Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD) – Detailed Episode Summary

Date: September 18, 2025
Episode: FULL SHOW - THURSDAY

Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness dives into two high-profile controversies: Jimmy Kimmel's FCC suspension (firing) over on-air comments about Charlie Kirk, and Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray's social media post wearing a Michael Vick jersey with a pit bull. The hosts—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—debate censorship, cancel culture, the limits of comedy, and responsibility for public figures. Intertwined are the show's trademark Arizona sports tangents, email banter, and raunchy energy, capped off with the arrival of Dale Hellestrae for sports talk and more comedic sparring.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Jimmy Kimmel FCC Controversy

[00:50 – 17:28] In-Depth Segment

• Kimmel's Suspension Explained
  John details recent events: Jimmy Kimmel was suspended after comments about Charlie Kirk, with FCC pressure causing ABC affiliates' parent company Nextar to pull him off air. John recounts past personal experiences with Kimmel and his comedic style.

  • “The world is abuzz. The Jimmy Kimmel thing is taking off. … Jimmy Kimmel, who I don’t care for… he basically said, you’re only in control of one thing… If you have an audience of one, you have an audience.” —John [00:50]
  • Kimmel's political turn is critiqued; John argues he stopped being a comedian first, became tribal, and that his comments (about the political identity of Kirk's killer) didn’t warrant FCC action.

• Freedom of Speech vs. Consequence
  John is “not a fan” of Kimmel's recent work but staunchly opposes the FCC's action. He distinguishes between losing a job for tastelessness and for genuine rule-breaking.

  • “If comedians have to be right, or their jokes have to be fact-checked or there are consequences, that is definitely gonna put walls on their ability to say something. I’m not a fan of Jimmy Kimmel’s, but I don’t think this should have happened.” —John [10:05]

• Cancel Culture vs. Government Action
  Debate over cancel culture: is this government censorship or public backlash? John insists the Kimmel firing is government overreach, not true cancel culture.

  • “When the government strong-arms your employee to fire you, it’s not cancel culture. That truthfully is some sort of totalitarian thing.” —John [38:14]

• Kimmel vs. Kirk: No Equivalency
  John forcefully rejects comparing Kimmel’s speech/suspension to Kirk’s shooting: “No one should be shot for their ideas. Losing a show isn’t the same.” —[13:33]

• Corporate Incentives
  John speculates Disney/ABC are risk-averse, valuing mergers and avoiding regulatory heat above loyalty to hosts:

  • “Disney isn’t going to defend Jimmy if things get sideways because he’s not worth it anymore… Disney is thinking 10 years big picture… They dump him the second the affiliates say, 'We’re scared.'” —John [11:33–12:14]

• Late-Night Landscape Changing
  Panel acknowledges network late night is dying; Kimmel’s ratings “not great;” social media and streaming are replacing old models.

Notable Quotes

• [On Censorship]
  “It does seem sort of like a government hit on a speech thing. … I don’t think this should have happened… There are consequences to your speech, but what he did didn’t break one rule of the FCC’s.” —John [10:29]

• [On the Line for Comedians]
  “I don’t ever watch Jimmy Kimmel for my news, and that’s when I say that’s the bed Jimmy made…” —John [16:20]

• [On Cancel Culture]
  “I hate cancel culture for the same thing… but if the FCC does it, we’re gone. It’s not even going to be close.” —[39:26]

Kyler Murray’s Michael Vick Jersey/Pit Bull Post

[44:30 – 62:20] Extended Segment

• What Happened
  Kyler Murray posted a photo of himself in a vintage Michael Vick (Virginia Tech) jersey standing with his pit bull, sparking backlash due to Vick's notorious involvement in dog fighting. Murray quickly deleted the post and issued an apology.

• Holmberg's Take – Ownership and Consequence
  John calls it a calculated, attention-seeking move: “Designed completely to infuriate people… this is way too far for a guy who is hanging by a thread as the team’s quarterback.” [45:51]

  • “Explain yourself. … I’m not even asking for an apology. Tell me what you wanted this to accomplish.” —John [45:55]

• Public Responsibility
  John argues sports teams have a duty to go further: “The Cardinals need to do something about this. This is way too far.”

• Animal Cruelty Details Recapped
  John recounts at length the graphic cruelty of Vick’s crimes: “He would pick up dogs and break their spines… smash them into the ground until they died…”—John [45:51–54:58]

  • Notably, the show details Murray’s noncommittal response when pressed in a presser, mocking his “my dogs are treated like kings” defense.

• Analogy and Social Implications
  Comparison drawn to wearing O.J. Simpson jerseys or other controversial figures: if you endorse the symbol, expect backlash.

Notable Quotes

• “Kyler Murray needs to be brought to task on this one. … I want to know what you were doing. I want to know what you were doing, tough guy.” —John [45:51]
• “You can still think he’s a great athlete, but you don’t support him anymore. That’s just stupid.” —John [56:33]

Sports & Culture Banter

Ring of Honor/Legacy Debates

• Do the Cardinals honor mediocrity? Is Carson Palmer “Ring of Honor” material?
• List of controversial sports jersey wearers and what it reflects about fandom.
• Michael Jackson music, Cosby Show, and Dukes of Hazzard as “tainted” legacy properties.

