So much for freedom of speech in the US

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:43:57 +0200

hans@social.woefdram.nl

Freedom of speech was soooo important for #MAGA a while ago. But the #snowflakes can't handle other people's speech, so it's time for some good old #censorship. First John Oliver was sacked, now Jimmy Kimmel is silenced.

I'm sure Eloon is over the moon: finally the freedom of speech he wants

Land of the free, my ass!

#USpol #FreedomOfSpeech #JohnOliver #JimmyKimmel

The Verge wrote the following post Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:40:01 +0200

Jimmy Kimmel Live pulled ‘indefinitely’ for joke about Charlie Kirk’s killer after FCC threat https://www.theverge.com/news/780471/disney-abc-jimmy-kimmel-live-charlie-kirk

politics

show all 6 comments

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:33:46 +0200

Erik van Zijst

prutser@mas.to

@hans they are careful to avoid freedom of speech here.

> “We have a rule on the books that interprets a public interest standard that says news distortion is something that is prohibited."

Kimmel supposedly violated broadcast codes.

It'd be hard to see how that would not also implicate FoxNews, whether it should apply to a comedy show, or how to even define distortion. Furthermore a "distortion judge" could never be a party with a conflict of interest, like Carr or the FCC.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:47:33 +0200

Erik van Zijst

prutser@mas.to

@hans This is of course just plain abuse of power by an increasingly totalitarian administration.

I cannot believe an impartial judicial would agree with Carr, but the lines between the executive and judicial branches are blurring. Picking that fight would also take years, cost untold millions and likely bring even more long-lasting reputational damage to the network among the right.

It's the bully punching down again.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:52:59 +0200

Erik van Zijst

prutser@mas.to

@hans But what this is really about is the formation of the next corporate monopoly.

"a single company cannot directly own television stations that reach more than 39 percent of American viewers. The merger would bring it to 80 percent."

“We’re meeting this deregulatory moment where it is, and we will work together with regulators as they consider modifying and repealing outdated rules and regulations.”

They're all too happy for Trump to be in power to further dismantle antitrust regulation.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:08:00 +0200

Erik van Zijst

prutser@mas.to

@hans Nexstar is not the good guy here in that regard.

This is a corrupt and vindictive executive branch that chooses to exploit wherever they see leverage.

This is not about free speech, not even Carr's pretext. However, neither outcome will be a good one here.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:09:44 +0200

Erik van Zijst

prutser@mas.to

@hans That was Stephen Colbert earlier, not John Oliver I believe.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:26:10 +0200

Hans van Zijst

hans@social.woefdram.nl

@Erik van Zijst I'm afraid it's more about consolidating power, controlling the media. The other day I saw someone coin it the Hungary-isation of the US.

Every dictator needs to control the media, needs to be able to put his population on a diet of pure propaganda. See how it works in Russia, China or indeed Hungary: no free press.

And that's a process, Orange will take out inconvenient media one by one, so as to not cause so much indignation that people will revolt.