Bulwark Takes

Episode: We Have Receipts! Dissecting the GOP’s War on Free Speech
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Will Saletan (for The Bulwark)

Overview

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, Will Saletan delves into what he calls the Republican Party’s dramatic reversal on free speech, particularly in the wake of the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the subsequent controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks on ABC. Through concrete examples and recent quotes, Saletan lays out "the receipts" demonstrating how Republican leaders have selectively weaponized free speech arguments—often defending extreme speech on their side, but calling for the censorship, suspension, and even legal action against critics. The episode is both a timeline of shifting GOP positions and a critique of their evolving tactics, especially under Donald Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Kimmel Incident: A New Front in the Free Speech War

• Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks:
  Kimmel allegedly implied that the shooter of Charlie Kirk was a MAGA supporter, which Saletan describes as a mistake but not a firing offense. Republicans, led by Donald Trump, pressured ABC to act, resulting in Kimmel’s suspension.

• Quote:

  “They tried to force Kimmel off the air and they succeeded. They threatened ABC, and ABC suspended Kimmel.”
  — Will Saletan [01:43]

GOP's Double Standard: Holocaust Denial vs. Comedian’s Critique

• Tucker Carlson’s Holocaust denial guest:
  Last year, Tucker Carlson hosted Daryl Cooper, a Holocaust denier, who downplayed Nazi intentions. Saletan points out the lack of Republican outrage in response.

• J.D. Vance’s reaction:
  Vance not only shrugged off the controversy but supported Carlson, defending his right to free speech.

• Quotes:

  “We believe in free speech. We believe if you don’t like an idea... the best way to ensure that [the Holocaust] doesn't happen is to debate and push back against bad ideas. It’s not to try to censor and suppress them.”
  — J.D. Vance [03:37]

  “So it’s wrong to try to suppress bad ideas. So what did Vance do when ABC suspended Kimmel? He went on social media and made fun of the, quote, bellyaching from the left over free speech.”
  — Will Saletan [03:56]

• Calling out ‘Enemies’:
  Vance publicly encouraged people to report those “celebrating Charlie’s murder” to their employers—the same tactic he previously condemned as cancel culture.

Political Pressure on Media: FCC’s Threats

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s role:
  Formerly an advocate of hands-off free speech ("let’s empower individual users"), Carr threatened ABC with FCC action if Kimmel wasn’t disciplined.

• Quotes:

  “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
  — Brendan Carr, as cited by Saletan [05:40]

  "That was a direct threat. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. If ABC doesn’t act, we have remedies."
  — Will Saletan [06:12]

Selective Outrage: The GOP’s Changing Tune on 'Private Companies'

• Mike Johnson’s about-face:
  Johnson (now Speaker of the House) previously accused Facebook of censorship for moderating content under government pressure, but, when it came to Kimmel, dodged the concern and sided with ABC’s right as a private company.

• Quotes:

  "ABC is a private company."
  — Mike Johnson [07:25]

  “Suddenly, Johnson doesn’t seem to care that the company is acting under pressure from the government.”
  — Will Saletan [07:40]

Trump’s Crusade Against Critics

• Celebrating censorship:
  Trump applauded ABC's suspension of Kimmel and called for broader purges of negative coverage, suggesting network licenses be revoked and critics removed.

• Quotes:

  “I would think maybe their [network] license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr.”
  — Donald Trump [08:58]

  “Trump literally wrote that Kimmel’s criticism of him was illegal. And Trump implied that he would sue the network. And taking down the networks is just the beginning.”
  — Will Saletan [09:15]

• Pushing for criminal penalties:
  Trump labeled protesters as paid agitators and suggested using RICO statutes to put them in jail for “subversive” activities.

  “I’ve asked Pam to look into that in terms of RICO—bringing RICO cases against the criminal RICO because they should be put in jail.”
  — Donald Trump [10:16]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the GOP’s selective outrage:

  “Trump’s Republican Party was never sincere about free speech. What they wanted to protect was their speech. When somebody like Kimmel or a woman in a restaurant tries to speak out against Trump, Trump and his party are willing to use the power of the government to get that person fired or jailed.”
  — Will Saletan [10:16]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:59 — Will Saletan introduces the Kimmel suspension and GOP pressure on ABC.
• 01:34 — Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the Kirk shooting.
• 02:26 — Holocaust denial on Tucker Carlson’s podcast & Republican reactions.
• 03:37 — J.D. Vance defends Carlson, then mocks the left on free speech over Kimmel.
• 04:25 — Vance calls for reporting political opponents to employers (“cancel culture”).
• 05:06 / 05:40 — FCC Chairman Carr’s evolving stance on censorship and his threats toward ABC.
• 07:14–07:40 — Mike Johnson’s changed position on private company censorship.
• 08:03 / 08:58 — Trump praises Kimmel’s suspension and threatens TV network licenses.
• 09:36 / 10:16 — Trump labels protesters as criminal agitators and demands prosecution.

Tone & Final Message

Saletan’s tone is direct, urgent, and critical, marked by repeated references to hypocrisy and “receipts,” indicting the GOP’s handling of free speech as opportunistic and dangerous. He closes with a warning about the real threat posed by this shift:

“Look, this is deadly serious. Trump’s Republican Party was never sincere about free speech... So assuming Trump and his goons don’t take down this channel, I’ll see you next time.”
— Will Saletan [10:49]

This summary captures the argument, key examples, and notable rhetoric from the episode, giving listeners a comprehensive understanding of the GOP’s shifting stance on free speech—without the need to sit through the advertisements and promos.