations of collaboration with the government. I would not cancel Kimmel so long as his show was profitable. But I have long maintained that companies can limit the free speech of employees at work. I do not believe Kimmel should be censored on social media for spreading false information. At the same time, ABC does not have to lose money or viewers because an employee attacks others with vile, false claims.
Now Disney is accused of killing democracy itself, in league with Trump. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) attacked Trump for “trying to destroy our democracy” and acting like “many would-be despots.” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) used Kimmel’s suspension as evidence that “fascism is not on the way, it is here.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) insisted that suspending a host for spreading false information about a murder was “North Korea-style stuff” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted that it is “what Putin would do.” It is a curious spin, since Putin and Kim Jong Un value media figures who spread false information — particularly about murders.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) went so far as to compare Kimmel to Thomas Paine, the author of Common Sense and “Penman of the revolution.”
So Kimmel is now a hero of democracy — all he had to do was spread disinformation. That makes this the funniest joke that Kimmel never told.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the bestselling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
Where did they say he’s a left-wing nut? He is from a conservative family that votes Republican. His father is a registered Republican. Nothing left-wing about him at all. The DOJ has no evidence. Apparently, John Say has more evidence than Trump’s DOJ.
You dont get out from the rock much at all huh. The murderer had a tranny boyfriend , was steeped into left wing extreme ideology since highschool. Everyone that knew him – EVERYONE stated his lunatic left wing militancy.
Amazing! Political affiliation is genetically determined but sex is not. Who knew that all those molecular biologists and geneticist could be so wrong? Thanks, liberal!
Excellent
Everything is genetic including your virtues and vices. Nurture merely magnifies what you are.
Just maybe, growing up in a right wing family where guns are referred taught this guy to kill a right wing nut. Just maybe.
No, you’re delusional. He was radicalized by leftists. You can’t handle the truth.
What does “guns are referred mean”
Robinson had sufficient familiarty to miss where he aimed but still deliver a fatal shot from 200yds using a very expensive rifle that should have been able to hit Kirk in the head with a competent person.
I am sure that you were raised in a family were there were knives in the kitchen.
Has that resulted in you stabbing anyone ?
it was meant “preferred”.
Robinson grew up knowing guns and very likely shooting at targets from afar using that same gunn the past. He clearly had an affinity for the gun culture and the ‘cool’ factor that comes with it. Playing first shooter games could also have helped shape his confidence that he could do what he did.
He probably had a pretty good idea of what he was doing and he unfortunately succeeded. To argue that he was incompetent or just aiming for what we will probably never know what he was really aiming for is frankly really stupid and pointless. He got off one shot, one. And he got the result he wanted. Anything after that does not matter.
Fell into the wrong crowd that magnified his killer instinct.
Could I buy a noun.
Who is “they” ? We have a left wing nut and a trans person in this story – so probably you should try names rather than pronouns before you get thoroughly lost in the weeds.
Regardless, are you saying that sons vote the same as their fathers ? Wives ? Daughters ?
Almost concurrently with learning Robinson’s identity, His family – the people who pushed him into turning himself in, publicly stated that Robinson had shifted left at 17 and had been moving further left since then.
There was NEVER a time when it was rational to assume that the shooter was MAGA.
There was also never evidence to suggest that.
Very early on the bullet casing were leaked – and idiots like you tried stupidly to argue that somehow the assassin was a gropyer associate of Nick Fuentes – that was an idiotic claim.
Shortly after that it was leaked that there was a trans angle to this.
While leaks are NOT proof – they do shift the odds, and these leaks ultimately proved True.
Yes, Robinson’s family is conservative – Families regardless of ideology end up with kids that do vile things – fortunately that is uncommon – but it does occur. Regardless, you can not guess the politics of children from their parents.
And even if you think you can – When the parents PUBLICLY state their son was on the extreme left and had been for years, that makes trying to claim he is MAGA delusional.
But then logic is not your forte.
“Where did they say he’s a left-wing nut?”
His family said that in interviews on the news within a few hours of Robinson turning himself in.
“He is from a conservative family that votes Republican.”
He is.
” His father is a registered Republican.”
True.
“Nothing left-wing about him at all.”
Of course their is.
“The DOJ has no evidence.”
There is a long list of evidence
The writing on the bullet casings.
the texts to his trans lover
The confessions of why he did this.
The statements of friend
The statements of family.
