What's happening now in the US is not "cancel culture." It's abuse of power.

[summer_in_TX]

Carrick Ryan is a former federal agent of Australia, a blogger and political commentator who has a BA in media and a masters degree in international relations. This was posted on his Facebook page. It's one of the better explanations I've seen of what happened to Jimmy Kimmel (and Stephen Colbert etc.) and why.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1342305460643064&set=a.588252606048357

“It's really important everyone understands why what's happening in the US right now isn't the same "cancel culture" merely turned against progressives. This is far more alarming.
This isn't angry social media users demanding celebrities get fired... this the President of the USA abusing the powers of the state to eliminate criticism of him from the media.

snip…

There is no definitive evidence that The Late Show was cancelled to appease Trump, but it was only three days after making this joke that the show was unexpectedly cancelled. Paramount's merger, which had been under consideration by the FCC for more than a year, was suddenly approved nine days later.

snip…

Trump immediately shared a gloating post on Truth Social saying with his usual grace: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired”, and added at the end of the long rambling diatribe: “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.”

snip…

Everything he is doing is designed to intimidate the media into self-censorship... and the terrifying part... it seems to be working.”

You don't need a Facebook account to see the full post if you click on the link. It is really worth reading the whole thing.
I copied the entire post to use it to explain it to my kids.