The Rob Carson Show (Newsmax Podcasts)

Episode: Jimmy Kimmel CANCELED: The Fall of Liberal Late-Night!
Date: September 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the recent firing of Jimmy Kimmel from ABC, marking what Rob Carson describes as the "final straw" in the fall of liberal-dominated late-night television. The discussion is both humorous and pointedly political, critiquing how late-night TV became overtly partisan, alienated half its audience, and ultimately paid the price. Other major topics include speech and censorship in media, reflections on the conservative resurgence in entertainment, and an in-depth conversation with John Reed, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, about the state's political climate and broader themes of free speech, faith, and American values.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Firing of Jimmy Kimmel and the State of Late-Night TV

• Kimmel’s Departure: Rob clarifies Kimmel was "not fired by the FCC or Donald Trump," but rather let go by ABC after poor ratings and a controversial on-air comment regarding the Charlie Kirk assassination.

  "He was fired by ABC... after a preponderance of ABC affiliates said, you know, we're done with this nonsense." – Rob Carson [00:51]

• Roots of the Decline: Carson argues that Kimmel (and Stephen Colbert) destroyed late-night television by politicizing it, focusing only on one political perspective and alienating conservatives.

  "They took it and they represented only one political belief... drove away half the country." – Rob Carson [03:20]

• The Last Straw: Kimmel’s comment blaming the Kirk incident on Trump supporters, which Rob deems both factually wrong and “injurious… to listeners and advertisers,” is cited as the immediate cause of his firing.
• Loss of Audience & Revenue: Repeated references to ratings decline, shrinking audiences, and advertisers pulling out—Kimmel’s show became unsustainable.

2. Carson’s Reflections on Media and Free Speech

• No Absolute Free Speech in Corporations: Carson emphasizes the limits of free speech on broadcast TV and radio (“community standards”) and the professional risk in violating them.

  "You do not have a free speech right to say anything you want on network television. You don't, you don't, you don't." – Rob Carson [06:07]

• Personal Experience with Censorship: Rob shares his own background with being “canceled” and demonetized in radio and talk media, relating it to Kimmel’s fate for context.

3. Notable Kimmel “Low Lights” and Political Bias in Late-Night

• Clips of Kimmel mocking Melania Trump, crying after Trump’s 2016 victory, and making pointedly leftist remarks are played and critiqued for lack of humor and excessive partisanship.

  "When Donald Trump won, you may recall, Jimmy Kimmel cried like a little baby on television..." – Rob Carson [05:00]

• Contrast to Previous Late-Night Hosts: Rob compares Kimmel and Colbert unfavorably to Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and even Arsenio Hall, stating previous hosts were able to draw humor more broadly and stay out of harsh political division.

4. Broader Context: The Conservative Moment & Cancel Culture

• Conservative Media Ostracism: Rob recounts how conservative voices (e.g., Rush Limbaugh, Tucker Carlson) have historically been boycotted by advertisers and ostracized by mainstream media—he views Kimmel’s firing as overdue karma.

  "Tucker Carlson got canceled. Jimmy Kimmel celebrated... guess what? It can happen to you, too." – Rob Carson [09:55]

• Changing Tides: Carson expresses optimism about a growing demand for conservative entertainment and comedy, mentioning Greg Gutfeld’s ratings surpassing traditional late-night hosts.

  "Conservative comedy is on the ascension... the left can't be taken seriously anymore." – Rob Carson [16:28]

5. Interview with John Reed, Candidate for Virginia Lieutenant Governor

• DEI and Woke Politics: Reed and Carson criticize Virginia Democrats for not learning from recent losses and continuing to double down on DEI and “woke” policies, framing it as out of touch with voters.

  "They’re doubling and tripling down on it." – John Reed [23:05]

• Merit, Job Creation, and Government: Discussion of job losses among federal workers, the need for a robust private sector, and the problems of Democratic governance in Virginia.
• Preserving History: Reed calls for stopping the erasure of Virginia’s history, comparing monument removal to the actions of "the Taliban" and advocating for reasoned engagement with the past.

  "Show some intellect and stop being driven by rage and destroying things like the Taliban." – John Reed [28:24]

• Faith and American Principles: Both host and guest highlight a cultural shift back to faith and founding values, seeing this as key to the conservative resurgence.

6. A Broader Take on Media Responsibility & FCC Regulation

• FCC Obligations: A clip of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is played, outlining that broadcast TV has a “unique obligation to operate in the public interest.”

  "With that license comes a unique obligation to operate in the public interest." – Brendan Carr (FCC) [38:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kimmel’s Firing:

  "He wrecked the place. He ruined the place. And this was it. This was all they could take anymore. Sorry. Bye. Wah wah, bitch and moan all you want." – Rob Carson [06:42]

• On Politicizing Late Night:

  "You just, there you go. So that's him taking one side of the political equation. Johnny Carson wouldn't do that." – Rob Carson [15:57]

• On Conservative Resurgence:

  "Now we're seeing real opportunities for conservative entertainers who have been ostracized completely by the business." – Rob Carson [16:59]

• John Reed on DEI:

  "...to talk about a cabinet level person who would deal with DEI, who would advance people based on their race, ethnicity or their sexuality or whatever their gender instead of on merit is exactly the opposite of what Virginians have been saying they want." – John Reed [21:18]

• On Media Free Speech:

  "Whatever company you work for... you got to reign it in. You know, I kept thinking, is he cracking a joke or is he just impugning and insulting people with no humor in it? And I think it's the latter, don't you?" – John Reed [30:34]

• On Counterculture & Faith Revival:

  "There is, there's something happening here with regard to faith and a return to founding principles that cannot be denied." – Rob Carson [33:11] "We find those in our Judeo Christian traditions, and they have been mocked and ridiculed and dismissed for 20 years by the left." – John Reed [33:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kimmel’s Firing Explained: [00:51] – [06:42]
• The Decline of Late Night / Political Partisanship: [03:20] – [06:42]
• Free Speech and Media Censorship Discussion: [06:42] – [09:55]
• Media Clips—Kimmel on Melania, Trump’s Win, and More: [13:50] – [15:57]
• Conservative Comedy & Opportunities: [16:28] – [17:15]
• Interview: John Reed (Lt. Gov. Candidate), Part 1 (DEI, Virginia Politics): [20:18] – [28:24]
• Interview: John Reed, Part 2 (History, Faith, Cancel Culture): [28:24] – [35:14]
• FCC, Broadcast Standards & Public Interest: [38:47] – [39:05]
• Satirical Song ("Jimmy Kimmel's been pulled off the airwaves..."): [37:13]

Tone and Style Notes

Throughout the episode, Carson’s tone is irreverent, humorous, and direct, continually interspersing personal stories, industry anecdotes, and satirical jabs at liberal media. The commentary regularly pivots to larger political and cultural themes, underscoring a narrative of conservative resurgence and the perceived failure of left-leaning establishments in both media and government. Guest John Reed echoes this tone, engaging in lively, unscripted exchange with Carson about the stakes in Virginia politics, the culture wars, and the need to reclaim mainstream institutions from progressive overreach.

For Listeners

This episode is an in-depth analysis of the recent changes in late-night TV through a conservative lens. It threads together the collapse of liberal media hegemony, rising conservative alternatives, and the broader implications for American culture and politics—with plenty of humor, blunt critiques, and a celebration of what Carson and his guests see as a turning tide for conservatism in media and government.