Podcast Summary: No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen – "ABC Endures Massive Boycott Amid Kimmel Cancellation"

Date: September 21, 2025
Host: Brian Tyler Cohen
Guests: Daniel Goldman, Jamie Raskin, Adam Klassfeld, Elliot Morris

Overview

This episode centers on the escalating backlash against ABC and its parent company Disney after the network canceled Jimmy Kimmel’s show—widely seen as capitulation to pressure from Donald Trump and the FCC. Brian Tyler Cohen explores the chilling implications for media independence, free speech, and democracy, hosting interviews with key political and journalism figures to examine the broader context, the mechanisms of pressure, and potential consequences for the 2026 midterms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The ABC/Disney Boycott and Trump’s Pressure on Media

• Summary:
  ABC’s cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel's show—following criticism from Trump and the FCC—sparked a fierce boycott, including calls from prominent celebrities (Tatiana Maslany, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Landecker). This is viewed as a surrender to authoritarian government pressure, threatening free speech and independent media.

• Details:

  • Massive spike in Google searches for "cancel Disney Plus" and "boycott Disney" ([01:20]).
  • Both liberals and conservatives (including Tucker Carlson, Ted Cruz, Glenn Greenwald) condemned ABC's move ([02:15]).
  • The underlying issue is FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's implicit threat regarding the pending Nexstar-Tegna merger, leveraging government approval to silence criticism ([03:20]).
  • Cohen notes that media conglomerates capitulate out of financial self-interest, not principles ([04:00]).

• Notable Quote:

  • “When they jump the shark so bad that they're causing Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson to find common ground with Rosie O'Donnell, I think that speaks for itself.” —Brian Tyler Cohen ([02:45])

2. Interview 1: Daniel Goldman on Congressional Response and Free Speech

Timestamp: 07:42–25:15

• Key Topics:

  • Congressional limits in the minority; focus shifts to public advocacy and consumer action.
  • The merger approval process weaponized by the administration to exert pressure on broadcasters ([10:32]).
  • The chilling pattern of government coercion; Trump using regulatory bodies to suppress dissenting voices ([11:20]).
  • Legal outlook for challenging these actions on First Amendment grounds; potential for lawsuits ([13:19]).
  • Disappointment in corporations and media for prioritizing profits over defending democracy; contrast to resistance in Trump’s first term.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “We have to stand up for our democracy. Because if we don’t... We are really, really falling down a rabbit hole right now.” —Daniel Goldman ([09:07])
  • “The direct coercion by the government... makes this a government issue in my view. And I’m not a First Amendment expert, but I think it’s important that everyone take every measure they can to fight against this authoritarian regime.” —Daniel Goldman ([13:19])
  • “They are showing themselves... as complete whores for this administration. Whether it’s CBS, whether it’s ABC, whether it’s Meta... it really is telling that the moment it’s challenged, they just bend the knee, capitulate instantly to Donald Trump.” —Brian Tyler Cohen ([15:12])

• Republican Hypocrisy on Free Speech (Charlie Kirk example):

  • GOP claims to fight censorship but swiftly support the suspension of anti-Trump voices ([17:53]).
  • “You guys are the ones who are the free speech absolutists. ... Here, then you just turn around, you’re saying, well, no, I only object if it’s speech that I like.” —Daniel Goldman ([19:04])

• Threat to Independent Media:

  • Concern that as legacy outlets fall, Trump may shift focus to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, exploiting similar pressures or regulatory threats ([22:29], [24:22]).

3. Interview 2: Jamie Raskin on the Epstein Files and FBI Director Kash Patel

Timestamp: 26:52–43:05

• Key Topics:

  • Kash Patel, now FBI Director, previously promised Epstein file transparency as a podcaster but now deflects and stonewalls, hiding behind irrelevant grand jury excuses ([27:34]).
  • Judges and House Democrats emphasize the FBI Director can and should release extensive non-grand jury Epstein materials ([29:28]).
  • Massive, documented financial activity (over $1.5 billion in suspicious Epstein transactions) remains obscured; Republican support for transparency has evaporated post-election ([35:12], [37:18]).
  • Deep state rhetoric now used as cover by the very officials who once promised accountability.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “He’s deployed a thousand FBI agents to pour over the material, to look for Trump’s name ... then that’s when they come back and completely flip over to 180 Degree U turn and say, nothing to see here.” —Jamie Raskin ([29:28])
  • “We live in very tribalistic times. And so you saw the center of gravity on the GOP side just switch on a dime from ‘release the files, this is sick, deep state conspiracy’ to ‘no, we’re not interested anymore.’” —Jamie Raskin ([38:35])
  • “What we’re getting is deep state double talk ... the FBI director comes to us and says... ‘Rule 6 grand jury excuses’—those aren’t grand jury materials.” —Jamie Raskin ([41:04])