What is it that you require – an Anitifa Tattoo ?
You idiots on the left have been trying badly to spin this are red on red from the start – despite circumstantial evidence almost from the moment the bullet was fired.
But the evidence has built brick by brick.
There was really never much chance the assassin was MAGA – but there was a reasonable probability – before the evidence came in that the assassin was nuts.
That has turned out to be false. He is a left wing nut murderer – you own him.
“Apparently, John Say has more evidence than Trump’s DOJ.”
The DOJ has plenty of evidence that Robinson is a left wing nut.
The press has plenty of evidence Robinson is a left wing nut.
Jimmy Kimmel knew or should have known that evidence.
You trying to pretend that Robinson is MAGA today is absurdly stupid.
“ Who is “they” ? We have a left wing nut and a trans person in this story – so probably you should try names rather than pronouns before you get thoroughly lost in the weeds.”
The right has been blaming “they” a lot these past few days. We don’t know if he’s a “left-wing nut” at all. You want him to be a left wing nut. But we both know he’s very likley not one.
“ There was NEVER a time when it was rational to assume that the shooter was MAGA.
There was also never evidence to suggest that.”
Nobody, including Kimmel was assuming he was MAGA. Only MAGA in it’s fevered rage convinced itself that is what the left is saying. When rumors of what the bullet casings said were first reported MAGA pounced it and ran with it like there was no tomorrow and started the speculation and assumptions until the real inscriptions were released.
MAGA was grasping at straws and making claims out of thin air before any facts or official expalnations were ever given.
“ There is a long list of evidence
The writing on the bullet casings.
the texts to his trans lover
The confessions of why he did this.
The statements of friend
The statements of family.”
Nothing in those statements is proof Rebinson is a left nut. They are all conclusory statements. Not evidence.
The writing in the bullet casings according to texts released showed he was trolling anyone who got ahold of them. Not proof he was a left nut. More like a common teenager throwing memes to get a response from those finding them. Like, “if you are reading this you are gay”.
The confessions are not evidence he is a lefty nut either.
The statements to his friends are not evidence.
Not even the statements to his family.
“ The DOJ has plenty of evidence that Robinson is a left wing nut.
The press has plenty of evidence Robinson is a left wing nut.“
Nobody is saying he’s a left wing nut. Only you.
“ You trying to pretend that Robinson is MAGA today is absurdly stupid.“
Nobody is saying that, not even Kimmel. MAGA is so convinced that is the case because they have been telling themselves that for days now. Even I am not saying his MAGA. But MAGA is sure adamant that he’s not like they are afraid that even if it was true they would still find a way to blame the left for it. Accountability is toxic to MAGA it seems.
“ What is it that you require – an Anitifa Tattoo ?”
Well…according to the Trump administration tattoos are evidence gang affiliation. Any tattoo in apparently.
Would love georgie to be on a witness stand.
He would wet his pants when confronted with his ridiculous omments vs. the truth….
“They are all conclusory statements.”
That is false.
Each of those statements is proceeded by “because of.” That makes them evidentiary statements, i.e., arguments — with premises and conclusions.
As with your understanding of “convicted of perjury,” you’re just making stuff up.
“He is from a conservative family that votes Republican.”
So are Patti Davis and Ron Reagan Jr. — both progressive D’s.
Actions speak louder than words. Erika Kirk knew exactly what she was doing and she did it before millions of people watching live in person, via satellite coverage and replay.
That young man — on the cross, our Savior said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. That man. That young man.
I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer, we know from the Gospel, is love. And always love. Love for our enemies, and love for those who persecute us.
– Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk
https://www.youtube.com/live/zkX2rIn_q8o?t=29455s
I never watched Kimmel, I don’t even have TV (beyond YouTube). Over the past few years I did see a few clips of him that other people played and he seemed as boring as sawdust. Weird country in which someone with so little talent can become a multimillionaire by being that boring. I guess some people are willing to watch a boring guy as long as he confirms their biases.
No TV. Still living in a cave huh?
This news may be heartening to our free market advocates like John Say. It seems maybe, Disney decided to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel because celebrities with strong associations with Disney have been unsubscribing from Disney+ and Hulu. Keep in mind that Disney is not exactly doing good content-wise. They have been increasing subsription fees without adding content that is worth the increases. Now with Kimmel’s suspension adding to that and the furor over free speech and caving to Trump’s FCC demand to cancel or get rid of Kimmel may be making things worse for the Disney brand. Perhaps it’s just the free market at work. MAGA won’t be happy.
