The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing there was grieving. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.
Jimmy Kimmel on his show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
Okay. That was--I guess--a little insensitive. Although, to be honest, there isn't anything there which celebrates the killing of Charlie Kirk, or even condemns his political beliefs, or speech. (Kirk is on record saying, "Jewish money is ruining U.S. culture." and empathy is a made-up new age term." It's unclear if he said those things before, or after he claimed former President Joe Biden should be imprisoned and/or executed for committing crimes against America.) Kimmel was simply saying Tyler Robinson's craving for political violence mirrored that of many in the MAGA movement. And, rightly, or wrongly, accused Donald Trump of seizing on Kirk's death for political gain. It was, in the end, a matter of opinion. Something Kirk is now being canonized for expressing.
The next day Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Brendan Carr said this, "This is a very, very serious issue for Disney (The owners of ABC.) They have a license granted by us at the FCC and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest."
It wasn't exactly an, "offer they can't refuse," but the message was crystal clear.
Literally within minutes, Nexstar, a corporation who owns a boat load of ABC affiliates announced their outlets would no longer air Kimmel's show. A message from the company said, among other things, "Kimmel's remarks were offensive and insensitive." What Nexstar didn't say is they are in the middle of a $6.2 billion deal to acquire a rival company, Tegna. The whole thing is dependent on, that's right, FCC approval.
Hey, Nexstar didn't become the self-proclaimed, "nation's biggest local television and media company," without knowing how to read between the lines.
Within mere moments of Nexstar's announcement, ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live," for the "foreseeable future." Carr was quick to congratulate both Nexstar and the network for, "doing the right thing." Thus, lowering the collective blood pressure in a couple of different boardrooms.
When the news reached the grieving Donald Trump, he immediately began dancing his version of the, "Jelly-Belly Jig." He paused just long enough to post, "Great news for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible." Then to make sure we all know where this is headed, the President added, "That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Myers) , two total losers on fake news NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT."
So, in memory of a guy they claim epitomized freedom of speech in America--Kirk once said if he had a ten-year-old daughter who was raped and became pregnant he would want to deliver the baby and all homosexuals should be executed--Donald Trump and his toadies are doing everything they can to get rid of freedom of speech.
Which, of course, confirms the dark suspicion many hold that for Trump and his outfit freedom of speech exists only as long as they like what they hear.
Well, we've known for a long-time irony escapes Mr. Trump and his crowd. We've also known they are oblivious to all manner of hypocrisy. And, now we know, ultimately, Jimmy Kimmel was right.
Former District of Columbia police officer, Michael Fanone, who was savagely beaten by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2001, probably said it best last night. He told MSNBC's Chris Hayes, "I think that no American politician has done more to normalize political violence in this country than Donald J. Trump."
Fortunately, former officer Fanone, can't be cancelled. Trump's Proud Boys already tried, but it didn't work.
9-18-25
The president who was lukewarm at best over Minnesota is mourning to the point of awarding Mr. Kirk a Medal of Freedom. I suppose it really is true, it is just how you look at this stuff which determines whether you are happy or sad, or see right or wrong.
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