After getting Jimmy Kimmel suspended, FCC chair threatens ABC's The View

Authoritarianism & Democratic Backsliding

• Multiple commenters compare current events to Soviet-style or Putin-style authoritarianism, stressing that suppression of critics via state power is now happening in the US.
• Others frame it as part of a broader global pattern of “democratic backsliding,” listing other countries where institutions were hollowed out step-by-step.
• Some argue the US system relied too heavily on “good faith” actors; when many act in bad faith, checks and balances fail.

Shakedown, Mergers & FCC Power

• Many see the Kimmel suspension and threat to The View as a protection racket: broadcasters and conglomerates (Nexstar, Sinclair) want massive mergers approved and read the FCC’s hints as “censor your talent or risk your licenses/deals.”
• Several emphasize that vague threats are enough; companies rationally cave rather than endure years of costly litigation over licenses.
• A minority argue it’s mostly affiliates and ABC using controversy as an excuse to drop underperforming shows.

Free Speech, Cancel Culture & Tit-for-Tat

• A central tension: past “cancel culture” by private companies vs present government leverage.
• Many insist this is categorically different: private firings vs state coercion tied to licensing and mergers; the latter is a direct First Amendment issue.
• Others see it as tit-for-tat: one side “weaponized” deplatforming and social pressure; now the other side is using state tools. Some even invoke game theory to justify retaliation.
• Several commenters note dramatic hypocrisy: people who once defended “platforms’ rights” are now cheering state punishment of speech they dislike, and vice versa.

Republican/Conservative Perspectives

• Some conservatives and Republicans in the thread explicitly condemn the FCC’s behavior as unconstitutional, petty, and authoritarian.
• Others are conflicted: they dislike the tactic but feel it’s a response to years of perceived bias, deplatforming, and media hostility toward the right.
• There is disagreement over prior Democratic “jawboning” of platforms about misinformation; some call it proven government pressure, others call those claims false or misleading.

Debate Over What Kimmel Actually Said

• Commenters argue over whether Kimmel’s monologue irresponsibly labeled the shooter as “one of them” (MAGA/right-wing) and whether that’s factually wrong or simply a criticism of right-wing spin.
• Some insist his words were inflammatory yet still fully protected speech; others say they were tasteless but should have been handled with rebuttal and apology, not state-backed pressure.

FCC Authority, Fairness Doctrine & “Equal Time”

• Several point out that the Fairness Doctrine was killed decades ago and that modern FCC practice is mainly technical, not content-based.
• The FCC chair’s invocation of “Equal Opportunity” rules is seen as legalistic pretext—bullying via obscure regulations to chill political speech.
• Others criticize the inconsistency: the same party that dismantled fairness rules is now gesturing at them when offended.

Media Economics, Streaming & Boycotts

• Some argue ABC/Disney are motivated purely by money: late-night and daytime talk are still cheap, profitable, but vulnerable to affiliate pressure and regulatory risk.
• There’s debate over whether these legacy shows are dying anyway in a streaming era, with suggestions that ABC should move them to Hulu/streaming to escape FCC reach.
• A few advocate consumer boycotts of Disney properties as the “loudest” non-state response.

Broader Reflections & Personal Warnings

• Multiple commenters describe disillusionment with US democracy and free speech, though some note previous dark periods (e.g., McCarthyism) as precedent.
• Others warn HN users that the Overton window has shifted; political posts can be surfaced, brigaded, and used against people professionally.
• There’s a recurring worry that politics has become pure “kayfabe” and revenge, with principles abandoned and language weaponized.

On The View and Its Audience

• Some openly dislike The View and would welcome its disappearance; others note it has drawn politically disengaged audiences—especially women—into paying attention to current events.
• That role, they argue, makes state pressure on such “soft news” especially concerning, because it narrows accessible spaces for everyday political discussion.