'Right out of Goodfellas.' Ted Cruz weighs in on FCC head's Kimmel threat Joey Garrison, USA TODAY September 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM 2.6k WASHINGTON ‒ U.S. Sen.
- - 'Right out of Goodfellas.' Ted Cruz weighs in on FCC head's Kimmel threat
Joey Garrison, USA TODAY September 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
2.6k
WASHINGTON ‒ U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz slammed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr for pressuring ABC to pull comedian Jimmy Kimmel off the airwaves, warning fellow Republicans the threats create an "unbelievably dangerous" precedent that could haunt conservatives.
The Texas Republican, in a new episode of his podcast released Sept. 19, compared Carr's tactics to those of a mob boss as he denounced the FCC chairman's threats to revoke ABC's television license before the network indefinitely suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
"He says, 'We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way,'" Cruz said, referring to Carr. "That's right out of 'Goodfellas.' That's right out a mafioso coming into a bar going, 'Nice bar you have here. It'd be a shame if something happened to it.'"
After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UxtsMOA class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
">Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" src=https://ift.tt/UxtsMOA class=caas-img>Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1mchW4x class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
">In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/1mchW4x class=caas-img>In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/bDNJKOF class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/bDNJKOF class=caas-img>Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Bp508w3 class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts "Last Week Tonight" is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said 'NO THANKS' Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/Bp508w3 class=caas-img>"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Qxi2jLP class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
">When CBS announced the network was terminating "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" src=https://ift.tt/Qxi2jLP class=caas-img>The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Uln4fjL class=caas-img data-headline="Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
">Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/Uln4fjL class=caas-img>
1 / 6Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, see late-night hosts that have beefed with President Trump
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was pulled off the air indefinitely Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see other the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
Cruz is among the highest-profile Republicans to speak out against Carr's threats to ABC over comments Kimmel made regarding the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Shortly before ABC suspended Kimmel's show, Carr threatened to revoke licenses for ABC and its local affiliates if it continued to air the show. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr said in an appearance on conservative commentator Benny Johnson's podcast.
"What he said there is dangerous as hell," Cruz said after playing audio of Carr's remarks.
Historically, the FCC has operated as an independent agency of the executive branch, but Carr has aligned himself closely to President Donald Trump, who appointed him to the role.
More: Trump suggests FCC should consider revoking TV licenses over negative coverage of him
Cruz made clear he is not a fan of Kimmel and disapproves of Kimmel's remarks regarding the Kirk assassination. But he said the government should not be able to dictate what is appropriate for public airwaves.
"I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying we're going to decide what speech we like and what we don't, and we're going to threaten to take you off the air if we don't like what you're saying," Cruz said.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City on Aug. 29, 2025.
Cruz said a Democrat down the road will be in the White House once again, warning, "They will silence us. They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly.
"It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it."
Trump has cheered ABC for suspending Kimmel's show and rejected concerns about the infringement of free speech raised by Democrats and other Trump critics. Trump has also defended Carr. "I think Brendan Carr is outstanding. He's a patriot. He loves our country, and he's a tough guy," Trump told reporters on Sept. 18.
The comments from Kimmel that apparently attracted scrutiny from Carr came during an opening monologue during the comedian's show on Monday, Sept. 15.
"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them," Kimmel said, which some have interpreted as Kimmel falsely alleging that the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was a MAGA supporter.
Reach Joey Garrison @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ted Cruz compares FCC chair to mob boss over Jimmy Kimmel warnings
Source: "AOL Politics"
Source: Astro Blog
Full Article on Source: Astro Blog
#LALifestyle #USCelebrities