In a recent segment from his show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver addresses the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, by ABC. Oliver presents the situation as a significant and concerning development in the erosion of free speech, orchestrated by the Trump administration and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The Pretext for Kimmel’s Suspension
Oliver argues that the official reason for Kimmel’s suspension is “laughably weak”. While headlines suggested Kimmel was suspended for comments about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s murder, Oliver clarifies this is inaccurate. He points out that Kimmel’s initial reaction to the murder was a post expressing condolences to the Kirk family and condemning gun violence.
The comment that actually led to the suspension was a brief remark made days later, where Kimmel alluded to rumors that the killer was from the “MAGA gang” and criticized attempts to score political points from the tragedy. Oliver, who was a guest on Kimmel’s show that night, notes that the comment was so unremarkable he “didn’t even register” it. He highlights that Kimmel did not make light of Kirk’s killing but rather pointed out how others were weaponizing the death—an argument Oliver believes has “aged pretty well” given the subsequent events.
The Role of the FCC and Brendan Carr
According to Oliver, the controversy was ignited after FCC Chair Brendan Carr went on a right-wing podcast and issued a clear threat to broadcasters airing Kimmel’s show. Carr stated, “we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” and warned that licensed broadcasters could face fines or even license revocation if they continued to run content that demonstrated a “pattern of news distortion”. Oliver compares this threat to a mafia shakedown, calling it as clear as “a brick through your window”.
Oliver details how major broadcast groups, particularly NextStar and Sinclair Broadcasting, quickly complied by pulling Kimmel’s show. He notes that both companies have a strong incentive to please the FCC, as they are seeking regulatory approval for major mergers that would significantly expand their market reach. While NextStar claimed it acted “unilaterally,” Oliver dismisses this, arguing that Carr had publicly told them what to do on a podcast, so direct communication wasn’t necessary. Sinclair was even more direct, citing Carr’s remarks in their statement.
Oliver also criticizes Carr’s subsequent behavior, which included sending evasive and celebratory memes to reporters, including a Jack Nicholson grinning meme in response to a post connecting his actions to Project 2025. Oliver points out the absurdity of the FCC Chair trolling a former “Glee” cast member on social media after “taking a shit on the First Amendment”.
Government Pressure and First Amendment Concerns
Oliver frames the entire episode as a clear case of the government pressuring private companies to censor speech. He supports this by showing a clip of President Trump openly suggesting that news networks critical of him should have their licenses taken away, adding, “it will be up to Brendan K”.
This view is not unique to Oliver. He cites Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat-appointed FCC member, who said the administration’s actions violate the First Amendment. Even Senator Ted Cruz, while stating he was “thrilled” Kimmel was fired, expressed serious concern, comparing Carr’s threat to something “right out of Goodfellas” and warning that if the government can ban media for saying things it dislikes, it “will end up bad for conservatives”. Oliver, despite his dislike for the senator, admits that on this specific point, Cruz is “not completely full of shit”.
Broader Implications and Historical Parallels
Oliver warns that this situation is a “turning point” because it demonstrates the government’s ability to silence critics in plain view. He explains, “if the government can force a network to pull a late night show off the air… it can do a fuck of a lot worse”.
He draws chilling parallels to authoritarian regimes:
- Hungary: Victor Orbán’s government passed vague media legislation to correct “leftist bias,” which was then used to fine and control the media.
- Russia: When Vladimir Putin came to power, one of his first targets was an independent TV channel that featured a satirical puppet show mocking him. Putin was reportedly “driven to madness” by the show and eventually sent armed operatives to force the station’s sale to a Kremlin-friendly oligarch. Oliver quotes a Russian journalist who reflected that the takeover of that channel was the “first alarm” citizens should have noticed, but they ultimately “went home and forgot about that”.
Oliver uses this to underscore his lesson: “it is not safe to let attacks on one show slide because there are currently others”.
A Call to Action for Disney
In the final part of his segment, Oliver speaks directly to Disney CEO Bob Iger, urging the company to stand by Kimmel and fight back. He argues that caving to the administration’s pressure is a losing strategy: “giving the bully your lunch money doesn’t make him go away it just makes him come back hungrier each time”. Oliver points to a recent 9-0 Supreme Court ruling that found government officials cannot coerce private parties to suppress speech, suggesting Disney would likely win if the case went to court.
He concludes with a powerful message for Disney and other companies facing similar pressure, suggesting that instead of capitulating, they should stand up and use the four words that “can genuinely make a weak bully go away… fuck you, make me“.