FIREwire — September 26, 2025
Trump targets 'domestic terrorism,' Biden jawboned Google, and Kimmel returns
“This show is not important. What’s important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
– Jimmy Kimmel, in his opening monologue after being suspended.
Trump issues ‘domestic terrorism’ order that threatens protected speech
Trump signed an executive order that directs the government to launch investigations based on real crimes such as rioting and swatting — but also based on protected speech.
“The administration appears to be giving a green light to federal, state, and local officials to investigate and punish Americans for speech they don’t like by arguing that certain kinds of speech can lead to violence,” said FIRE Legal Director Will Creeley. “But that’s exactly the kind of rationale we at FIRE have fought against for over 25 years.”
Trump declares negative coverage is ‘no longer free speech’
“When 97% of the stories are bad about a person, it’s no longer free speech,” Trump told reporters, complaining about his treatment by media organizations.
The First Amendment protects harsh, even downright nasty criticism of public figures — the Supreme Court has been crystal clear since New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) that the press has wide latitude unless it rises to the level of “actual malice.”
The Biden administration jawboned Google
Google admitted it censored Americans at the Biden administration’s urging, including content that didn’t break YouTube’s own rules.
“Google should not have waited to acknowledge it was pressured by the Biden administration to block content on its platforms,” said FIRE. “Google condemns jawboning now, but it failed to stand up for the rights of its users when it mattered.”
Democratic senators probe Nexstar, Sinclair over Kimmel
Democratic senators are demanding answers from Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group after they declined to air Jimmy Kimmel Live!
As FIRE explained:
Broadcasters have a First Amendment right to decide what programming to air. If Congress is worried about the federal government shaking down broadcasters, it should investigate the government, not the broadcaster. The remedy to government interference in media isn’t more interference. The government punishing broadcasters or intruding into their editorial processes for refusing to air a program is just as harmful as punishing them for airing it. Two wrongs don’t vindicate a constitutional right.
Also in the news
Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air six days after his suspension with a monologue that defended free speech while paying respect to Charlie Kirk and his family.
A Justice Department official is pushing prosecutors to investigate George Soros’s foundation, raising further concerns about the government targeting ideological viewpoints the administration opposes.
This week’s datapoint
We’ve recorded 309 attempts to sanction scholars this year alone. That’s more than one scholar every day — the most we’ve ever recorded — and 106 more than the previous record of 203 in 2021. And we only just started the fall semester.
Depressing to be fair. I didn't vote but hoped that a Dem loss could at least signal people dislike cancel culture, especially I'm academia. The fact that we got a regime change and it is still getting worse is very upsetting. At least you guys inspire me we might get better days in the future