The Jimmy Dore Show
Episode: What Everyone Missed About ABC Cancelling Jimmy Kimmel!
Date: September 22, 2025

Brief Overview

Jimmy Dore and his panel dive into the recent controversy surrounding ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel after remarks concerning the politics of Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer drew FCC scrutiny. The episode dissects media hypocrisy, censorship by corporate and governmental actors, and a wider crackdown on dissent—tying in the TikTok sale to pro-Israel interests and the broader weaponization of censorship, both domestically and by foreign influence. The show also explores the performative nature of media outrage, the transformation of late-night TV, generational shifts in information consumption, and the rise of "terminally online" discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension: The Real Reasons

• Incident: Kimmel was pulled off air after reportedly mischaracterizing the political motives of the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk ([01:08]–[06:49]).
• FCC Pressure: Brendan Carr of the FCC publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks, suggested possible regulatory action, and warned ABC to take action ([06:49]).
• Media Reaction: Noted that establishment figures (Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer) are now decrying censorship when previously they supported deplatforming Trump, Rogan, and others ([09:46]–[11:17]).
• Dore’s Perspective:
  • This is not about free speech—late-night hosts have always faced corporate censorship.
  • Kimmel went beyond comedy into "partisan claptrap," not challenging status quo ([04:14]–[05:08]).
  • “Comedy's about challenging your audience. …Jimmy Kimmel…has never done a comedy show without an applause sign above his head.” — Jimmy Dore [04:14]
  • The Kimmel controversy is more about declining ratings and giving corporate suits an excuse to cut a bloated salary than genuine censorship ([12:13]).
  • Hypocrisy abounds: “These are the same people who said Donald Trump needs to be suspended from Twitter.” — Jimmy Dore [10:26]

2. Free Speech, Censorship, and Corporate Media

• Late-Night TV’s Decline:
  • The late-night format is outdated; Rogan’s conversational model is more resonant and less beholden to corporate gatekeeping ([13:07]–[14:59]).
• Censorship is Nothing New:
  • “They’ve been cancelling people for their political beliefs…since the Smothers Brothers in the '60s.” — Jimmy Dore [16:42]
  • Advertisers and executives dictate content; free speech on broadcast TV is always limited ([16:42]).
• Media Outrage is Selective:
  • Those opposing Kimmel’s “censorship” were silent when others were silenced on COVID, Assange, Rogan, etc. ([11:17]–[12:13]).
  • The real story: “Anything to create more division in the country. Anything to create more distraction over the Epstein list. That’s what this feels like to me.” — Jimmy Dore [18:13]

3. The TikTok Algorithm Change & Sale: New Fronts in Censorship

• Pending Sale: TikTok is reported to be in final talks to sell U.S. operations to an Oracle/Silver Lake/Andreessen Horowitz consortium ([19:55]).
  • Criticized as a move to put the platform under pro-Israel, billionaire control, after widespread viral criticism of Israel ([19:55]).
  • Noted that the new hate speech policy is reportedly run by a former IDF officer ([19:55]).
  • Discussants argue this isn't really about “Chinese spy tech,” but about narrative control for both state and elite interests ([19:55]–[26:15]).
• “M2” Algorithm:
  • Explained as a new system to monitor and filter all uploads—both current and in the past—for ‘harmful and misleading’ content; could lead to retroactive bans for prior posts ([22:53]–[24:09]).
• Impact on Free Speech:
  • The generational impact: TikTok is where youth learn and organize, so the crackdown is about suppressing dissenting political movements, especially pro-Palestinian voices ([24:14]–[31:36]).
  • Comparison: U.S. capitalists are creating an isolated, controlled content environment much like the Chinese “Great Firewall”—but for American oligarchic interests ([31:36]–[34:15]).
• Notable Quote:
  • “If you do censorship, maybe on behalf of the American regime, that would maybe be okay. But now it’s very clear you’re doing censorship on behalf of a foreign country, which I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with.” — Jimmy Dore [26:15]

