Jimmy Kimmel returning to Nexstar and Sinclair ABC affiliates Friday

"The piece argues ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel for a false claim about Charlie Kirk’s killing is justified corporate accountability—not 'cancel culture'—and says he owes an on‑air correction, with broadcasters subject to public‑interest obligations."

"WSJ’s Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. argues that although the FCC improperly pressured ABC over Jimmy Kimmel, media panic about Trump-era censorship is overstated because networks like ABC and CBS could likely win on First Amendment grounds if they resisted rather than caved."

"The piece argues that ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel under FCC and political pressure resembles Russia’s early media crackdowns, warning it could be an inflection point toward state‑influenced censorship in the U.S."

"The piece argues that, in the wake of polarizing events, mounting government and societal pressure on media and speech—exemplified by the Kimmel/FCC episode—reflects a broader drift toward a closed society and warns readers not to support illiberal crackdowns even against opponents."

"The Playbook piece comments on Jimmy Kimmel’s forceful return to ABC, framing it as a defense of free speech against White House and FCC pressure, noting Kimmel’s partial apology, conservative pushback, and the likelihood that attempts to 'cancel' him backfired by amplifying his audience and the broader debate over government influence on broadcasters."

"A podcast‑style opinion piece arguing that conservatives should not adopt cancel‑culture tactics (as seen in the Kimmel/affiliate/FCC controversy), because retaliation undermines free‑speech principles, is politically self‑defeating, and better responses exist."