“This news may be heartening to our free market advocates like John Say. ”
Perfectly happy – as you said it is a free market – celebrities can threaten Disney – and ordinary people can too.
I suspect if every hollywood celebrity cancelled their Hulu/Disney subscription – that would be about 0.001% of the ordinary people that are likely to do so because he has been reinstated.
But even without a Bud Light boycott of Disney – many on the right are already boycotting Disney for the garbage kids movies they are putting out. Their stock is down 100% since a high in 2020, and down 2% today.
I do not care why Disney makes the choices it makes.
They will be rewarded or punished by ordinary people for those choices – My bet is on Punished.
But we shall see – it is possible that Disney stock is already as low as it can go – it is possible that many of the people who would boycott Disney over Kimmel are already boycotting Disney – certainly their stock is way down.
At the same time – if by some miracle reinstating Kimmel proves to be popular – ROFL – I am fine with that too.
That is how free markets work.
Consumers, shareholders – the marketplace has the final say on whether they like a product or not.
Clearly the market has been saying that they do not like Kimmel – otherwise his ratings wold not be in the toilet.
But if you want – you are free to beleive this will give the Kimmel Show/Disney some shot in the arm – ROFL.
We will all be watching.
“keep in mind that Disney is not exactly doing good content-wise.”
Correct – for years consumers have NOT liked what Disney has been producing – and they have said so by their buying choices. They have also said they do not like Kimmel – that is what an audience that has tanked means.
“They have been increasing subsription fees without adding content that is worth the increases.”
And who decided the content was not worth the increases ?
Consumers – NOT Hollywood celebrities.
“Now with Kimmel’s suspension adding to that and the furor over free speech and caving to Trump’s FCC demand to cancel or get rid of Kimmel may be making things worse for the Disney brand.”
Really ? You do beleive very strange things.
You actually beleive that canning a show that is losing money hand over fist and that has lost viewers is magically going to strengthen the Disney brand ?
ROFL.
“Perhaps it’s just the free market at work.”
The free market is Not powerful Hollywood celebs – unless you are talking about the free market for Harry Winston Diamonds. The Free market is the people who watch – or do NOT watch Kimmel, Who watch – or do not watch Disney,
Who Watch/don’t watch Disney movies.
“MAGA won’t be happy.”
Why not ?
I do not want to make predictions regarding Kimmel. It is entirely possible – atleast for a short time, this could give Kimmel a boost. It also could result in Disney getting punished by the market – in fact BOTH could happen concurrently. What is more imporant is the long term. And more important still is the Whole market – not just Kimmel.
If the left decides to rally round Kimmel – and atleast temporarily boost his ratings. That is likely to come at the expense of other Left wing nut shows. There is just only so much that the collective Left Wing nuts in the country can watch. And no one is going to stop watching Gutfeld to watch Kimmel.
There also may be a brief boost as people tune in to see if Kimmel puts his foot in his mouth.
We also do not know what has been going on at Disney.
Kimmel may have agree to steep salary cuts and to reduce the cost of the show, and to stop saying stupid stuff.
Or he may come out breathing fire in the hopes that the controversy boost ratings.
Regardless, I am perfectly OK with the market deciding.
And I do not think the market is sending bright signals for Disney, Kimmel, or the entire left wing nut media.
But Guess what X/George or whatever nutjob you actually are.
In the end the market will decide.
Who knows this could be some magic turning point for the left and declining left wing public opinion could reverse.
I would not bet my money on that.
But you go ahead – put your entire IRA into Disney stock if you think this is a left rather than right wing turning point.
Will Professor Turley change his stance after Kimmel’s return tomorrow? Perhaps.
Professor Turley failed spectacularly in defending free speech today. When the FCC openly threatened media companies Nextstar and Sinclair with holding up their mergers or threatening their licenses over weak legal claims of “news distortion,” it engaged in what Professor Turley often describes as “censorship by proxy.” He was very vocal about this when the Biden administration pressured social media companies to ban or suspend individuals spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 election fraud claims made by the right. Now, the FCC under Trump has openly targeted Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks as a reason to suspend or end his show.
