Kimmel cancelation deepens conservative debate on Charlie Kirk's death and free speech - National & International News -

Jimmy Kimmel’s show has been canceled as prominent conservatives raise questions about Charlie Kirk’s death and how his legacy is being misused.

Kimmel cancelation deepens conservative debate on free speech and Charlie Kirk’s death

Yesterday, ABC announced it was suspending broadcasts of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” “indefinitely” after what many perceive as threats from the chair of the Federal Communications Commission over comments by the host. During his monologue on Monday, Kimmel commented on political characterizations of the motives of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Kimmel said, in part, that “the MAGA gang” was “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”.

Speaking on a conservative podcast the following day, FCC Chair Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “the sickest conduct possible” and said the FCC could “take action” against ABC over the comments, including revoking ABC affiliate licenses. After Carr’s comments, broadcast media groups Sinclair and Nexstar (who own hundreds of ABC affiliate stations) said they would be pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live” from their airwaves. Nexstar is currently seeking a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna (another huge broadcast media group) which requires FCC approval.

There are parallels with CBS’s decision earlier this year to end Stephen Colbert’s run on “The Late Show”. Colbert had accused the network of capitulating to the Trump administration because CBS’s parent company Paramount was seeking a merger with Skydance.

Carlson urges “civil disobedience” if speech is criminalized

Today, Carr doubled down, saying he might also target other ABC programs like “The View”. President Trump also suggested that networks that give him “bad press” should have their broadcast licenses revoked.

Some conservatives have characterized ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show as a business decision. However, Democrats and some Republicans see Carr’s comments as amounting to a threat of government censorship. Republican Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) warned, “We all should be very cautious. The conservative position is free speech is free speech, and we better be very careful about any lines we cross in diminishing free speech”.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi faced backlash after saying the administration would “go after you if you are targeting anyone with hate speech”. President Trump is also preparing an executive order on political violence and “hate speech”.

The day before Kimmel’s show was canceled, Tucker Carlson raised concerns that Kirk’s death was being used to curtail free speech. Carlson said such actions conflicted with Kirk’s own free speech absolutist position and urged “civil disobedience” against any criminalization of speech.

In recent days, over 100 people have been fired or faced disciplinary action over comments they made either about Kirk’s death or disparaging his political views, and at least one person was arrested.

Growing rift on the right following Kirk’s death

Charlie Kirk’s death and speculation over the suspect’s motives has sharpened the left/right divide. It has also exposed a growing gap in trust between the Trump administration and many of the conservative movement’s most influential voices. Points of contention include everything from the official narrative about the crime itself to how certain parties are using Kirk’s death to further their own agendas.

Candace Owens and Steve Bannon, among others, have cast doubts on the authenticity of a purported text exchange between Robinson and Lance Twiggs, who has been described by law enforcement as a trans person that Robinson was in a relationship with.

Owens and Tucker Carlson have denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attempting to use Kirk’s death to further his own interests. Before the suspect was identified, Netanyahu blamed “the radical Islamists, and their union with the ultra progressives” for Kirk’s death.

Owens and Carlson said Kirk had in recent months been at loggerheads with Netanyahu himself and with major Zionist donors like Bill Ackman over Kirk’s growing criticism of Israel and its relationship with the US. Other conservative figures friendly with Kirk – notably Marjorie Taylor Greene, Megyn Kelly, and former Congressman Matt Gaetz – have confirmed Owens and Carlson’s allegations.

Owens has even implied, but not outright stated, that Israel could have had a hand in Kirk’s death. The conspiracy theory has gained so much traction online that Netanyahu himself posted a video refuting the claim. Officials say there is no evidence suggesting that anyone but Tyler Robinson was involved in Kirk’s death.

Pentagon leaders consider using Charlie Kirk for military recruitment, including using chapters of his organization TurningPointUSA as recruitment centers.

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