CNN is once again demonstrating gross hypocrisy on free speech.
Despite lacking evidence, CNN devoted an entire hour on Sunday to discussing unsubstantiated claims that the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was a result of pressure from the Trump administration. The leftist network's alarmist stance on purported government censorship is surprising, given that it has spent years advocating for censorship and ignoring or defending government-Big Tech censorship collusion. Even more troubling is that it has likely never aired a similar program highlighting the 57 Biden-era censorship initiatives exposed by the Media Research Center.
Anchor Jake Tapper brought on multiple “experts” on a show titled “No Laughing Matter: Free Speech Under Attack” to claim that the Trump administration was directly involved in Kimmel’s brief suspension. To support this claim, Tapper provided no evidence other than “expert” assertions and dubious interpretations of officials’ social media posts after the fact.
Because Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr and Trump praised Kimmel’s suspension after it occurred, CNN argued that Trump acted as a sort of dictator and that he and Carr trampled the First Amendment. CNN also denied that Kimmel‘s sinking ratings influenced the decisions, despite not providing evidence to that effect.
Yet both Nexstar and Sinclair Inc. — the media affiliates whose preemption of Kimmel‘s show triggered the host’s temporary suspension by ABC — explicitly denied that the FCC had influenced their decisions. In fact, the show’s suspension occurred after widespread backlash over Kimmel‘s comments mocking Trump and his supporters’ reactions to the assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk.
Notably, while accusing both Trump and past presidents, including Founding Father John Adams, of violating the First Amendment, CNN drew a blank on the massive collusion between the Biden administration and Big Tech, as revealed by MRC in no fewer than 57 censorship initiatives, the Twitter Files, the Murthy v. Missouri lawsuit.
Legitimately can't believe CNN put a self-serious hour-long special together called "No Laughing Matter: Free Speech Under Attack" about Jimmy Kimmel getting taken off the air for a few nights. pic.twitter.com/bYDghedqiv
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) September 29, 2025
Indeed, CNN could have promoted MRC‘s bombshell exposé had it truly been dedicated to upholding the First Amendment. Instead, the network repeatedly platformed calls for censorship.
For instance, CNN in June 2023 published a piece citing former Twitter lawyers to claim the Twitter Files did not actually expose government censorship pressure. In October 2024, soon before the election, CNN Technology Reporter Brian Fung attacked Republicans in an anti-free speech article while complaining that Big Tech doesn’t censor enough. Most recently, a CNN This Morning panel claimed that Big Tech’s lack of censorship fueled the violence that led to Kirk’s assassination.
Free speech is under attack! Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