4. The Outrage Cycle: Destiny, Twitch, and Online Discourse

• Destiny’s Ban & Behavior:
  • Debate and criticism of streamer Destiny after inflammatory anti-conservative rhetoric and mocking of Charlie Kirk’s widow ([34:59]–[43:18]).
  • Discussants characterize Destiny as “the perfect encapsulation” of being “terminally online,” out of touch with real-world empathy ([38:22], [45:02]).
• Media Spectacle:
  • Piers Morgan’s interview style seen as orchestrated—designed to make the host look reasonable by casting others as unhinged, further fueling culture-war outrage ([43:02]).
• Elon Musk’s Intervention:
  • Musk called for Destiny to be imprisoned for “incitement,” but panel notes his hypocrisy, inconsistency, and potential outside pressure, especially regarding Israel ([45:39]–[49:58]).
  • “When Elon Musk wants to stand up, like he’s this big man defending speech, remember: he’s full of shit. He’s completely compromised himself.” — Russell Dabular [50:16]
• Broad Theme of Double Standards:
  • Censorship and outrage depend on which “side” is speaking; all parties support free speech only when it benefits them ([17:23], [50:16]).

5. Historical Perspective & 'Nothing New'

• Media Control is Cyclical:
  • References to the Smothers Brothers, Bill Hicks, and earlier cases of political cancellation reinforce that censorship is a structural feature of U.S. corporate media, not a new phenomenon ([16:24]).
• Takeaway:
  • “Let’s remember…the pattern over and over is that whichever party or group is in power, they start to censor. And when they’re not in power, they cry…cancellation. But when they get in power, they are the first to do that exact same thing.” — Jimmy Dore [17:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Kimmel’s Comedy Approach:
  “Comedy's about challenging your audience. …Jimmy Kimmel…has never done a comedy show without an applause sign above his head.” — Jimmy Dore [04:14]
• On Corporate Censorship:
  “Every time I've ever done a late-night television show, I've been censored. They tell…what you're allowed to say and what you're not allowed to say.” — Jimmy Dore [06:20]
• On Double Standards:
  “These are the same people who said Donald Trump needs to be suspended from Twitter.” — Jimmy Dore [10:26]
• On TikTok's New Owners:
  “Larry Ellison…the Oracle mega billionaire who has donated millions to the IDF…is now buying TikTok.” — Jimmy Dore [19:55]
• On Generational Impact:
  “The youth, they've lost the youth, and that's what they're really afraid of.” — Jimmy Dore [24:14]
• On Censorship for Foreign Interests:
  “It seems like…doing censorship on behalf of a foreign country, which is, I think a lot of people are…very uncomfortable with.” — Jimmy Dore [26:15]
• On Outrage Industry:
  “This is how the Piers Morgan show operates. It is pro wrestling.” — Keaton Weiss [43:02]
• On Elon Musk:
  “When Elon Musk wants to stand up, like he's this big man defending speech. Remember, he's full of shit. He's completely compromised himself.” — Russell Dabular [50:16]
• On Media Patterns:
  “They've been canceling people for their political beliefs…since the Smothers Brothers in the late 60s.” — Jimmy Dore [16:42]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Kimmel Suspension and FCC Pressure: [01:08]–[08:48]
• Media/Political Reactions and Hypocrisy: [09:46]–[12:13]
• Decline of Late-Night / Relevance: [13:07]–[15:16]
• History of TV Censorship: [15:16]–[17:23]
• Core Principle: Speech Control is Cyclical in Power: [17:23]–[18:13]
• TikTok Sale, Algorithm, and Impact: [19:55]–[34:25]
• Destiny’s "Terminally Online" Outrage Segment: [34:59]–[55:39]
• Media Manipulation & Orchestration: [43:02]–[43:18]
• Calls for Better Behavior & Empathy: [52:39]–[55:39]

Tone and Language

• Profane, irreverent, and satirical—consistent with Dore’s trademark style.
• Searing on hypocrisy from both parties and the media establishment.
• Mixes sharp critique with humor and sarcasm to keep heavy topics accessible.
• Frequent use of anecdotal evidence and references to media history for perspective.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Jimmy Dore and panel argue that the controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is a symptom of deeper, structural issues in American media and politics: the selective application of free speech, corporate and government overreach, and the calculated uses of censorship that transcend simple partisan divides. The broader context is increasingly alarming: algorithmic suppression of dissent, especially of youth and pro-Palestinian voices, is escalating as narrative control consolidates among political and billionaire elites. The show concludes with a call to recognize these patterns, resist hypocrisy, and encourage greater integrity and empathy—on and offline—even as the spectacle continues.

(End of summary)