WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension and the Power of the FCC
Sep 19, 2025
Kim Strassel, a Wall Street Journal columnist specializing in media and free speech, and Alicia Finley, a media policy expert, dissect the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel's controversial remarks. They explore FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr's threat to regulate broadcasters in light of Kimmel's suspension, raising questions about First Amendment rights. The discussion delves into the relevance of FCC oversight in the streaming era and the implications of cancel culture on media freedom. Strassel and Finley provide a thought-provoking analysis of power dynamics in modern broadcasting.
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Regulatory Threat Shifted The Stakes
- Brendan Carr's public threat suggested the FCC could penalize broadcasters for repeated 'news distortion.'
- That government pressure changed the stakes and turned private consequences into possible censorship concerns.
Timing Makes Coercion Look Like Censorship
- Kim Strassel distinguishes corporate consequence from government censorship and flags the timing as critical.
- She argues the FCC's threat created coercion that resembles censorship, not ordinary market discipline.
Corporate Motives May Mix With Regulatory Fear
- Kyle Peterson suggests Disney might have seized on the controversy as cover amid declining viewership and rising costs.
- He says that viewership declines make legacy shows more vulnerable and corporate decisions may mix market logic with regulatory fear.