Kimmel SOARS and checkmates Trump: See why ABC has SCOTUS votes in 1st Am. Clash (Melber reports)

Free Speech & Censorship - The report highlights a free speech win against powerful forces, focusing on the censorship plot against Kimmel and the pressure on his team [3][4] - It emphasizes that the ability to speak freely matters across history, whether through comedy, politics, or art, until the government intervenes [11] - The report notes that government threats to silence comedians are anti-American and unconstitutional, referencing historical figures like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Howard Stern [20] - It points out that Trump's White House initially pursued censorship goals but later backtracked, attempting to mislead by claiming the issue was about ratings, not free speech [21][22] Disney & ABC's Response - Disney initially folded to government pressure to oust Kimmel but reversed course due to public outcry [9] - The report suggests that Disney's surrender and attempts to appease Trump only invite more attacks [26] - ABC and Disney executives are reportedly scrambling to get Kimmel back on the air after their initial decision to give in to government pressure [35] - The report criticizes Disney chief Bob Iger for co-signing an effort to allow the government to silence critics, contrasting it with the New York Times' stance [35] Public & Political Reaction - Kimmel's return after the censorship sparked a massive revolt, leading to Disney's reversal [2] - Millions of people weighed in on the effort to silence Kimmel, demonstrating public concern [3] - The report acknowledges individuals like Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, and Ted Cruz for supporting Kimmel's right to share his beliefs [28] - Ted Cruz rebuked Trump's efforts to control free speech, warning against government deciding what speech it likes and dislikes [33] Ratings & The Streisand Effect - Kimmel's show experienced a ratings bonanza after the controversy, with 6 million live TV viewers and over 15 million views on YouTube in under a day [12] - The report mentions the Streisand effect, where attempts to suppress something draw more attention to it [13][14] - Despite the online interest, many local affiliates are still stopping Kimmel's show from being shown, impacting up to a third of ABC affiliates [15] Legal & Constitutional Aspects - The report emphasizes that pressuring private companies to silence views is a likely violation of the First Amendment [34] - All nine Supreme Court justices agree that the government cannot coerce businesses or media outlets to suppress or change views [34] - The First Amendment prohibits the government from relying on the threat of legal sanctions to suppress disfavored speech [34]