TRUMP DECLARES CRITICISM OF HIMSELF "REALLY ILLEGAL" - BULLETIN 9.19.25

Summary

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Episode: "TRUMP DECLARES CRITICISM OF HIMSELF 'REALLY ILLEGAL' - BULLETIN 9.19.25"
Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Keith Olbermann

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Episode Overview

In this urgent bulletin episode, Keith Olbermann reacts to President Donald Trump's unprecedented declaration during a White House news conference that criticism of himself is "really illegal." Olbermann frames this as a critical moment for American democracy, highlighting the broader climate of political intimidation, threats against media freedom, and the chilling effect of governmental overreach—particularly in the aftermath of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr's pressure campaign on ABC and Disney, which led to Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. The episode weaves together these alarming developments, critiques the silence or acquiescence of major media leaders, and draws from historical precedent to underscore the dangerous path on which the Trump administration is heading.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Declares Criticism of Himself "Really Illegal"

[02:20–04:33]

• President Trump, during a news conference, stated:
  • "See, I think that's really illegal personally." ([Donald Trump, 04:25])
• The conference was initially meant to discuss business visa waivers but veered dramatically when Trump labeled negative media coverage and criticism as illegal.
• Olbermann stresses the gravity:

  "Donald John Trump cannot remain president after that. He cannot, you cannot declare that criticism of a president, any president, is illegal." ([Keith Olbermann, 04:33])

• Olbermann contextualizes Trump’s remark as unprecedented, even by Civil War or wartime standards.

2. Free Speech, "Cancel Culture," and Media Intimidation

[03:14–04:33], [08:01–13:25]

• Trump's comments were prompted by a question on free speech and the distinctions between cancel culture and consequence culture.
• Olbermann discusses the chilling effect of Trump's attitude, especially as it coincides with recent government threats against the media.
• The FCC, under Brendan Carr, reportedly threatened ABC and Disney to pressure them into removing Jimmy Kimmel’s show after his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death:

  "What Carr said this week, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." ([Keith Olbermann, 06:21])

• Olbermann accuses the administration of blackmail-like intimidation and calls attention to serious threats against independent journalism.

3. The Jimmy Kimmel and Charlie Kirk Controversy

[06:21–08:03]

• Kimmel offered condolences for Charlie Kirk yet was removed from the air, allegedly under FCC pressure.
• Olbermann argues that Kimmel’s remarks were factual, not defamatory:

  "100% across the board, Kimmel's remarks about the late Charlie Kirk have been mischaracterized... Jimmy Kimmel started his segment about Charlie Kirk by expressing sorrow and his remorse…" ([Keith Olbermann, 07:41])

• Olbermann criticizes the reaction from media organizations, particularly ABC/Disney's lack of resistance.

4. Unlikely Criticism from Ted Cruz

[08:21–10:34]

• Senator Ted Cruz, often aligned with right-wing positions, surprisingly denounces the FCC and the administration's actions:

  "I gotta say, that’s right out of Goodfellas. That’s right out of a Mafioso coming into a bar going, 'Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.' ... I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, 'We’re going to decide what speech we like and what we don’t.'" ([Ted Cruz, 09:39])

• Cruz warns such tactics could later justify silencing conservatives.
• Olbermann admits Cruz is "90% correct," only differing on references and the accuracy of calling Kimmel a liar ([Keith Olbermann, 10:42]).

5. Other Voices and the Media’s Response

[11:47–12:56]

• Michael Eisner, former Disney Chairman, publicly condemns ABC/Disney’s capitulation:

  “…the suspending indefinitely of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney company is yet another example of out of control intimidation.” ([Michael Eisner, 12:31]) “Maybe the Constitution should have said…’Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press except in one’s political or financial self-interest.’” ([Eisner, 13:03])

• Olbermann notes many current media leaders and public figures remain silent, fueling the chilling effect on public discourse.

6. Historical Perspective: Theodore Roosevelt and the Value of Criticism

[13:17–13:55]

• Olbermann recalls a 1918 speech by Theodore Roosevelt, underscoring the deep American tradition of critical dissent:

  “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President... is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” ([T. Roosevelt, quoted by Olbermann, 13:27])

7. Final Warning: The Slippery Slope

[13:55–15:59]

• Olbermann warns that, if allowed to stand, Trump’s logic could lead to broad labeling of dissenters as “terrorists” (e.g., by designating critics as "Antifa").
• Urges media leaders and the public to defend free speech actively and not cower before political intimidation.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump's Outrageous Claim:

  "See, I think that's really illegal personally." ([Donald Trump, 04:25])

• Olbermann's Response:

  "Donald John Trump cannot remain president after that." ([Keith Olbermann, 04:33])

• On FCC Blackmail Tactics:

  "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." ([Brendan Carr, paraphrased by Olbermann, 06:21])

• Ted Cruz on Abuse of Power:

  "That's right out of Goodfellas... It is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, 'We're gonna decide what speech we like and what we don't.'... We should not be in this business." ([Sen. Ted Cruz, 09:39, 10:09])

