FCC chair says US government pressure played no role in Jimmy Kimmel's suspension
Source: Reuters
September 22, 2025 4:46 PM EDT Updated 35 mins ago
WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Government pressure played no role in the suspension of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr said on Monday - despite having suggested the ABC host be suspended over remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation that he is in because of his ratings, not because of anything that's happened at the federal government level," Carr said at a forum in New York.
A growing number of lawmakers had sharply criticized Carr's comments when he urged Disney (DIS.N) and ABC affiliates to take action, saying: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." On Monday, Disney said the show will return to the air on Tuesday after having conversations with Kimmel. The company said last week it had decided to suspend the show "to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country."
ABC suspended Kimmel's late-night talk show on Wednesday after Carr warned that local broadcasters who aired Kimmel could face fines or loss of licenses and said "it's time for them to step up." The owners of dozens of local TV stations affiliated with ABC said last week they would stop broadcasting the show, including Nexstar (NXST.O), which needs FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna (TGNA.N).
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez rejected Carr's suggestion. "This wasn't simply a 'business decision,'" Gomez said Monday. "This regrettable chapter is a stain on the FCC. It was a concerning moment of direct government intervention into business decisions."
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fcc-chair-defends-comments-says-kimmel-not-suspended-because-government-action-2025-09-22/


Lovie777
(20,499 posts)Marie Marie
(10,568 posts)Keep on over reaching - I also love the look of losing followed by humiliation. Fuck Trump and Carr,. LOSERS!
AZ8theist
(6,906 posts)....just like the IMBECILE running the show....
Midnight Writer
(24,782 posts)Bluetus
(1,583 posts)this statement from Carr is effectively an admission that his pressure backfired and that the people are vehemently against this kind of fascist censorship. Hell, even Ted Cruz and Rand Paul were with us on this point.
Some fancy back-pedaling.
and HOPEFULLY they'll think twice before doing it again
imagine the bind this puts that fascist fuck Trump in
Bluetus
(1,583 posts)In his happy little world of dementia, everything is as he believes it to be. Kimmel is off the air And even if he is on the air, he is not funny and nobody watches. Just like nobody watches South Park.
rubbersole
(10,632 posts)Bluetus
(1,583 posts)rubbersole
(10,632 posts)When faux news paid Dominion Voting Systems $787,000,000,000 in the largest settlement in history, faux spent 1 minute saying they had finally settled the suit. Never mentioned the amount or how embarrassing and corrupt it was. It never caused Ol' Rupert to miss a meal.
Bluetus
(1,583 posts)And I would never bet against Trump's degree of stupidity. He is continuously his worst enemy.
Miguelito Loveless
(5,225 posts)This is the world we live in, where all but two Republicans are advocates of our dictator.
LookoutMtnWriter
(7 posts)He lies well. I have no doubt he has been talking to Trump before every move. Trump himself provides information on who's next.
pfitz59
(11,910 posts)lying shit for brains
MLWR
(572 posts)you couldn't find 3 "R" senators, much less 19, who have the guts, the spine or the cojones to vote to convict and remove.
Deuxcents
(24,206 posts)twodogsbarking
(16,015 posts)We already know that answer.
Zenlitened
(9,531 posts)They know theyre lying. They know we know theyre lying. For fascists, authoritarians, whatever you want to call them, this is just another way to flex their power.
Compare with his statement just last week and point out the contradiction? Ha. They love it. Hypocrisy just another flex. They love this shit.
Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group two huge corporations that own many local television stations including dozens of ABC affiliates weighed in within hours to announce they would pull Kimmel's show indefinitely. Then, so did ABC. Nexstar, Sinclair and ABC's corporate owner, the Walt Disney Co., all have major deals pending that require approval by either the FCC or federal antitrust regulators.
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/19/nx-s1-5546764/fcc-brendan-carr-kimmel-trump-free-speech
dlk
(12,972 posts)Seriously?
Bengus81
(9,462 posts)