Not once did Professor Turley provide a legal analysis of the constitutional legality of the FCC’s actions. Instead, he chose to go on a rant about Hillary Clinton. Seriously, Hillary Clinton. Rather than address what exactly Jimmy Kimmel said and whether it violated FCC rules, he deflected the discussion. I have yet to see anyone from the right explain what about Kimmel’s comments was so offensive. What was it? His remarks were literally the most benign form of criticism, stating a truth that even MAGA supporters do not deny.
Professor Turley failed to protect free speech from the excesses of the right’s exaggerated reactions and their attempts to enforce cancel culture against anyone who dares to mock or criticize Charlie Kirk’s character or views. The right has a peculiar tendency to overreact and overreach at the slightest pushback or slight against their most “cherished” figures. Turley has had ample precedent to draw upon, demonstrating why the FCC’s comments are not only wrong but also unconstitutional.
I hope the professor recognizes his failure to defend free speech when Trump attacks and undermines it. Unfortunately, it seems he too is submissive to Trump’s threats and the outrage of MAGA supporters. For someone who claims to be a defender of free speech, Turley is not inspiring much confidence. Even Ted Cruz—yes, that Ted Cruz—made a better defense of free speech than Professor Turley. What an embarrassment.
Who is Jimmy Kimmel?
“Will Professor Turley change his stance after Kimmel’s return tomorrow?”
While – Kimmel’s remarks were defamatory and false.
There still could be a major defamation lawsuit.
All this does is disprove your claims that Kimmel was canceled because of Carr or Trump.
Nothing has changed there. If you beleive the FCC is going to screw with Kimmel – that has not changed.
Despite what Carr said – I doubt the FCC will do anything. Though they absolutely have the power to do so – Power democrats gave them.
But lets say I am wrong – and Carr has the votes at the FCC to take Kimmel off the air or to thwart the merger – that is presuming the merger is even still on – Sinclair and Nexstar were pissed.
Kimmel ends up off the air – Because the FCC takes him off the air, and then there is a long court battle.
If Trump wins – Kimmel is off the air.
If Trump loses -Left wing nuts will not be able to weaponize the FCC as they have for the past 40 years – and that would make me happy.
Regardless, there are myriads of possibilities moving forward – the least likely possibility is that this is a positive turning point for the left
“He was very vocal about this when the Biden administration pressured social media companies to ban or suspend individuals spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 election fraud claims made by the right.”
Yes Because the Biden admin ACTUALLY censored people.
In this instance Sinclair, Nexstar, and Disney were already in the process of Acting – Before FCC’s Car said anything.
And FCC Carr is only one vote on the FCC board – it requires 3 to do anything.
“Now, the FCC under Trump has openly targeted Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks as a reason to suspend or end his show.”
Nope, you still confuse the unclear words of ONE FCC board member – in response to egregiously false and defamatory remarks with the FCC actually censoring anyone.
In left wing nut world – If Trump or Carr say bad things about you – that is censorship.
But if Democrats quietly Censor you – that is not.
“Not once did Professor Turley provide a legal analysis of the constitutional legality of the FCC’s actions.”
Because the FCC did NOT act. The FCC Chair spoke – along with many many other people. The FCC did not vote, it did not act.
But had it acted – the legal and constitutional analysis is SIMPLE – since Red Lion vs FCC in 1969 – The FCc has been able to censor political content on broadcast stations.
“Rather than address what exactly Jimmy Kimmel said”
AGAIN -= the transcript is available – youtube clips are avaialble – I have quoted the opening line – which is the biggest problem 6 different times.
“whether it violated FCC rules”
It does. That is not in question.
it is also defamatory – and will likely result in a lawsuit.
“I have yet to see anyone from the right explain what about Kimmel’s comments was so offensive. What was it? ”
Because they were a LIE that defamed Millions of people – including Kirks wife.
This has been explained to you many times.
You say not one has explained it to you – But they have OVER AND OVER.
“His remarks were literally the most benign form of criticism, stating a truth that even MAGA supporters do not deny.”
On what planet do you live ?
While I highly doubt that Tyler Robinson is going to Sue ABC/Kimmel – not only did Kimmel defame millions of people, And Kirks wife – but he actually defamed Tyler Robinson.
Perry sure that Tyler Robinson would be deeply offended by Kimmel’s lie that he is MAGA.
Are you getting enough oxygen to your brain ?
“Professor Turley failed to protect free speech from the excesses of the right’s exaggerated reactions”
Aside from Calling Disney and Sinclair and Nexstar – “MAGA” has not done anything yet.
You will get to see their actual reaction soon enough.
Nexstar and Sinclair and Disney responded to the calls they were getting.
Now Disney atleast has backed down – I have not heard what Nexstar or Sinclair is doing.
“their attempts to enforce cancel culture against anyone who dares to mock or criticize Charlie Kirk’s character or views.”
no that ios what you are likely to see NEXT. To this point the “cancellations” have been either because left wing nut colleges, employers, and broadcasters grasped that their employees went too far – or risked subjecting them to defamation lawsuits. With a few exceptions – such as calling for stripping AOC and Omar commitee assignments, there has been little actual action from the right – beyond pointing out how Vile those of you on the left are.
In a few days or a few weeks – We will SEE if he people actually react negatively in a significant way to Kimmel’s remarks and reinstatement. This is a bit more complex than Bud Lite or Harley Davidson – in those instances businesses pi$$ed all over their customers – a large portion of whom are on the right.
I am not sure how many customers Disney still has on the Right.
I doubt all that many Kimmel viewers are in the right 70% of the country.
Disney may well have already made itself a left nice company, in which case – things may not get much worse.
And Kimmel can keep losing money as long as Disney is willing top pay.
The market can only punish the conduct or market actors that offend THEIR actual market.
Disney once WAS a company reflecting the family values of the entire country.
We are about to find out – how much of the conservative market has already left Disney.
If it has already mostly left – Disney will survive – with is stock down 100% from its peak.
But if there is a significant portion of the market that is offended and they are still consuming disney product – Disney is in trouble.
Conservative can not successfully boycott NPR or PBS – there are just not enough conservatives still consuming NPR or PBS. Left wing nuts have never been successful at boycotting anything – they have to skip the market place and jump to trying to blackmail advertisers into boycoting their targets – because they can not get enough consumers to do so.
That should be a clue how weak the left really is.
” The right has a peculiar tendency to overreact and overreach at the slightest pushback or slight against their most “cherished” figures.”
Yup – look at all the right wing riots, arson, looting.
The left engaged in Violence for months over the drug overdose death of a carreer criminal who was arrested for counterfeiting.
Here we have a decent productive mand with a family – who has built something significant in his short life – contributed rather than was a parasite – and the only rioting and violence is from the left.
Yup Republicans have such thin skin.
“Turley has had ample precedent to draw upon, demonstrating why the FCC’s comments are not only wrong but also unconstitutional.”
FCC vs Red Lion is still the binding law – it was a unanimous Warren court opinion and it has empowered democrats to use the FCC to target conservatives for 50 years.
Turley is not going to cite precident establishing this as unconstitutional – because until Red Lion is reveresed – The FCC can shutdown ABC over Kimmels remarks.
“I hope the professor recognizes his failure to defend free speech when Trump attacks and undermines it. ”
If the FCC actually ACTS – then we can talk about defending free speech.
“Unfortunately, it seems he too is submissive to Trump’s threats”
What has Trump done ? Trump has an actual EO requiring that Federal employees abide by the First Amendment.
“the outrage of MAGA supporters.”
People are allowed to be outraged.
That is how free speech works
You say something – others decide it is vile and immoral and they refuse to associate with you or they express outrage at what you say.
You are outraged by everything Trump says.
That is free speech.
We judge Trump based on his speech.
We judge you based on yours.
But Trump also acts – or does NOT act – and we can factor that into our judgement.
We have to take you at your word and beleive you WILL do what you say.
BTW What Cruz said was that Republicans should not threaten to use the FCC in the way that democrats have been doing for 50 years.
What should be done – is the FCC should be shutdown.
John Say,
“While – Kimmel’s remarks were defamatory and false.
There still could be a major defamation lawsuit.
All this does is disprove your claims that Kimmel was canceled because of Carr or Trump.”
ROLF!
Defamation? Wow John Say. What disproves my claims?
Nothing Kimmel said was dafamatory. It was his opinion. It will be very, very hard to prove What Kimmel said was defamatory. He did not accuse Robinson of being MAGA. That’s YOUR delusional take on what was said. No english teacher would agree that is what it means.
“Despite what Carr said – I doubt the FCC will do anything. Though they absolutely have the power to do so – Power democrats gave them.
But lets say I am wrong – and Carr has the votes at the FCC to take Kimmel off the air or to thwart the merger – that is presuming the merger is even still on – Sinclair and Nexstar were pissed.
