ABC yanks Jimmy Kimmel’s show ‘indefinitely’ after threat from FCC chair (cnn.com)

Article summary

ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel's show off the air indefinitely after the FCC chair threatened to revoke ABC's broadcast license over Kimmel's comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision came after several major owners of ABC-affiliated stations announced they would preempt Kimmel's show. The move has been condemned by free speech and free expression groups, who argue it sets a dangerous precedent. The incident highlights the increasing politicization of opinions and comments around the murder.

Main themes

• Free speech and censorship
• Politicization of media
• FCC regulation
• Cancel culture
• Political polarization

What commenters say

• The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show is a worrying sign of the erosion of free speech and the increasing influence of political pressure on media outlets.
• The FCC chair's threat to revoke ABC's broadcast license is an overreach of power and a form of censorship.
• Cancel culture is a two-way street, and both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of using it to silence opposing views.
• The incident highlights the deepening political polarization in the US, where people are increasingly unwilling to engage with opposing viewpoints.
• The decision to pull Kimmel's show is a form of self-censorship by ABC, which is prioritizing avoiding controversy over standing up for free speech.
• The notion of a truce on cancel culture is unlikely, as it would require a significant shift in the way people engage with opposing viewpoints.
• The use of cancel culture as a political tool is a symptom of a broader societal problem, where people are more interested in winning arguments than engaging in constructive dialogue.
• The incident is a reminder that the boundaries between free speech and hate speech are often blurred, and that the consequences of crossing those boundaries can be severe.