"Where Has All the Leadership Gone?" Former CEO Blasts Disney's Kimmel Surrender
At Disney, resistance is just for the movies. RFK's vaccine panel admits they're "rookies." New terror group announced: anyone Trump calls Antifa. And a tourist's guide to meme culture and murder.
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In today’s news: Disney’s surrender strategy is backfiring spectacularly. Members of RFK’s (anti-vaccine) vaccine panel called one another idiots and then made medical decisions anyway. Trump is making up a rule to seemingly target protesters he doesn’t like. And the government may actually be headed for a shutdown.
We get into that below, plus: the Charlie Kirk shooting has spawned confusion, conspiracy theories, and conflicting information that's further dividing and inflaming an already polarized America. That's partly because the government has shared very little about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and because very few people who know him have spoken to the press. So there’s an information vacuum.
Much of the suspect's world seems to have centered on online communities that use language and references most of us don't recognize. I've gotten tons of questions about the internet memes and terminology from his online life.
So today we're walking through what investigators have shared about the suspect and his motive. We're also examining some of the conspiracy theories and misinformation swirling around the shooting. To be clear: we're not questioning what investigators have found — we're helping you understand both the facts they've shared and the broader conversation driving America's divisions over this case. And we've included a glossary of "extremely online" terms, ranging from “irony poisoning” to “furry,” so you can understand this world.
Information is power. With all the conspiracies and confusion out there, we want to arm you with knowledge.
Here Are Your Headlines:
Breaking: The chances of a government shutdown just increased significantly. The House narrowly approved a bill extending government funding by seven weeks, putting the fate of a shutdown in the hands of a Senate. But the Senate failed to approve either of two competing funding bills, one from the GOP and one the Democrats. Lawmakers have until September 30th to figure out how to keep the government funded.
Rock and Hard Place: This week Disney executives decided to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live after unprecedented pressure from conservatives, Trump allies, and the FCC. That capitulation has sparked a fierce backlash that’s still growing.
Context: Unlike many people punished for commenting on Charlie Kirk’s murder, Kimmel didn’t address Kirk. (In fact, on the day of the shooting, he published a statement saying “it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human.… On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents, and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.) Instead, Kimmel criticized how “the MAGA gang” was characterizing Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s alleged killer, “as anything other than one of them.”
Pressure Campaign: According to an analysis by the New York Times, Kimmel’s monologue didn’t make waves at first. But a conservative organization posted about it. Then Brendan Carr, chair of the powerful FCC and a Project 2025 alum, suggested on Benny Johnson’s popular MAGA podcast that the FCC could punish ABC for Kimmel’s comments. Carr threatened to pull broadcast licenses for stations deemed insufficiently MAGA. Carr’s unprecedented threats sent the conservative outrage machine into overdrive. Advertisers and network employees reportedly received threats. Nexstar and Sinclair, two major affiliate groups, vowed to remove Kimmel from their channels. Disney and ABC executives reportedly huddled hours before Kimmel was set to tape his next episode, which reportedly was to include a response to the backlash, and pulled the plug.
Important Context: Nexstar has business before the FCC. They want the Trump administration’s approval for a multi-billion-dollar deal that would expand the company’s reach to 80% of US households. Plus, Nexstar and Sinclair want the FCC to change a longstanding rule limiting broadcaster’s reach to 39% of the market. As for FCC Chair Brendan Carr, before he used the FCC’s power to silence Kimmel, he spent years railing against government censorship.
Appeasement: This isn’t the first time media executives caved to right-wing MAGA pressure. But Disney’s submission has become a flashpoint. “This is blatant censorship,” fellow late night host Stephen Colbert warned. Jon Stewart, David Letterman, and Lost creator Damon Lindelof spoke out for Kimmel. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner today blasted Disney for caving to Carr’s “out-of-control intimidation.” “Where has all the leadership gone?” Eisner wrote. “Who … will step up for the First Amendment?… Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.’ By-the-way, for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.” Five Hollywood unions, representing over 400,000 workers, condemned Disney’s decision. Former President Barack Obama noted that “after years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.” He called on media companies to “start standing up rather than capitulating to” the pressure.
