The DSR Network The Daily Blast: Trump Just Accidentally Wrecked Fox’s Dumb New Lie about Jimmy Kimmel
Sep 25, 2025
Mona Charen, a columnist at The Bulwark, shares insights into the authoritarian pressures on media in light of Trump’s volatile reaction to Jimmy Kimmel's return. They discuss how Trump’s threats inadvertently expose the validity of Kimmel's civic message about free speech. Charen draws historical parallels between Trump's tactics and those of dictators, warning about the erosion of norms against speech suppression. Ultimately, they highlight the cultural pushback against Trump's narrative and the optimism surrounding civil society's response.
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Kimmel Framed Return As Civic Defense
- Jimmy Kimmel framed his return as defending free speech, saying his show's unimportance highlights the principle at stake.
- Mona Charen and Greg Sargent agree the episode emphasized civic values over personal grievance.
Threat Reveals Authoritarian Intent
- Trump's Truth Social threat showed he intends to use government levers to punish critics, not just bully privately.
- Mona Charen compared this behavior to dictators who silence satire and dissent.
Cruz Called Carr's Message A Mafioso Threat
- Mona Charen recalled Ted Cruz likening Brendan Carr's message to a mafioso threat: "Nice network you've got there. Be ashamed if anything were to happen to it."
- She used this to show the pressure was public, blatant, and clearly coercive.