Kimmel ends up off the air – Because the FCC takes him off the air, and then there is a long court battle.”
John, clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. The FCC already did something. Carr openly threatened Nextstar and Sinclair’s merger wishes and naming Kimmel by name if he was still allowed to be on the air. The threat alone was enough to spook the companies to pull Kimmel off the air afraid their chances of losing their merger were in jeopardy. That is coercion which you clearly oppose.
You spend an awful lot of words to say pretty much that you don’t understand what you are trying to argue.
“Turley is not going to cite precident establishing this as unconstitutional – because until Red Lion is reveresed – The FCC can shutdown ABC over Kimmels remarks.”
Red Lion vs FCC is not the only precdent case to consider. You think there is only one case. There are multiple cases setting a clear precedent all pointing out what Carr did was indeed inconstitutional. You left out NRA vs. Vullo.
“ Government officials are free to criticize particular viewpoints and try to persuade others, but they cannot use state power to punish or suppress disfavored speech. Under the 1963 case Bantam Books v. Sullivan, the key question is whether, based on the totality of the circumstances, the government official’s actions could reasonably be understood as a threat of adverse consequences aimed at coercing a private party to punish or suppress someone else’s speech on the government’s behalf. Factors to consider include the official’s regulatory authority, the language and tone of the communications, how they were perceived, and whether they referred to adverse consequences.“
“ If the FCC actually ACTS – then we can talk about defending free speech.“
The FCC did act. It issued a threat, openly. When Carr opened his mouth and uttered the words “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” he was signalling to the Nextstar and Sinclair he could make things hard for them and their pending mergers harder if they still kept Kimmel on the air.
“ BTW What Cruz said was that Republicans should not threaten to use the FCC in the way that democrats have been doing for 50 years.“
That is not what Cruz said. He stated the FCC shouldn’t be threatening companies to silence criticism and Mockery of the president. Democrats have not been doing what Trump’s FCC did. You are confusing “pressure” with “coerecion”.
Biden’s administration pressured social media companies to ban acounts spreading misinformation. Comanies still refused to do so when they deemed it inappropriate. They still had the choice. Trump’s administration threatened mergers if they didn’t pull KImmel. They were clearlly under the impression that they didn’t have a choice. Big difference.
As I have said before. You use a LOT of words to say very little. Your arguments are deeply flawed.
Somebody, below, mentioned Goebbels being dead. Goebbels isn’t dead, anymore that Lord Haw Haw, or Tokyo Rose is dead. They all, each of them, live on in new bodies, and thousands of them, sucking up to the powers that be, in their respective countries, and being perfect little toadies!
Propaganda did not die off with Goebbels, anymore than electricity died off when Edison kicked the bucket. I mean, who is Stephen Colbert, if he isn’t the walking talking embodiment of Joseph G??? They have even gender and race switched the character, allowing Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid to get in on the action.
How in the world do you think that a lump of incompetence like Kamala got 75 million votes, or a brain-dead Biden continued in office, without the Main Stream Media playing the role of Ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment???
Oh Noes!!! Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air! I am sooo mad! I can’t stand it! I thought he was gone for good! I sha’nt be able to sleep for days! Oh whatta a horrible day! I intend to hold my breath until I turn blue, or die.
Seriously, who didn’t see this coming? It was fun to watch the Democrats cry about Free Speech for a few days. Now, they can go back to trying to cancel people. Much adieu about nothing.
I do predict that he will be fired, in the future, to save money. Which, is irrelevant to me. I did not watch him, any more that I watched Colbert, or SNL.
Well put Floyd. Hopefully, it will lead to ABC losing their broadcast license. On cable one can pump out all the lies and propaganda they want and while disgusting, it is legal at present. However, broadcasting to the public on the airways is governed by the FCC licensing authority and carries requirements.
JUSTIA
“Broadcast Licensing Procedures & Legal Requirements”
Excerpts:
“Personal Attacks During Broadcasts on Public Issues”
“The personal attack rule applies to situations in which the honesty, character, or integrity of a certain identified individual or group is attacked during a broadcast on a controversial public issue. Within one week after this happens, the broadcast station must notify the target of the attack about the broadcast, give them a script or tape of the incident, and allow them a reasonable opportunity to reply through the broadcast station facilities. The target of the attack has a right to personally appear to clear their name. Significantly, several types of targets and attacks are excluded from the personal attack rule, including:
“Foreign individuals or groups”
“Attacks by candidates, representatives of candidates, or people associated with them”
“Attacks during on-air coverage of news events, news interviews, or newscasts”
“This rule stemmed from the fairness doctrine, which was discarded in the 1980s. Under the fairness doctrine, the FCC had required broadcast stations to offer reasonable opportunities for discussions of opposing views on controversial public issues. The agency eventually decided that this was an unconstitutional restriction on speech.”