Just the Beginning: Yesterday Carr warned that Kimmel won’t be the last, and that “consequences will continue.” He said it’s “worthwhile to have the FCC look into The View and some of those other programs.” Trump — who called on ABC to cancel Kimmel — celebrated his suspension and called for similar action against other hosts he dislikes. He suggested that networks that air coverage critical of him should have their licenses taken away.
Fighting Back: House and Senate Democrats announced yesterday they will introduce legislation to increase legal protections for people criticising the government.
Anti-What? Trump announced he will designate Antifa a “major terrorist organization.” There are two problems with this. First, there’s no legal process for designating domestic groups as terrorist organizations. Second, Antifa isn’t really an organization at all, but more of a loosely connected coalition of various left-wing groups, united by their opposition to fascism. So when Trump threatened to investigate “those funding Antifa,” one expert warned “there’s potentially a broad array of civil society organizations that can be caught up in this as being potentially linked to anti-fascism in some way or another.” Also, Trump calls any left-leaning protesters "Antifa.” Is this a way for him to criminalize dissent?
Shot, Chaser: RFK Jr’s new vaccine advisory panel had chaotic meetings yesterday and today, with one member caught calling another “an idiot.” The committee indefinitely postponed a vote on the Hepatitis B vaccine. On Thursday, the committee also voted to revoke the combined MMRV vaccine for children under four. Instead, they want young kids to receive the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) separately from the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine. Initially, the committee decided not to apply that change to the Vaccines for Children program, which helps low-income kids get vaccinated. Today, they reversed that decision, reportedly because some committee members didn’t understand the wording of Thursday’s vote. One member admitted they are “rookies” when it comes to the committee’s decision-making process, which is perhaps why they reportedly skipped many of the committee’s typical steps. CDC advisers also voted to change Covid-19 vaccine recommendations — to now require a consultation with a doctor first.
All Smoke: Trump is reportedly planning to fire a top federal prosecutor who refused to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James after being unable to find sufficient evidence to do so.
Rules Change: Senate Republicans confirmed 48 Trump nominees at once, after changing the rules to prevent further Democratic stalling. About 50 additional nominees remain.
Like Clockwork: Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping discussed a plan to transfer ownership of TikTok to US companies. It’s unclear whether China will accept the deal, and Trump admitted he may extend the deadline for TikTok’s sale. It would effectively transfer control of TikTok to a group of investors led by Trump ally Larry Ellison and Marc Andreessen, with one board member appointed by the US government. Ellison’s company Oracle would control user data. This means right-leaning Trump allies would have control of arguably the most powerful media and information distribution platform in the nation.
Further Provocations: NATO forces intercepted three Russian fighter jets that violated Estonia’s airspace this morning. “Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year,” the country’s foreign minister said, “but today’s incursion … is unprecedentedly brazen. Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.”
Cut, Baby, Cut: The Federal Reserve approved a 0.25% rate cut Wednesday, the first cut this year. The only opposing vote came from Trump’s newly installed governor, who wanted an 0.5% cut.
Go to the Top: Present at the meeting was Lisa Cook, after an appeals court prevented Trump from firing her. Trump allies accused Cook of committing mortgage fraud, a claim seemingly undermined by documents showing she listed her Atlanta residence as a “vacation home” and not a primary residence. But Trump has asked the Supreme Court to let him fire her anyway.
A Tourist’s Guide to Memes and Murder
The following content, which includes an examination of the many conspiracy theories surrounding Charlie Kirk’s accused killer, and a glossary of internet terminology being used — Groyper, OwO, furry, blackpill, etc. — is for paid subscribers. Thank you for your support. You make our work possible.
