By Fcc Chairman Brendon,Nicholas Fondacaro

Copyright newsbusters

NBC Nightly News
September 18, 2025
7:01:45 p.m. Eastern

TOM LLAMAS: And good evening. It was an announcement that sent shockwaves across politics and media. ABC indefinitely pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air. The long time late-night host suspended after comments he made in the wake of the death of Charlie Kirk. President Trump praising the move and suggesting broadcasters who regularly criticize him should have their licenses pulled. Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr today said the country’s media landscape is shifting and that, quote, “we’re not done yet with seeing the consequences of that.”

But the condemnations have been equally swift. Former president Obama blasting the move, saying Trump administration has taken cancel culture “to a new and dangerous level.” And across Hollywood an outpouring of support for Kimmel from actors and comedians. Kimmel has long been a staple of late-night TV, but after more than 20 years on the air, tonight his future is uncertain. Liz Kreutz starts us off outside of Kimmel’s L.A. studio.

[Cuts to video]

LIZ KREUTZ: Tonight, protests outside Disney headquarters as fallout grows from the company’s abrupt decision to indefinitely pull the show off the air. Condemnation swift from Democrats in Washington to Hollywood heavyweights.

DAVID LETTERMAN: You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.

KREUTZ: But President Trump and many of his supporters praising the decision by ABC and its parent company Disney.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago. So, you could call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.

KREUTZ: The President later suggesting broadcast licenses could be taken away by the FCC. This all began Monday after Kimmel said this during his opening monologue.

JIMMY KIMMEL: The MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one them. And doing everything they can to score political points from it.

KREUTZ: After criticism from conservatives, Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, threatened action against the network.

BRENDON CARR (chairman, FCC): Disney needs to see some change here.

KREUTZ: Hours later, Nexstar, which owns more than 200 local TV stations nationwide and is currently seeking FCC approval for a merger, announced it would stop airing Kimmel on all of its ABC affiliates. Soon after, ABC said it was suspending the show. Now Sinclair, another major television group, saying they won’t air Kimmel’s show again unless he offers a “direct apology” to Kirk’s family and donates to Turning Point USA.

CARR: The issue that arose here where lots of people were upset was not a joke, it was not making fun for pillaring me or the administration or the President. It was appearing to directly mislead the American public about a significant fact.

KREUTZ: But Anna Gomez, lone Democrat on the FCC panel, says the government is expressing free speech.

ANNA GOMEZ (Democratic commissioner, FCC): This administration has weaponized the licensing power of the FCC in order to pressure broadcasters. They want only to have coverage in the way that they want to have it and this is a clear violation of the First Amendment.

KREUTZ: The move by ABC two months after CBS announced it’s canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, another Trump critic, and amid multiple lawsuits President Trump has filed against news organizations.

In a statement, former President Obama slamming the White House, writing, “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle for fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”

[Cuts back to live]

LLAMAS: Liz joins us now outside Jimmy Kimmel’s studio. And Liz, I guess the big question tonight is have we heard from Kimmel himself?

KREUTZ: Tom. No. Kimmel has not yet commented publicly, but his friend Nevada Senator Jackie Rosen says she did speak to him and said he is worried about his staff right now and also his ability to continue doing his political commentary. ABC has also remained silent today. They have not said if or when the show will be back on the air. Tom.

LLAMA: Okay. Liz Kreutz, leading us off tonight. Liz thank you.