Senator Ted Cruz says US broadcast regulator acted like 'mafioso' on Jimmy Kimmel

September 20, 2025

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has strongly criticized FCC chairman Brendan Carr for threatening ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's monologue about Charlie Kirk's death, calling the regulatory pressure "dangerous as hell. " Kimmel was indefinitely suspended after suggesting the "Maga gang" was trying to distance themselves from Kirk's killer and making comments about Trump's reaction to Kirk's death. While Cruz disapproves of Kimmel's remarks, he warned that government regulation of media content could eventually harm conservatives when Democrats return to power.

Who is affected

Jimmy Kimmel (suspended late-night host)
ABC network (faced regulatory pressure)
Brendan Carr (FCC chairman under criticism)
Senator Ted Cruz (criticizing the FCC's approach)
Late-night hosts (Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert who showed solidarity)
American television viewers
Nexstar (media company that cancelled Jimmy Kimmel Live!)

What action is being taken

ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel
Senator Ted Cruz is publicly criticizing FCC chairman Brendan Carr's approach
The Senate has passed a resolution to designate October 14th as a day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk
Late-night hosts are showing solidarity with Kimmel
Some media companies including Nexstar are cancelling Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their markets

Why it matters

The situation raises concerns about government regulation of speech and media content
It highlights tensions between regulatory oversight and First Amendment protections
The controversy reflects deeper political divisions following Kirk's killing
It demonstrates how political figures can influence media decisions through regulatory pressure
The incident exposes disagreements among Republican lawmakers about the appropriate boundaries of free speech

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC