Local TV conglomerate Sinclair Broadcast Group said its ABC-affiliate stations will start airing Jimmy Kimmy Live! again on Friday night, ending its preempting of the show.Sinclair, along with fellow station owner Nexstar Media Group, continued to preempt Kimmel’s late-night talkshow even after ABC had put Kimmel back on air.Together, Sinclair and Nexstar’s preemption of the show left about 25% of TV viewers in the US unable to watch it, with the two companies owning 70 ABC-affiliate stations combined.The t ...

Group 1: ABC and Nexstar Media Group's Position - ABC has announced that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return after a brief suspension, but Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group will continue to preempt the program [2] - The suspension was originally due to Kimmel's remarks about Charlie Kirk's death and the Trump administration's response [4] - Alan Jackson, a defense attorney, stated that ABC and Nexstar are within their rights to make employment decisions regarding Kimmel [5][4] Group 2: Free Speech and Legal Perspectives - Jackson emphasized that Kimmel has the right to express his opinions, but must also face the consequences of his statements [7] - He argued that the situation is not an infringement on free speech, as Kimmel is not being jailed for his comments [7] - The American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, and Reporters Without Borders have requested documents from Disney regarding Kimmel's suspension [8] Group 3: Financial Implications - ABC is preparing for a financial impact due to the suspension of Kimmel's show, which has led to concerns from investors about the decision [7]

Political Harassment & Intimidation - The report suggests a tactic of political harassment and intimidation, potentially discouraging opposition and dissent [2][3][4] - This harassment is described as expensive and potentially effective even if legal challenges fail [3] - The report draws parallels between these tactics and those used by despots to suppress political opposition [4][9] Media Control & Consolidation - Concerns are raised about right-wing conglomerates ordering local stations to disseminate specific messages [5] - The report highlights media consolidation, such as the potential purchase of Paramount (including CBS) by a company with ties to Donald Trump, and the Murdochs' involvement with TikTok [8][9] - The report suggests that these media entities might suppress criticism of Donald Trump, potentially skewing the political landscape [9] Democratic Response & Remedies - The report suggests that protests are a remedy to combat the suppression of free speech [11] - The Democratic Party is urged to break up corporate and media monopolies to ensure local communities control their news [12][13] Ukraine & Foreign Policy - The report mentions speculation that Trump's rhetoric on Ukraine may signal a disengagement from the peace process [15] - The report claims Trump is blocking a sanctions bill against Vladimir Putin [17]

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel is back, triumphantly returning to his show last night after staring down a government effort to censor and silence him. It's a Trump effort that first looked shockingly effective last week when corporate giant Disney gave in to the Trump FCC chair's blatantly unconstitutional demands. Demands that all legal experts who've seriously looked at this say would fail in court if they were tested in court. But they weren't because Disney first folded. Kimmel then stood strong. The cen ...

Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC may have pleased his fans, but it did not entirely pacify Disney shareholders. On Wednesday, a coalition of Disney shareholders sent a letter to the company demanding internal records, from emails to meeting schedules, related to its brief suspension of the late-night host. Disney is the parent company of ABC, where Kimmel's show is aired.Lawyers representing the American Federation of Teachers and Reporters Without Borders asked Disney to disclose how the suspension decision w ...

Free speech is a bedrock of America.We should work to vigorously defend the right to speak for those we disagree with too. ...

Media Industry Landscape - Two major TV station owners, Nextstar and Sinclair, control approximately 70 ABC affiliates in the US [1] - Sinclair is considering merger options, while Nextstar aims to finalize a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna [2] Political Interference & Free Speech - President Trump criticized Kimmel's return and implied ABC show cancellation, later denied by ABC [2][6] - President Trump suggested Kimmel is an arm of the DNC, implying illegal campaign contribution [3] - The industry views President Trump's actions as a potential threat to free speech and an attempt to use governmental power against media perceived as foes [11][12] Historical Context & Presidential Reactions - Late-night comedians have historically targeted presidents, but Trump's reaction is perceived as unusually sensitive [8][9] - Past presidents like George W Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan faced ridicule without attempting to suppress it [15][16] - George W Bush reacted with amusement to parodies, contrasting with President Trump's approach [17]

Freedom of Speech & Media Criticism - The report highlights the importance of freedom of speech, especially for comedians and media figures to mock those in power without fear of censorship [14][20] - It emphasizes that government should not control what people watch or say on television, particularly political speech, which is protected by the First Amendment [17] - The report notes that the President of the United States has openly criticized and called for the firing of media personalities for making jokes [10][11] Jimmy Kimmel Controversy & Response - Jimmy Kimmel addressed the controversy surrounding his comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, defending free speech and criticizing the Trump administration [1] - Kimmel expressed that it was never his intention to make light of the murder or blame any specific group for the actions of the shooter [5][6] - He acknowledged that his comments may have been ill-timed or unclear and understood why some people were upset [7] Political Divide & Unity - The report points out that the issue is not necessarily Republican versus Democrat, but rather big government versus individual rights [15][16] - It commends those, including some Republicans like Ted Cruz, who supported Kimmel's right to share his beliefs, even if they disagreed with his views [2][3][20] - The report highlights Erica Kirk's act of forgiving her husband's murderer as an example of grace and forgiveness [12][18] Late Night TV & Comedy - The report emphasizes the role of late-night TV and comedy in ridiculing those in power, referencing figures like Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Stephen Colbert [22] - It suggests that the ability for comedians to mock politicians is something that should be fought for and not taken for granted [20]

It took @JudiciaryGOP being on Google’s ass every month for 3 straight years for this to happen. Free speech is a God-given right but it’s not given to us in this world — you must apply constant pressure to institutions to enforce a norm, or norms are set by others to do.Nelk Boys (@nelkboys):YouTube just reinstated our first podcast interview with President Donald Trump that they removed themselves in 2022.This is after Google Admitting today that they censored YouTube Creators at Biden’s Request.Times are ...

Free Speech & Platform Stance - Free speech is considered the bedrock of democracy [1] - The platform aims to be a true public square with free speech within the law [1] Endorsement - Elon Musk expressed approval with "Well done!" [1]