The Brett Cooper Show

Episode 68: "The Lie That Took Down Jimmy Kimmel"

Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Brett Cooper

Episode Overview

Brett Cooper examines the fallout from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel being indefinitely pulled off the air after making misleading comments about Charlie Kirk’s political assassination. She explores the role of the FCC, the culture war over free speech and censorship, and the parallels to historic media crackdowns. Brett also critiques reactions from both left and right, unpacks media hypocrisy, and challenges listeners to see the deeper impact of these events on American values and discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversial Comments

• Event summary: Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC/Disney for comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, specifically misrepresenting the shooter’s motivations and political affiliations.
  • Brett argues that Kimmel, “was intentionally lying to his audience” about the case and the shooter (00:36).
• Brett’s rebuttal: The right was searching for truth, not political distance, and Kimmel’s narrative was misleading (01:00).

2. Political and Public Reaction

• Shock at Consequence: The right was surprised to see a left-leaning media personality face actual discipline.
  • “If you’ve lived in America over the last five years…that simply just does not happen to people on the left.” (02:50)
• Online Mob and Outrage: Huge backlash on social media (X, TikTok) demanding Kimmel be canceled or apologize.

3. FCC’s Involvement: Brendan Carr’s Comments

• Brendan Carr: (FCC head) appeared on "The Benny Show," signaling potential FCC action due to broadcast regulations.
  • "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." (04:51)
• Brett’s Explanation: FCC controls broadcast licenses and requires “not to lie to your audience”, a rule Kimmel is accused of breaking (05:16).

4. Claims of Government Overreach and Free Speech

• Mark Ruffalo’s Response: Called it “suppression of freedom of speech” and equated it to “living under the Taliban.”
  • “It is the government doing it now. And that’s...think of yourselves living under the Taliban, because that’s where we’re headed.” (07:41)
• Brett’s Critique: Ruffalo is hypocritical and dramatically overstating the claim, ignoring past government-media involvement, e.g. White House/Facebook pressure (08:04).

5. Debate on the Right: Free Speech vs. Accountability

• Division among conservatives: Not on Kimmel’s accountability, but on whether the FCC should intervene.
• Dave Smith (Libertarian): Opposes FCC threat for strategic (not moral) reasons; Kimmel is no longer just a comedian, but a “regime mouthpiece.” (Paraphrased, 13:30)
  • “I oppose the FCC threatening ABC, but not for libertarian or moral reasons. I oppose it strictly on strategic grounds. It’s a bad idea.” (Paraphrased)
• Ben Shapiro: “The FCC should not be threatening action against ABC...Social censure is perfectly appropriate. The blowback from the public—totally natural and, in fact, good... I do not want the FCC in the business of telling local affiliates that their licenses will be removed if they broadcast material that the FCC deems to be informationally false.” (15:17)
• Candace Owens: Wants the market, not government, to be the corrective. “I want the reaction...is for the free markets to take him out, right?” (15:49)
• Brett’s Take: Agrees with Shapiro and Owens in principle, but acknowledges FCC has the legal authority.

6. FCC’s Powers, the Fairness Doctrine & Historic Parallels

• Fairness Doctrine: Brett explains the doctrine (1949–1987) required equal airtime for political views, but was selectively enforced to stifle conservatives (16:30+).
  • Rush Limbaugh succeeded post-Doctrine and warned against its return.
  • “These were the tactics used in the 1960s to suppress conservative broadcasters. Something that Limbaugh never forgot.” (Quotation from Reason, 18:32)
• Modern context: Calls to bring back the Fairness Doctrine by the left; hypocrisy in outrage now that the shoe is on the other foot (21:40).

7. Hypocrisy and Power, "Turnabout is Fair Play"

• Chris Rufo’s Argument: If the FCC’s power exists, the right can use it just as the left has for decades:
  • “The shoe has been on the other foot for almost 100 years. Turnabout is fair play.” (28:20)
• Brett’s Emotional Side: While rationally opposing government overreach, emotionally she feels: “Screw you. Like, I really do not care...the precedent has been set for years.” (26:55)

8. Culture Shift and the Future

• Kimmel might return to air with an apology; late-night TV is in upheaval (“Stephen Colbert is already gone...Jimmy Fallon is probably going to have to bring on another Republican...”) (35:40)
• Brett urges audience to “vote with your views and your dollars” and support alternative voices like Greg Gutfeld.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brett Cooper (on public reaction):
  “A man being held accountable by his employer for spreading falsehoods...was a bigger atrocity than the man who had actually gotten shot for simply trying to have civil dialogue.” (06:01)

• Mark Ruffalo (on air):
  “It is the United States government that is now suppressing the freedom of speech...Think of yourselves living under the Taliban.” (07:41)

• Brett Cooper (to Ruffalo):
  “Like, buddy, is your bubble like that unpoppable? Like, do you truly live under a rock?” (08:17)

• Ben Shapiro:
  “The FCC should not be threatening action against ABC or its affiliates...Social censure is perfectly appropriate.” (15:17)

• Candace Owens:
  “I want us to be in control of where we spend our dollars, of what we’re saying, and not like the government to pass a...press a button and say, you lose everything because we don’t like what you said.” (15:49)

• Chris Rufo:
  “The FCC was established by FDR to impose public standards on broadcasters and used by JFK to pressure station managers into dropping right wing radio programs...Turnabout is fair play.” (28:20)

• Brett Cooper (on self-reflection):
  “I would hope Jimmy Kimmel being held accountable would be cause for some kind of self reflection...But clearly based on Mark Ruffalo, that type of reflection is not happening.” (34:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:30 — Kimmel’s comments and immediate right-wing outrage
• 04:51–05:30 — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s remarks on “The Benny Show”
• 07:41–08:30 — Mark Ruffalo’s viral hyperbolic response
• 13:30–16:00 — Conservative debate: Dave Smith, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens responses
• 16:30–19:00 — The Fairness Doctrine history and its impact on political radio
• 21:40–24:00 — The left’s current calls for censorship and the hypocrisy debate
• 26:55–28:20 — Brett’s dual stance: principled vs. emotional reactions
• 28:20–29:30 — Chris Rufo’s “turnabout is fair play” argument
• 34:41–36:00 — Reflections on consequences and late night TV future

Tone and Style

Brett’s narrative is punchy, emotionally charged, and frequently sardonic. She engages in direct address, rhetorical questions, and robust criticism of perceived hypocrisy on the left. The episode is both analytical and highly personal, culminating in a call to support alternative media and maintain skepticism toward legacy institutions.

Useful Takeaways

• The Kimmel suspension is a flashpoint for broader debates on media bias, free speech, and regulatory power.
• The left’s outrage is seen as hypocritical in light of their prior advocacy for similar censorship powers.
• There’s active disagreement on the right about whether to wield or reject government power against opponents.
• The history of the Fairness Doctrine is presented as a cautionary tale about politicizing broadcast regulation.
• The cultural divide over accountability, misinformation, and platforming is deeper than ever, signaling turbulent times for mainstream media.