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MaddowBlog-'There's more work to go': Team Trump sees Kimmel as the latest target, but not the last
“This administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression,” the lone Democrat on the FCC said.
‘There’s more work to go’: Team Trump sees Kimmel as the latest target, but not the last www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— @jimrissmiller.bsky.social 2025-09-18T20:31:01.317Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-carr-fcc-jimmy-kimmel-abc-nexstar-kirk-colbert-rcna232086
In recent years, there have been plenty of examples of networks and media outlets punishing celebrities for having crossed lines of propriety; but in this case, there’s reason to believe that it was federal officials who steered the process, leading to unavoidable accusations of government censorship.
While Kimmel has been a Trump target for several years, the president’s campaign against the host intensified over the summer, even before Kirk’s slaying. In mid-July, for example, the Republican wrote online, “I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.” Four days later, Trump added, “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone. ... It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!” He published yet another related item in late July.
Then on Wednesday Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr appeared on a far-right podcast and referenced his agency’s role in granting broadcast licenses. Referring specifically to Kimmel’s monologue, Carr added, “When we see stuff like this, look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”......
But every bit as interesting was what transpired in the hours that followed. As the decision became public, Carr appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program — a symbolically significant choice, given Hannity’s alliance with the Trump White House — where the FCC chair added some additional context. The New York Times noted:
The message is hardly subtle: Kimmel is the latest target, but he’s not the last.
FCC member Anna Gomez, a Biden appointee and the lone Democrat on the panel, responded online, “This administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression.”
While Kimmel has been a Trump target for several years, the president’s campaign against the host intensified over the summer, even before Kirk’s slaying. In mid-July, for example, the Republican wrote online, “I absolutely love that Colbert’ got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.” Four days later, Trump added, “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone. ... It’s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!” He published yet another related item in late July.
Then on Wednesday Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr appeared on a far-right podcast and referenced his agency’s role in granting broadcast licenses. Referring specifically to Kimmel’s monologue, Carr added, “When we see stuff like this, look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”......
But every bit as interesting was what transpired in the hours that followed. As the decision became public, Carr appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program — a symbolically significant choice, given Hannity’s alliance with the Trump White House — where the FCC chair added some additional context. The New York Times noted:
In an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity late Wednesday, F.C.C. Chairman Brendan Carr described the pulling of Jimmy Kimmel’s show as an ‘important turning point’ and suggested others could face similar pressure. ... ‘There’s more work to go,’ Mr. Carr said.
The message is hardly subtle: Kimmel is the latest target, but he’s not the last.
FCC member Anna Gomez, a Biden appointee and the lone Democrat on the panel, responded online, “This administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression.”