Note that the “agency” eventually decided that this was an unconstitutional restriction on speech. The agency as it were, is not a judiciary, nor the Supreme Court, to decide whether or not it is constitutional.
Note that ABC could argue that the Kimmel show is certainly not news, however it can also reasonably be argued that Kimmel was indeed delivering a complete and abject lie as a news story, not a comedy line.
Note, as was recently pointed out to me, that free enterprise is resolving this threat to the American public and is the best method of doing so. I would submit however with only one Einstein model being born every century or so, there are a good many double digit IQ’s compacts out there that will believe it all, and vote for their own demise every two to four years. The length of time it may take for free enterprise to win out, may or may not be to American’s advantage.
———————————-
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
https://www.justia.com/communications-internet/political-broadcast-rules/
Excellent.
I highly doubt Trump or Carrs remarks had anything to do with Killing the Kimmel show.
But the left wing nonsense over those remarks is absolutely responsible for bringing it back.
barring a massive left swing of the pendulum. even if conservatives do nothing – Kimmel and a significant portion of the left MSM will be history soon enough.
If there is a successfully boycott – which Might not be possible – disney has likely already lost the customers who would boycott, then this may end even sooner.
I understand the anger of Carr and Trump and the reason for their remarks.
But Trump should go back to prosecuting James – who has actually committed crimes.
Rather than let idiots like Kimmel get his goat or celebrate their demise.
They shoudl also bring Colbert back – so that the left MSM can continue to bankrupt itself.
“ I highly doubt Trump or Carrs remarks had anything to do with Killing the Kimmel show.
But the left wing nonsense over those remarks is absolutely responsible for bringing it back.”
Carr’s comments were explicit. They were clearly aimed to coerce the companies to cancel Kimmel. The dismissive attitude speaks volumes about how much damage Carr did to Trump’s desire to get rid of his critics.
Professor Turley failed to defend free speech when it mattered. What Carr did is absolutely the kind of censorship by proxy he constantly talked about when Biden was pressuring social media companies to ban or remove certain accounts spreading misinformation. Now he’s very quiet about it and he’s certainly avoiding any real criticism. Is he self censoring out of fear of retaliation from MAGA and Trump?
Prosecuting James? Comey? For what? Trump is upset that the DOJ can’t prosecute Letitia James because there is no evidence of a crime. His AG had to resign because he could not do what Trump wanted without evidence. It seem like the voter fraud claims all over again, thwarted by the simplest of things…evidence.
It seems Kimmel is returning to the air. ABC found it’s spine or did it realize the error if it’s decision?
There will be a probe for sure if Democrats regain control of the House in the mid-terms. Will Turley finally address the comments made by the FCC and Trump? I doubt it.
If even Republicans are saying Kimmel’s censorship is bad it means it’s really bad, even for libertarian Sen. Rand Paul.
Republicans seem to have a hard time accepting the idea that offensive rhetoric is still free speech and their need to punish anyone who dares sully Kirk’s image or character should negate any free speech concerns.
Here’s a test to see if you are a decent human being: were you more upset with Kimmel’s TV show being cancelled than with Charlie Kirk being murdered? If so, then you are not a decent human being.
Trolls will no doubt yell some stupidity back at me, but they will be unable to escape their own crappy selves.
Would anyone have cared if Goebbels was shot and killed before he had a chance to kill himself?
You just proved my point.
A friend of mine wrote to tell me her daughter was ‘celebrating’ the assassination of Charlie Kirk and wanted to know if I knew anything about him.
Told her regardless of what I thought about Charlie Kirk, assassination is never justified off the battlefield. .. and that such cowardly acts of terrorism should never be ‘celebrated’.
*here’s a test to see if you are a decent human being .. .
