[dada78641]

It really is kind of incredible. I just saw the clip and there really is absolutely nothing there. This is not even 10% as poignant of what Jon Stewart would say in his day. He doesn't even say anything about Kirk himself, or even about the murder—he just talks about the reaction to it.

I already thought it was very suspicious that Sinclair's official press release just talks about how the remarks were "inappropriate and deeply insensitive" without describing anything about the actual remarks. And it even calls for the FCC to get involved?

What this really says is: you should be very afraid, because we will completely demolish if it suits us and we don't need a pretext.

[fhdkweig]

For those who want to see the full clip in context, he has a youtube channel (for now). The video in question is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHT7ICvMtlA (Sept 16, 2025) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j3YdxNSzTk (Sept 15, 2025)

[belter]

"The F.C.C. Threatened to Punish Kimmel ‘the Hard Way.’ ABC Made It Easy." - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/arts/television/jimmy-kim...

[hnuser123456]

The quote cited in TFA claims that the murderer was "one of them". Now, why would someone take out a prominent spokesperson for their own party? They wouldn't, because that's not something that people do to other people they agree with. But somehow, people interpret that remark to make sense? The remark only makes sense if "one of them" refers to the fact the shooter was a white male, and the reader believes all white males are on the same side, and the enemy, and that the incident serves as entertainment. So, yes, I find that remark extremely problematic, and representative of increasingly tribal and divisive "us vs. them" mentality that is gridlocking the country. Not to mention, the comment is itself using the event for political "told-you-so"-ism, while criticizing others for doing exactly that, so it's utterly hypocritical. We can and must set a higher standard for our talking heads. If you want to be a popular figure without burning bridges, maybe don't be so brazenly racist and sexist to the point of publicly celebrating murder because it was "one of them", thinking that proves anything other than that the speaker is a sociopath?

[jjfoooo4]

The Sinclair statement is just bizarre. Kimmel is to pay restitution to Kirk's (millionaire) widow because of statements he made about the political reaction to his death?

The pretext is really falling away.

[Rapzid]

Media and the public have been going soft on the Trump admin for extorting law firms, businesses, and institutions because "Ah, it's just money. Just a settlement. No big deal".

It's not about Kimmel or the money, it's about the next person not stepping out of line so they don't face the consequences.

[duxup]

Trump and Co. are the biggest "snowflakes". Anything that even hints at not being in line with their thoughts, they put the power of the government to work to punish it. It doesn't even matter what anyone says or thinks, once they're set on it being bad, they're on it and it's always played up to be the worst thing ever.

There's no discussion, no indication what really happened, facts are irrelevant, all lies and threats:

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/trump-free-speech-abc-...

[_DeadFred_]

When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because this is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because this is according to my principles. - Frank Herbert

[josefritzishere]

Increasingly this resembles a mandatory state ideology.

[doctorpangloss]

It’s always projection with those people.

[tsoukase]

Both Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel do funny anti-governmental shows, but the difference is the former is kind of silly, superficial, low-impact, short-sighted while the latter is more influential, serious and capable to generate opposition.

[tsoukase]

To continue my comment. I enjoy both, even Jon more. My point was that the seemingly broader public impact of Jimmy lead to his ban. If it escelates to Jon then I do not see any difference than nations like Russia or China.

[tharmas]

Its a Reichstag fire/Horst Wessel moment all rolled into one. Right out of the play book.

[kiviuq]

the 18th century nation-state model has always been open to fascism.

[rich_sasha]

I have almost no context here. I only found out Kirk, RIP, existed, when the news of the shooting hit.

But I watched the clip (I don't know the comedian) and it really doesn't make fun of the assassination. It makes fun of JD Vance.

I strongly agree you don't make fun of tragedies, especially polarising ones, but this really doesn't do that.

[zeven7]

Kimmel was clearly pulled because the fuhrer doesn't like him, because Kimmel is critical of him. You won't see conservative commentators scrutinized this closely, or at all, nor is there any precedent for the FCC acting in this way.

[infermore]

he didn't say the shooter is MAGA

he said the MAGA folks were desperately trying to characterize him as not MAGA

and I can't imagine how you'd argue that's not how they behaved

[dakial1]

He didn't say nor implied that.

He implied that MAGA is trying to exploit the killing to create the image of the "terrorist left/antifa/BLM/immigrants/arab" conspiracy to their audience.

Which they are 100% trying to do, like they did with Trump's shooter, who was a lunatic just like Kirk's murderer (and all the others)

[judahmeek]

> Kimmel said the shooter is MAGA and the MAGA 'gang' assassinate their own.

Oh, so the last X political assassins have been white, male, and apparently strong supporters of the second amendment, but they don't hate minorities enough to be MAGA? (A recent study found a link between prejudice against minorities & support for political violence[0] so...)

> You now have the world you deserve, and smart people will ignore your pleas because you will never be more than a stereotype for the other side to use. Enjoy.

That's funny. Multiple people have lost their jobs for basically saying the exact same thing to conservatives after Kirk's assassination.

0: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-strong-links-between...

[notmyjob]

I don’t think you should get downvoted but I don’t agree either. He insinuated the shooter was maga, but in a way that was “perfect” in terms of deniability. I think that sort of rhetorical sleight of hand by our media elites is why we are where we are now with killing each other and societal Discord, so alas it’s better for society if Kimmel is off the airwaves. But the quote itself is rather tame. First, they came for glen beck, and we said nothing…