“1 massive factor: Dems style victory,” blared an Axios headline this week.
What was the large Democrat victory? Was it some pro-union coverage? One thing addressing the price of dwelling? International help? A authorities shutdown averted with main concessions from Republicans?
No. Democrats in Congress are so misplaced within the woods proper now that they’re taking a victory lap over the return of Jimmy Kimmel to late-night tv.
You may do not forget that Kimmel was suspended final week after he made an incorrect and unfunny remark about Charlie Kirk’s murderer. The remark got here at a time of sinking scores for the present, and with ABC beneath risk of one other lawsuit from President Donald Trump and the FCC contemplating tv station group proprietor Nexstar’s merger with Tegna (Nexstar has 32 ABC associates; Tegna owns 13). Kimmel was finally suspended indefinitely after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr commented on X and in interviews what appeared like threats to carriers of Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!
However after public outrage, Kimmel got here again, not less than on some shops, and so the Democrats took a victory lap.
“That is massive: Jimmy Kimmel is coming again!” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer posted on X.
However is it actually massive, Senator?
“This can be a good second for America,” mentioned Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat.
Guys, please chill out. If that is “massive,” if this can be a “good second for America,” then you actually need to dream larger.
Carr and Trump are strolling a really advantageous line with their threats to ABC and the pile-on from them in the course of the transient suspension of the present emboldened a free speech coalition. Even on this time of hyperpartisanship, Carr’s feedback drew bipartisan ire. Sen. Ted Cruz warned Trump supporters who have been cheering Kimmel’s suspension may eat their phrases if a Democratic administration did one thing comparable, and panned Carr’s feedback as mafia-like. Sen. Mitch McConnell agreed.
However there’s one other aspect to this: It was a enterprise resolution as effectively. Kimmel’s scores have fallen from about 2.4 million viewers on common in 2015 to about 1.8 million viewers within the second quarter of 2025, which mirror a common decline in curiosity in late-night discuss exhibits. Advert income generated by all late evening exhibits have declined from about $439 million in 2018 to about $221 million in 2024.
Kimmel’s feedback that obtained him suspended additionally weren’t humorous. They weren’t even alleged to be humorous. Jokes have setups and punchlines; this was merely half-baked political evaluation. Kimmel has the appropriate to say no matter he needs, inside cause, with out worry of presidency punishment – however that doesn’t save him from bosses who may really feel he’s threatening the underside line.
Kimmel has a platform that he ought to use for good. A superb instance was in 2017 when he used his son’s congenital coronary heart downside as a cause why Obamacare’s protections for pre-existing situations have been so important. Even for these of us who don’t like Obamacare, Kimmel’s feedback have been highly effective and persuasive.
On the flipside, Kimmel, like everybody else with a boss, isn’t protected towards saying dumb stuff and getting fired. He can be higher off leaving the unhealthy political commentary and rank partisanship to cable information and spending his time on air attempting to be humorous.
Carr is correct that the FCC has an curiosity in regulating some speech, however he ought to err on the aspect of an excessive amount of free speech, not too little. The Trump Administration likes to rail towards Kimmel’s low scores – if that’s the case then then it shouldn’t be so delicate to poor, unfunny criticisms. Swing up, not down.
And for Democrats, who’ve struggled to achieve traction and notch wins throughout Trump’s second administration, this can be a win, I suppose, however that almost all displays how misplaced they’re. Getting Kimmel again on the air isn’t an enormous, good second for America; it’s extra like a very good hour or two on a gradual Monday.
Are voters who aren’t already with them going to care that they complained till Kimmel was again on air? Most likely not. The voters they should attain are going to care much more concerning the excessive price of dwelling than a present they don’t watch.
Matt Fleming is an opinion columnist for the Southern California Information Group. Electronic mail him at flemingwords@gmail.com and comply with him on X @FlemingWords.
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