Reflections on Free Speech and Media

Back in 1968, right after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Johnny Carson kicked off “The Tonight Show” with a poignant question: “Did you pull the trigger?” It made me wonder—was he, in a very subtle way, poking fun at President Lyndon Johnson’s apparent indifference toward the loss of a friend? Or maybe it was a signal for us to keep holding conservatives accountable about their stance on free speech and civic dialogue.

So, do you think NBC executives just shrugged it off, saying, “Let Johnny speak—it’s free speech, after all”? I mean, does anyone really believe that Carson’s 12 million viewers thought of it as just a harmless joke? Or were they curious about what he would say next? It brings up a lot of questions.

Jimmy Kimmel recently said, “We need to grow pairs, take chunks and find another venue.” It almost feels like he’s calling for more courage in these discussions.

When the First Congress was drafting the amendments, their commitment to free speech was shaped by John Adams’s words: “Our constitution was created only for moral and religious people. It is completely inadequate for other governments.” It’s a fascinating viewpoint, in my opinion.

St. Paul pointed out that while one might have the right to do anything, not everything is beneficial. It’s like a reminder that just because we can say something doesn’t mean we should.

Speaking of which, I got an email from a relative who was quite heated about those who didn’t support Kimmel after his firing. He felt that if you weren’t vocally backing him, you weren’t showing enough courage or moral fiber.

My wife and I had just wrapped up watching an eight-hour service for Charlie Kirk, which was deeply inspiring. As I was about to clear my inbox, I stumbled upon this email from my relative, which, to be honest, I thought would just be more misleading news. But it turned out to be his take on the situation.

He penned his opinion before the service, so it’s unclear if he felt any differently after. He made a bold statement that whatever happened to Charlie was dire and, frankly, evil.

There’s No Doubt About That

I’ve heard similar comments from relatives who seek to virtue signal, asserting that any wrongdoing is intolerable. It’s often phrased like this: “Yes, what happened to Charlie Kirk was terrible! But…” They always seem to need a caveat.

When listening to those on the left—or even those who consider themselves rational—it’s crucial to push back. There’s simply no way to equate Kimmel’s temporary setback with the assassination of someone as influential as Kirk. They exist in entirely different realms, in my view.

Interestingly, I happen to know Charlie personally, having worked alongside him at Salem Radio. That made my thoughts on this email feel a bit weightier, perhaps.

Carson’s comments about “free speech” were essentially a lens of business. And here’s the thing: Kimmel is losing tens of millions for his network due to plunging viewership. In fact, if you post a video of a cat playing piano, it might draw more viewers than Kimmel’s show could on a given night.

Plus, the idea that Kimmel’s freedom of speech has been infringed upon just doesn’t hold water. He’s still free to voice his opinions anywhere else. For instance, when Tucker Carlson got canceled, he started his own network and continued sharing his political views.

What’s amusing—well, not really ‘amusing’ but interesting—is that consistently unsuccessful shows, often hosted by less talented individuals, are still being aired. They’d rather keep showing content that doesn’t resonate than admit failure.

All Kimmel needs to do, it seems, is find another venue and try again. Interestingly, he might still find himself back in the spotlight, despite having not lost enough money or influence yet.

Challenge My Perspective

Young Charlie Kirk paid dearly to stand against obvious evil. He stood out visibly, and who knows what others might follow in the coming days or months?

My relative ended his email asking those against Charlie to justify their stance. I, however, ended my response with a simple challenge, one I thought Charlie himself might endorse: “Prove it’s wrong.”