Democrats pummel ABC, Trump over Kimmel suspension
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DEMOCRATS OUTRAGED BY KIMMEL SUSPENSION
Democrats expressed outrage Thursday over ABC’s decision to indefinitely suspend late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, saying the Federal Communications Commission chairman had “engaged in the corrupt abuse of power.”
Kimmel was suspended indefinitely by ABC on Wednesday because of remarks he made on his late night talk show about assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
House Democratic leaders, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and including Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu of California, issued a joint statement.
“Brendan Carr, the so-called chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has engaged in the corrupt abuse of power. He has disgraced the office he holds by bullying ABC, the employer of Jimmy Kimmel, and forcing the company to bend the knee to the Trump administration. FCC Chair Brendan Carr should resign immediately. “
They said President Donald Trump and the Republican Party waging “war on the First Amendment is blatantly inconsistent with American values.”
And, they said, “media companies, such as the one that suspended Mr. Kimmel, have a lot to explain.”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, urged Carr to be subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
He urged the subpoena “in the name of all those being censored in Washington, D.C., and around the country, in the name of all those being intimidated in Washington, D.C., and around the country, in the name of Americans — Republicans, independents and Democrats, who believe in the First Amendment and free speech.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said he would launch an investigation into the Trump administration, ABC and Sinclair, which has several ABC affiliates, “amid ongoing efforts to censor opposition to the president of the United States. “
In Los Angeles, former California House Speaker and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, now a candidate for governor, weighed in.
“The firing of Californian JImmy Kimmel represents an egregious violation of the First Amendment. In America, free speech is a protected right,” Villaraigosa said.
“When a public figure is fired over their opinions, it reaches a dangerous level of government interference — one of many by the Trump administration. In California, we uphold freedom of speech, and Trump’s actions should not be tolerated.“
DID DEMOCRATS INVITE KILEY TO JOIN THEM ON REDISTRICTING BILLS?
California Democrats gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to voice support for legislation that could bar mid-decade congressional redistricting.
But Rep. Kevin Kiley, a Roseville Republican, introduced legislation with the same purpose weeks ago. Why not join that?
“He’s welcome to join us. We’ve invited him to join us,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, who’s leading the Democrats’ effort.
At his weekly press conference, Kiley said he had not been invited, though he said he supported the “general parameters” of the Democratic proposal. “I wish he’d reached out,” the congressman said.
California voters will decide in November whether to redraw district lines. The new map is intended to make it easier for Democrats to win five seats now held by Republicans. Conservative states, notably Texas, have adopted new maps to give Republicans an advantage..
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Be quiet, Ted Cruz.”
—Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office slamming the Texas Republican senator for criticizing blue-state artificial intelligence regulations
BEST OF THE BEE:
- This California congressman joins three other Republicans in opposing Omar censure via David Lightman.
- Who’s donating millions for, against Prop 50, California’s redistricting fight? via Lia Russell and Nicole Nixon.
- It’s time for California to update its ‘donor state’ status, new study shows, via Nicole Nixon and David Lightman.
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 4:55 AM with the headline "Democrats pummel ABC, Trump over Kimmel suspension."
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