"My whole life, history books and dystopian novels had me believing that a nation's descent into fascism would be swift and terrifying. And it has been-but it's also been so fucking stupid that even writing this next sentence feels like we're being Punk'd by some cosmic Ashton Kutcher: after ABC yanked Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air for a joke about MAGA, CNN analyst Brian Stelter asked FCC chair Brendan Carr for comment, and Carr replied with a GIF from The Office."
"On Wednesday, ABC abruptly announced the decision, saying it'd be pulling the show "indefinitely" following comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer. Here's what Kimmel said in Monday night's monologue that the network deemed so terrible: "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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.""
"Where does Carr fit into all this? Nexstar-which operates 32 ABC stations around the country-kicked Kimmel off its stations before ABC officially announced it'd be pulling the show. In a statement, the president of broadcasting said Kimmel's comments were "offensive and insensitive" and do not reflect the "values of the local communities in which we are located." The company is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger."
"Also before ABC's announcement, Carr did an interview with the far-right podcaster Benny Johnson. "Frankly, when you see stuff like this-I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr said of the monologue. "These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel." He added that Kimmel's joke was "truly sick" and that it was part of a "concerted effort to lie to the American people" about Kirk's killer."
ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live indefinitely after Kimmel's monologue about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer. Nexstar removed the show from 32 ABC stations before ABC's announcement, calling the comments "offensive and insensitive" and inconsistent with local community values. Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger. FCC chair Brendan Carr responded publicly, replying to a CNN analyst with a GIF and telling a podcaster that companies could be forced to change conduct "the easy way or the hard way." Carr called the monologue "truly sick" and linked it to a "concerted effort to lie to the American people." Carr wrote the FCC chapter of Project 2025.
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