FCC commissioner: Kimmel’s ‘self-censorship’ shows Trump’s bid to ‘control’ media working

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) lone Democratic commissioner is pointing to ABC comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s decision not to broadcast an interview with Texas Senate nominee James Talarico (D) as evidence of what she called the Trump administration’s attempts to stifle free press.

“Jimmy Kimmel’s decision to keep his interview with a Senate candidate off the air shows just how far this Administration’s campaign of censorship and control has gone,” said FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, an appointee of former President Biden, in a Thursday statement.

“There is no way to know how many other editorial decisions across the country have quietly been shaped by this same pressure,” Gomez continued. “No host, local affiliate, or network should have to weigh federal retaliation before booking a guest for a newsworthy interview. Any attempt to pressure broadcasters into self-censorship undermines both press freedom and the public’s right to hear from candidates in their communities seeking public office.”

Kimmel told his audience Wednesday night he had interviewed Talarico, but the conversation would not air on television because of the FCC’s recent threats against himself and other broadcasters — alleging they had violated “equal time” restrictions for political candidates. The comedian said his interview with the Texas Democrat will instead be posted to YouTube.

“His FCC has threatened me, threatened my show, threatened our network … based on simple, traditional editorial decisions,” Kimmel said about President Trump. “And thank goodness we have that, because in the America we live in right now, that is the best that we can do.”

Gomez is a frequent critic of Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr. She also defended ABC and Disney’s lawsuit against the department — which alleged the FCC’s move to call several of the company’s local affiliates for early license renewal violated the First Amendment.

“The FCC has no lawful authority to threaten broadcast licenses over guest bookings or editorial decisions,” she said. “Unlike other broadcasters who have quietly capitulated, Disney’s ABC has continued to fight this unlawful coercion in court, and episodes like this one only strengthen that case.”