4. Interview 3: Adam Klassfeld on Legal Fightbacks and Media Intimidation

Timestamp: 43:10–57:14

• Key Topics:

  • Federal judge in Florida summarily rejected Trump’s lawsuit against the New York Times for being “a complaint not a megaphone for public relations ... or a political rally” ([43:27]).
  • The case illustrates Trump’s pattern of legal intimidation—frivolous filings aimed at chilling and threatening the free press, enabled when businesses are financially vulnerable or need something from the administration.
  • Broader trend: Those who push back in court (N.Y. Times, WSJ, Harvard, smaller law firms) frequently win; the real damage comes when major institutions capitulate out of fear or self-interest ([49:50], [54:09]).
  • Legacy media failures create a vacuum that independent media must fill, underscoring the importance of supporting fearless journalism.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "The judge said, 'A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a political rally.' He spent all of four pages just witheringly dressing down the complaint.” —Adam Klassfeld ([43:30])
  • “When you cut the fat from it, is there any meat left?” —Adam Klassfeld ([46:24])
  • “The victory here... is a judge saying right out the gate, this [suit] is ridiculous.” —Adam Klassfeld ([49:50])
  • “It is so money-focused that they allow themselves to be completely humiliated by this administration that anytime they go into court, they get laughed out of the courtroom.” —Brian Tyler Cohen ([52:20])

5. Interview 4: Elliot Morris on 2026 Midterm Polling and GOP Troubles

Timestamp: 57:19–71:08

• Key Topics:

  • House retirements skew heavily Republican (17 GOP vs. 10 Dem), an ominous indicator for the party ahead of the 2026 midterms ([57:38], [58:39]).
  • Special election overperformance: Democrats currently outperforming by 16 points compared to prior presidential results, even better than 2018 metrics ([60:21]).
  • Retirements are partly generational change among Democrats (e.g., Jerry Nadler, Jan Schakowski), not just fear of losing ([62:30]).
  • Republican map-redrawing efforts (“gerrymandering”) may net 6–12 seats, but Democrats currently have a sufficient polling cushion (D +4) to plausibly overcome it ([69:45]).
  • Growing enthusiasm among Democratic voters, with engagement currently outpacing Republicans ([65:14]).
  • The key number: Democrats should aim to win the popular House vote by at least 2.2 points to offset gerrymandering and structural bias ([69:45]).

• Notable Quotes:

  • “When there are more retirements from one party than another, say the Republican Party this year ... that tends to forecast that that party does poorly in the next midterm election.” —Elliot Morris ([58:39])
  • “Democrats are much more enthusiastic about voting ... that number also tends to be correlated with electoral performance in midterms.” —Elliot Morris ([65:14])
  • “Right now... they're at D +4. So they would be on track, I would say, to overcoming the bias in the national map from all this redistricting.” —Elliot Morris ([70:09])

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "This is legitimately one of the most anti-American moves we've ever seen in this country, having the FCC lean on a private company because they don't like that these comedians were on TV saying mean things about the President. Give me a break." —Brian Tyler Cohen ([02:25])

• “[Legacy media] are not in it for free speech or the First Amendment or democracy itself. They are in it for money. That's it. That's the entire game.” —Brian Tyler Cohen ([05:15])

• "We're seeing a totally different view... They know Donald Trump is completely for sale, that everything is transactional." —Daniel Goldman ([17:00])

• "[Patel] was writing children's books about Donald Trump, about King Donald, and about the, you know, the wacky wizard Kash who protects King Donald. I mean, this is the level of comic book fantasy world he lived in." —Jamie Raskin ([32:34])

• "The ones that fight back win. Same thing with Harvard University... it's a real message for media companies. Are they going to take this naked attempt at journalist intimidation?" —Adam Klassfeld ([54:09])

Timestamps: Key Segments

• ABC/Disney Boycott Intro & Cohen Monologue: 00:31–07:42
• Daniel Goldman Interview (First Amendment, Congressional action): 07:42–25:15
• Jamie Raskin Interview (Epstein files, FBI, GOP hypocrisy): 26:52–43:05
• Adam Klassfeld Interview (Trump lawsuits against media, legal tactics): 43:10–57:14
• Elliot Morris Interview (Polling, retirements, midterms outlook): 57:19–71:08

Conclusion

This episode delivers a forceful indictment of the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress dissent and bend media to its will, as well as the failures of legacy media to defend democratic principles. Cohen and his guests highlight the urgent need for public advocacy, legal challenges, and support for independent journalism to counter these threats and defend the First Amendment. As the midterms approach, the data and political winds seem to favor Democrats, provided they can overcome new structural obstacles and maintain voter enthusiasm.