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/it-is-a-bloodbath-australian-medic-describes-situation-at-gaza-hospital/ar-AA1N5GYQ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=68d1cc300bc248729523faa1ea765d64&ei=38
NO…
This is a victory for free speech. All of the alleged free speech lovers here
in this free speech blog should be celebrating this news. If they don’t, then they don’t really believe in
free speech.
I eagerly await Turley’s comprehensive analysis of how Kimmel’s free speech rights have been vindicated
You will be waiting a VERRRRRY long time.
Don’t hold your breath.
He never lost his rights you fool. Did the government take anything away Nope .
He lost his First Amendment rights when the government coerced his employer to fire him, thus suppressing his views, opinions, etc.
Rabble:
and where’s your hard proof of that, exactly? Oh, some off-hand comments about the FCC doing it’s normal duty?
Sure…
His employer could have refused to fire him, just like social media giants refused to censor after getting pressured from the Biden administration
Who said he was fired? His show was suspended indefinitely. Literally, that means he could be back tomorrow, or never.
“I eagerly await Turley’s comprehensive analysis of how Kimmel’s free speech rights have been vindicated”
I eagerly await one of Kimmel’s Commies explaining their claim that free speech means Kimmel has a free speech right to be on air despite losing his employers tens of millions of dollars in spectacular fashion.
I for one will be disappointed if they remove Kimmel and Colbert from the air – the two money losing un-funny “comics” who celebrated, jeered, and cheered when Rosanne Barr and Tucker Carleson had their shows cancelled because Democrats were offended. And who did the same when Trump, doctors, and the New York Post were removed from social media. Unlike Barr, Carleson, Trump, newspapers, etc these two have a special dispensation to NOT be taken off the air for both sleazy insults on top of losing tens of millions of dollars.
Think of Kimmel/Colbert the party propagandists acting as the face of the Democrats, actually being a secret weapon for the Republicans as the next election approaches.
Will Nexstar and Sinclair be siting him on their stations?
No big deal. I just wonder how long they can afford the loser.
ABC took this communist off the air, having nothing to do with the Constitution.
The right is dispensable if you are on the left.
Kimmel resumes his show tomorrow.
Complete reversal by Disney/ABC.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA !!!!!!
I feel sorry for Jimmy. I think he maybe got Shaken Brain Syndrome from watching the bouncing boobs on the trampolines.
Turley is a talentless hyprocrite. His blog should be shut down.
You should slip in a mud puddle
Typical answer from a LIB, you are all the same
^^ lots and lots of mental illness. That’s too bad.
^^& comment to anon from anon, not dustoff.
What an awful thing to say. My hope is you’ll have a very good day.
Hey Darren
Does this Anonymous post violate your site rules?
And yet, his first book is on it’s fourth printing it is so popular. He has testified in Congress many times. He appears at many debates. He is invited to speak at popular venues. His blog gets millions of hits.
Only a fascist would want to see he blog shut down.
Gee… I for one think it’s awful Kimmel was taken off the air. And Colbert. That leaves Vanity Smurf himself, John Oliver. I mean, even though their combined audiences were 200 thousand or so, I was comforted knowing their were a few idiots off the road, parked in front of the boob tube, making the roads (and Starbucks) a little bit safer and civil. Insert frown emoji here…
I always suspected that Vanity Smurf was gay.
Really. Just, sigh. What you guys don’t seem to realize is that you have not just ignited ‘the right’, but almost everyone else, too. I am not a ‘conservative’, and never have been, and I am certainly not a ‘Christian Conservative’. We are done with your foolishness, and we are lucky enough to live in a country where we are about to show you so. I do not know why the modern DNC decided that being certifiably insane, and hateful beyond the days of segregation was some kind of strategy, but here we are. I feel like it’s 1773 all over again. Take your f***ing tea (*cough*fentanyl*cough*), put it back on your boat, and get the eff out.
Off topic a bit, but I think I know what happened to Gigi. . . Really, this video is definitely worth watching! Bizarre!
There was a subsequent incident with GiGi:
Double Yikes!
I loved her comment in the second video, “Last time, I had to spend five months somewhere I didn’t want to be. . .”
Tlaib and Omar
Wow! She’s something else.
Talent is not a prerequisite to having constitutional rights.
Looks like Redditt nuts have infected this blog.
Jimmy Kimmel was deadwood. There are hundreds of younger, more funny and engaging comics waiting on the sidelines to step up. Nobody is entitled to an audience. It must be earned. And, like Johnny Carson, constantly improved and refined over time to keep up with the audience.