• Michael Eisner's Lament:

  "The suspending… of Jimmy Kimmel… immediately after the chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening… is yet another example of out of control intimidation." ([Michael Eisner quoted by Olbermann, 12:31])

• Theodore Roosevelt’s Principle:

  "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President... is… morally treasonable to the American public." ([T. Roosevelt, quoted, 13:27])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:20–04:33: Trump declares criticism of himself illegal; Olbermann highlights unprecedented nature.
• 06:21–08:01: Deep dive into FCC threats; ABC/Disney suspend Kimmel; issue of media capitulation.
• 08:21–10:34: Ted Cruz voices rare, forceful opposition to government censorship/intimidation.
• 11:47–13:03: Michael Eisner’s public censure of Disney’s surrender and defense of free speech.
• 13:17–13:55: Historical perspective from Theodore Roosevelt on the patriotism of dissent.
• 13:55–15:59: Olbermann’s warning of further abuses and urgent call to action.

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Tone

Olbermann’s delivery is urgent, pointed, and impassioned—a blend of outrage, historical gravitas, and journalistic clarity. He uses biting sarcasm (“I will have to go and lie down after saying that… Ted Cruz is as right as he ever has been”) and moral seriousness, underscoring the dangerous implications of the week’s events for American democracy.

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Summary

This episode is a forceful, urgent warning about the erosion of free speech and the alarming rise of government intimidation against critics and journalists. Using Trump's extraordinary claim as the fulcrum, Olbermann explores a web of official threats, media compliance, rare dissent from within the president's party, and historical reminders of the value of criticism. He calls on leaders and the public to defend the First Amendment, making clear that criticism of power is not only a right—but a patriotic duty.

Transcript

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[Keith Olbermann]

Countdown with Keith Olbermann is a production of iHeartRadio. This is the Countdown Bulletin Podcast. I'm Ke Olbermann in an insane news conference in the Oval Office, even for him, a news conference nominally intended to announce raising the price of business waivers, the Extortion Trump takes for foreign employees coming into this country to work for American manufacturers. Trump has declared that he believes criticism of himself is illegal. I'll repeat that criticism of Trump declared illegal by Trump. Whether he will remember this tomorrow or not is always an open question.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

But given the Kimmel events of the.

[Keith Olbermann]

Past week, it remains a serious question. Whether he will do anything about this is the true question. And follow up on Charlie Kirk. There's been a lot of talk about free speech this week. Do you see a difference between cancel culture and consequence culture?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I mean, your question's a little trick question. I'm a very strong person for free speech. At the same time, when you have networks that where I won an election, like in counties, I guess it's 2,600 to 525, that's called landslide, landslide times two. When you have that kind of, that level of popularity or voter support as I did in the last election, and yet 97 and 94%, different numbers, you see different numbers with different stats. But 97, 94, 95, 96% of the people are against me in the sense of the, the newscasts are against me. The stories are 90. They said 97% bad, so they gave me 97. They'll take a great story and they'll make it bad. See, I think that's really illegal personally.

[Keith Olbermann]

Donald John Trump cannot remain president after that. He cannot, you cannot declare that criticism of a president, any president, is illegal. That has not held true during the Civil War. It has not held true during the first or Second World War or any other American conflict when there were real dangers in the land. It is not true and cannot be true. And any president who believes it is true that criticism of him is illegal cannot remain president after that. And note please, the question was once again about the fallen false idol of the far right, Charlie Kirk. And Trump, without a moment's hesitation, changed the subject to him as he did when he was asked on a human to human level how he was doing in the wake of Kirk's death and kind of shrugged it off and instead started talking about the outhouse or ballroom or whatever that is he is building outside of the White House again. And as he said this, Trump was again covering his wounded, damaged, sick, discolored right hand with his left hand. But back to the point at hand, given what FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr did this week to ABC and Disney, the threats he made towards ABC and Disney as part of a deal to allow the owners of the Sinclair stations to buy more stations more than they are currently legally allowed to buy. He pressured Sinclair to pressure abc, which of course is trying to get FCC approval and other operatives approval of a purchase deal by which the National Football League will buy part of espn. It's all part of one giant attempt to make more money by the Sinclair stations and by ABC and Disney. What Carr said this week, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. That's what Carr said. And within hours, ABC had taken Kimmel's show off the air. Even though 100% across the board, Kimmel's remarks about the late Charlie Kirk have been mischaracterized. He said simply two truths. One, which was that since the death of Kirk, the far right has been doing everything it could to prove he was not far right, not maga. That is a fact. No member of those groups would deny that. That is a fact. The other thing he said was the far right has been trying to score political points off Charlie Kirk's death since he fell 100% true in both occasions. This has been twisted largely by people who did not see what was said by Kimmel or read it. Commentators of all stripes, everybody from the hard right, people at Fox News to Stephen A. Smith making a fool of himself on this topic. And they mischaracterized it into some sort of insult against Kirk. In fact, Jimmy Kimmel started his segment about Charlie Kirk by expressing sorrow and his remorse about the subject and his.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Condolences to the family.

