Ted Cruz likens FCC’s Brendan Carr to a mob leader over Jimmy Kimmel criticism

Cruz Critiques FCC President Over Kimmel Suspension

On Friday, Senator Ted Cruz from Texas didn’t hold back, targeting FCC President Brendan Kerr following Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension. Cruz made a comparison, describing Kerr’s remarks as reminiscent of a mafia boss.

ABC announced Kimmel’s “indefinite” suspension after he made comments suggesting that a recent attack on Charlie Kirk indicated he was a MAGA supporter.

Before ABC’s official statement, Kerr had mentioned that there was a “strong case” for action against ABC and its parent company, Disney.

During a podcast, Cruz quoted Kerr’s assertion: “We can do this in a simple way, or we can do this in a difficult way.” He remarked, “It’s just outside Goodfellas,” alluding to the well-known mob film.

Cruz admitted he isn’t particularly fond of Kimmel and expressed a sense of satisfaction regarding Kimmel’s suspension. However, he cautioned that government involvement in media content could spell trouble for conservatives.

In a related statement, former President Trump supported Kimmel’s suspension and suggested the government might consider revoking broadcast licenses from networks that frequently oppose him, noting a heavy disagreement with the press coverage he receives.

On his next show, Kimmel introduced a monologue remarking on the lengths to which some would go to distance themselves from the shooter, making political gains out of the tragedy.

Kerr later dismissed claims that his actions regarding Kimmel were influenced by the comedian’s political stance. He argued that major networks have a responsibility to serve the public interest, contending that Kimmel misled viewers.

In the days following Kimmel’s monologue, legal documents emerged, with the mother of the alleged shooter stating that her son had become increasingly political and leaned left.

Meanwhile, Nexstar Media Group, which operates around 10% of ABC affiliates, announced plans to air different programming instead of Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future.” The company is also pursuing a significant merger deal worth $6.2 billion.

Trump recently criticized Kimmel’s show for facing poor ratings and took swipes at Stephen Colbert after CBS hinted at canceling his late-night program. In a post, he expressed dissatisfaction with NBC’s late-night line-up.

Trump has been involved in various legal disputes with news organizations, including a recent defamation lawsuit against the New York Times that was dismissed by a federal court.