The right wants to saint Charlie Kirk “Patron of Free Speech” to fuel their argument that the left is the real problem. Kirk wasn't for free speech, and the left isn't fostering violence, so don't cede them the power to frame the debate. Don’t waste your breath trying clear the left. Here is your framing: "The right wing is behind the vast majority of political violence." Kirk wasn't for free dialogue — ask the hundreds of academics he tried to silence — but “cancel culture” isn’t a violation anyway. Debating his legacy misses the point entirely — and that’s the point.
Boycotts aren't an infringement of freedom of speech. That’s your free market right to decide where to spend your money and attention. Your constitutional rights protect you from the government — no one else.
That's why Kimmel matters. His free speech was abridged by credible government threat. Starting a podcast, even if the reach were larger than his nationally televised show, doesn’t change this. The government has control over TV station licensing. Those licenses were threatened if Kimmel wasn’t removed. That’s the line.
Kimmel isn't the first to be cancelled. Colbert was "dropped" recently. Two years ago it was Borowitz. Seven years ago it was comedian Michelle Wolf. We’ve been working up to this point for a while. The President shouldn’t use his platform to attack people of course, but Wolf, Borowitz and Colbert were...fuzzy. When you hold the Oval, your words can be seen as implying government action, but Trump says a lot of crazy shit. Most of it doesn’t result in government action.
What changed with Kimmel was the FCC threatened action:
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." — Brendan Carr, FCC chairman
The FCC has the power to pull station licenses. They also regulate mergers, and Nexstar is trying to absorb a competitor. The threat had teeth.
That's why Kimmel matters.
Freedom of speech stands alongside our right to due process as fundamental weapons in the fight against fascism. That’s why they’re coming for them, but Kilmar Abrego Garcia was easier to sympathize with than rich Hollywood pundits.
This line matters just as much.
There are numerous actions we can take. Boycotting Disney+, contacting local Sinclair/Nexstar stations (and their advertisers!) and following voices we value on other platforms are simple steps. Organized efforts are emerging too: the monopoly conglomeration that empowered this is decades in the making. We have to find ways to fund and support remaining legacy media, and the new models emerging to bypass media control.
What we can't afford to do is ignore this escalation in the war on free speech. Use your speech wisely, while you still can.
Don't let them define the terms of debate.
How to resist this: https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/the-kimmel-cancel-response-blueprint
Learn about the first amendment: https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/
Gift link to Atlantic article: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/09/jimmy-kimmel-live-suspension-late-night/684250/?gift=GGYzEQItsFQD7Io0gZbSo17T-ff3CnwZlSICIZIxpiE&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
FCC chills Kimmel: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/09/jimmy-kimmel-canceled-fcc-trump-first-amendment.html