[Keith Olbermann]

It was a dignified presentation, not Brendan.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Carr making a dignified presentation.

[Keith Olbermann]

And to such a degree this is how serious an issue this is, A president claiming that you cannot criticize him, that that is illegal, and the force of the government being used to blackmail ABC Television into sidelining a show without.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Any kind of review process.

[Keith Olbermann]

It's so bad that the criticism coming Friday afternoon of Brendan Carr and the FCC and the Trump administration's extraordinary heavy hand in the Kimmel Kirk story comes from the least likely place imaginable, from a podcast hosted by Senator Ted Cruz. You heard me right. Ted Cruz attacked Carr and the manhandling.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Of abc, Disney and Kimmel on his podcast Friday afternoon.

[Commentator/Analyst]

So the Federal Communication Commission is in charge of granting broadcast licenses. So abc, NBC, cbs, they have licenses from the fcc. It is true that under statute they are required to be in the public interest. What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That's true. He was lying. And his lying to the American people is not in the public interest. And so he threatens explicitly, we're gonna cancel ABC's license. We're gonna take him off the air so ABC cannot broadcast anymore. And I gotta say, he threatens it. He says, we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Yeah.

[Commentator/Analyst]

And I gotta say, that's right out of Goodfellows. That's right out of a Mafioso coming into a bar going, nice bar you have here. It'd be a shame if something happened to it. I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying, we're gonna decide what speech we like and what we don't. And we're gonna threaten to take you off air if we don't like what you're saying. And it might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Yeah.

[Commentator/Analyst]

But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. And so, again, I like Brendan Carr, but we should not be in this business. We should denounce it. It's fine to say what Jimmy Kimmel said was deplorable, it was disgraceful, and he should be off air, but we shouldn't be threatening government power to force him off air. That's a real mistake.

[Keith Olbermann]

Senator Ted Cruz, we can make all.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

The jokes we want about him. He is 90% correct.

[Keith Olbermann]

There are two errors in there.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

It's not actually Goodfellas. That line about it would be a shame if something happened to. It is actually a Monty python sketch from 1969. Also, Kimmel did not lie about Charlie Kirk. His comments were about what those who have survived Charlie Kirk have tried to do and tried to exploit in the death. In the wake of the death of Charlie Kirk. Otherwise, Ted Cruz is as right as he ever has been in his life. And I will have to go and lie down after saying that there has been some blowback finally from some quarters in media, which largely has been silent and terrified. The hosts of the View said nothing about this. No doubt warned that if they did, they would be fired. That's the way things stand at ABC and Disney now under Bob Iger, who folded like a cheap card table. But his predecessor as chairman of Disney, one of his predecessors, Michael Eisner, spoke out in a dignified rage on social media Friday afternoon, quoting Eisner, where has all the leadership gone if not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the First Amendment? As an aside, he's talking to you Bob Iger Resuming Eisner the suspending indefinitely of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the chairman of the FCC's aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney company is yet another example of out of control intimidation. Again, as an aside, Eisner, who has been in this position before, the one Iger is in, now recognized that these were paper threats. There was nothing that could be done that would not involve years or perhaps decades of litigation by the FCC against ABC's licenses. The problem, of course, is that the ABC and reaction also from Sinclair constitute essentially bribes by ABC and Sinclair of the FCC to get its approval in the business deals previously mentioned. But to resume Eisner's righteous indignation, maybe the Constitution should have said, he writes, Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press except in one's political or financial self interest. By the way, for the record he closes this ex CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny. There is one other speaker who is worth listening to on this. Even though his comments were not made recently, they are a little out of date. They are from one hundred seven and.

[Keith Olbermann]

A half years ago.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else. Those words were spoken in Kansas City, Missouri on 7 May 1918 by former President Theodore Roosevelt about the then President Woodrow Wilson in the middle of what was then the only world war. If it was legal to criticize the President then, it is legal to criticize the President now. And if Trump truly believes that criticism of him as president is somehow illegal, someone in his crime family administration will attempt to please him by acting upon this. We've already heard about his attempt to designate Antifa, which is an organization that does not actually exist in any form. It does not have a meeting clubhouse. There is no way to designate it a terrorist group. Yet he is going to try to do that. And then of course his next move would be to declare that you or me or Ted Cruz or Michael Eisner or Jimmy Kimmel is a member of Antifa. That's all he has to do at this point, as long as there are people beneath him in that administration willing to enact it, and that there are people on the outside like Bob Iger, the chairman of Disney, or the president of Columbia University or any of the other folding chairs who have not stood up and have not defended American democracy or the American public or America. The criticism of the president is legal. Criticism of podcasters is legal. Criticism of you is legal. Criticism of me is legal. If Donald Trump cannot take it, he should resign and save the rest of us the trouble because Donald Trump can no longer be president of the United States. This has been a Countdown Bulletin podcast. I'm Keith Olbermann.

[Keith Olbermann]

Countdown with Keith Olbermann is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world.

[Tristan Redman]

But what's happening in America isn't just the cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

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