bluestarone
(20,383 posts)The whole right wing ASSHOLES!!
Paladin
(31,681 posts)LyfeTimeDem
(64 posts)Looks like the threat of a lawsuit caused a glitch in the matrix
Skittles
(167,748 posts)OMG, the scrambling to save face is hilarious
Skittles
(167,748 posts)
wolfie001
(6,235 posts)Following the lies of his marmalade & lard cult leader.
TexasBushwhacker
(21,019 posts)JoseBalow
(8,503 posts)
mdbl
(7,459 posts)The Kimmel debacle proves how bad it is already.
moniss
(8,125 posts)BattleRow
(1,827 posts)BidenRocks
(2,277 posts)TRUST and INTEGRITY are.
I trust NOTHING they say!
I trust NOTHING they promise!
I no longer have trust in the integrity and fidelity of the united (?) states!
Keep talking shit!
We know you will!
republianmushroom
(21,491 posts)MLWR
(572 posts)No one with 2 or more brain cells believes you.
Grins
(8,901 posts)What a hose-bag.
Otterdaemmerung
(133 posts)-- The Toymaker, 'Doctor Who'
SWBTATTReg
(25,717 posts)"We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Because some people have sensitive feelings and get hurt oh so easily, It's funny how fast that they can turn on a dime against Kimmel but in other areas where you have cretins like tRUMP and others who oh so easily get their feelings hurt.
kimbutgar
(26,148 posts)He and the orange turd tried to use mafia techniques on ABC!
vapor2
(3,167 posts)Sailingdiver
(298 posts)Didn't force himself on children either
Wiz Imp
(7,547 posts)FCC Chairman Threatens ABC Over Jimmy Kimmels Remarks About Charlie Kirks Killer
Appearing on Benny Johnsons podcast on Wednesday, Carr suggested that the FCC has remedies we can look at.
We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Carr said. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel or theres going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.
A few hours after Carrs remarks, ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be preempted indefinitely, shortly after Nexstar, which operates 32 ABC affiliates, said it would not broadcast the show for the foreseeable future.
Threats don't get any more brazen than that. Hell, even Republicans Ted Cruz and Rand Paul said he was acting like a mafia boss.
Baitball Blogger
(51,008 posts)of the Office where the characters were celebrating. Because he surely made it look like he was celebrating.
JoseBalow
(8,503 posts)
Talitha
(7,599 posts)Hey Carr, tell the Easter Bunny I said hi.
Diraven
(1,615 posts)If he wouldn't have been recorded bragging about it on a podcast.
BidenRocks
(2,277 posts)He had the FCC section of Project 2025.
Liar sez whut?
LudwigPastorius
(13,492 posts)
onenote
(45,689 posts)Did it's ratings improve when it wasn't on?
If Carr is going to lie, he needs to try out some new material.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(129,159 posts)You're already recorded pressuring them. Man up and own it.
OrwellwasRight
(5,267 posts)A consequence to face for my unethical behavior, I want to start building a defense now.
Javaman
(64,556 posts)
Omnipresent
(7,222 posts)What he will see, is Jimmy roasting the living hell out of him!
KS Toronado
(21,395 posts)

KS Toronado
(21,395 posts)How many republicans are using the term "ratings" in their speeches?
My neighbor is one of them, had one hell of a discussion over that yesterday.
samnsara
(18,634 posts)..what to believe? EFF HIM. We the people do NOT listen to the likes of him. We KNOW it worked. WE WERE THERE! We saw!
#SinclairOutOfSeattle
MissMillie
(39,443 posts)What was that supposed to mean?
ProudMNDemocrat
(20,264 posts)TACO Don has his fingers in EVERYTHING!
Just like he had NO knowledge of the 2016 meeting with Jr. and the Russians at Trump Tower in NYC that was said to be about "Adopting Russian children." The actual intent was getting dirt on Hillary Clinton. .