The sudden suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show after threats from FCC chair Brendan Carr was a jolt. It looked like the next step in Donald Trump’s campaign to silence dissent.
But there’s another way to see it: an opportunity.
It’s been clear since the last election that conservatives dominate the independent media space. Trump rode the reach of right-wing podcasts to victory while Kamala Harris stuck to traditional television.
But those old outlets are collapsing — and they’re never coming back.
That means the stars of late-night TV — Kimmel, Colbert and others — could thrive outside corporate networks. They can build their own platforms, reach bigger audiences, and escape the grip of billionaires and timid executives.
The same is true for many journalists.
The crackdown we’re witnessing is a tragedy for free speech. But it’s also a wake-up call.
If Democrats want to compete, they must build their own independent media infrastructure, just as Republicans already have.
No one wants corporations spoon-feeding government-approved content. And if Democratic ideas truly represent the majority, the audience will follow.
But it will take guts. This is the moment for them to seize what’s being destroyed and turn it into something stronger.
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