Listeners Weigh In

• Emails predictably split along tribal lines on both Kimmel and Murray, but John and Bret reiterate: “You can make mistakes, but you have to own them, and not all outrage is censorship.” [94:47]

KUPD Show Features & Distinct Segments

• Comedy & Raunch
  Beyond the headline topics, the show delivers on its “entertain/question/disturb” promise:

  • Jest about body doubles (Melania Trump), wild speculation about women’s ‘girls nights,’ and mock-serious debates about sperm donor desirability in the room.
  • “What woman wants sperm from a dude who has to mooch time on someone else’s radio show once a week?” —Listener email [144:53]
  • “If sperm was costly, I’ve thrown out millions of dollars.” —John [131:42]

• Listener Engagement
  Dozens of listener emails read and roasted live, with John openly asking Kimmel and Murray defenders to “Explain yourself.”

• Brady Report / News of the Weird:
  Oddball headlines and listener-submitted news, featuring:

  • Cheeseburger Day specials [97:16]
  • Pythagorean Triple Day [99:33]
  • Military height maximums (“6’8” cutoff”) [101:07]
  • Elephant olfactory science [101:46]
  • AT&T’s AI receptionist [105:49]
  • Chick drinking out of a restaurant dumpster [112:52]
  • Viral videos—skateboard collisions, odd injuries, raunchy surgeries [113:55–121:45]

• Music & Nostalgia

  • Stories about the “midnight release” of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Use Your Illusion’ (1991), and the agony of mistakenly purchasing L.A. Guns’ record [91:21]
  • Play of "November Rain" to celebrate the 34th anniversary [91:35]

• Dale Hellestrae Sports Segment [137:36+]

  • Laugh-out-loud “sperm desirability” ranking among show hosts, with Dale proudly vying for the title.
  • Football talk: implications of new NFL balls on kick distances, why 60+ yd FGs are changing strategy [158:28–164:18]
  • Entertainment notes: why modern movies are all remakes, which classics are left untouched.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:50] — Kimmel suspension news, John’s personal Kimmel anecdotes
• [05:17] — Charlie Kirk comments, comedy vs. fact, FCC overreach debate
• [13:33] — Comparing loss of speech vs. violence (Kirk vs. Kimmel)
• [38:14] — Cancel culture vs. government action
• [44:30] — Kyler Murray/Vick jersey post controversy begins
• [54:58] — Details of Michael Vick dogfighting crimes, Murray's response dissected
• [91:35] — Nostalgia: GNR “November Rain” and midnight album debacle
• [121:45] — Raunchy video segment, irreverent as ever
• [137:36] — Dale Hellestrae joins: sperm "rankings," football talk, and comedy
• [158:28] — NFL kicking rules, new “K ball” changes in strategy

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If comedians have to be right, their jokes have to be fact-checked, or there are consequences, that’s going to put walls on the ability to say something.” —John Holmberg [10:05]
• “Kyler Murray needs to be brought to task on this one… If you want to be funny and take this picture in a Michael Vick jersey with a pit bull, send it to your friends. No problem… But when you do this as a modeling shoot… You don’t have anybody in your life that said, 'Kyler, maybe not the best choice of outfit.'” —John [45:51, 57:16]
• “When the government strong-arms your employee to fire you, it’s not cancel culture.” —John [38:14]
• “I would like to call out to the Arizona Cardinals to suspend, at the very least, Kyler Murray. At the very least, punish Kyler Murray.” —John [44:30]
• “Sperm is always free, ladies. Go tuts, you just gotta ask the right people.” —John [131:12]

Takeaways for Listeners

• Comedians and public figures walk a precarious line; society’s tolerance for “misinformation” often seems linked to political tribalism and corporate cowardice.
• Social media actions by athletes carry professional risk—especially when referencing or aligning with notorious figures.
• In the show’s irreverent world, nothing is sacred: celebrity, sports, corporate power, or even the hosts’ own virility—everything is up for laughs, skepticism, and a demand for accountability.
• Listener engagement is high; the show’s audience is both a chorus and a foil, sparking heated, often hilarious debate.

Show Tone & Style

• Irreverent, profane, rapid-fire.
• Mixes personal stories, real-time commentary, and hypothetical scenarios.
• Long-standing in-jokes and roasting among hosts.
• Balances political skepticism with sharp Arizona-centric sports/culture focus.

For First-Time Listeners

If you’re new to Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, expect no sacred cows. Today’s episode delivers sharp, sometimes uncomfortable takes on cancel culture, the responsibilities of public figures, the hazards of corporate media cowardice, and the enduring power of a good (or terrible) joke. Whether you agree or not—you’ll hear a debate that doesn’t let up and laughs that rarely pull punches.