Politics in Washington usually follows a predictable script. Republicans back Republican regulators, and Democrats defend their own. But in September 2025, that script got shredded. Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas firebrand who has spent years trading barbs with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, did something nobody expected. He came to the defense of the very man who has mocked him relentlessly for a decade. Well, sort of.
Basically, Cruz isn't a fan of Kimmel. He made that crystal clear. But he’s even less of a fan of the federal government telling a private company who they can and cannot put on the air. When the FCC Chair Brendan Carr started making noises about revoking ABC’s licenses because of what Kimmel said, Cruz didn't just disagree. He went nuclear. He called the move "dangerous as hell" and compared the FCC’s tactics to a mafia shakedown.
The Monologue That Started the Fire
It all kicked off on a Monday night in mid-September. Jimmy Kimmel, during his opening monologue, waded into the tragic news of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel suggested that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, was actually a "fellow MAGA supporter" rather than an anti-conservative extremist.
The backlash was instant. Conservatives across the country were livid, claiming Kimmel was "flat-out lying" to his audience to score political points. By Wednesday, the pressure had reached the highest levels of the regulatory state.
Enter Brendan Carr and the "Easy Way"
Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, decided to get involved. Speaking on a right-wing podcast, Carr didn't mince words. He reminded everyone that the FCC grants broadcast licenses based on a "public interest" standard. He then dropped the line that would eventually set Ted Cruz off.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr said. "These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."
Hours later, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely. Major affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair—which own dozens of local ABC stations—announced they wouldn't air the show. It looked like a total victory for the MAGA movement.
Why Senator Ted Cruz Criticizes FCC's Actions on Jimmy Kimmel's Comments
You’d think Ted Cruz would be doing a victory lap. He’s been a favorite target of Kimmel’s for years. Kimmel has called him everything from a "slug" to a "seditionist." Cruz himself admitted on his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, that he was "thrilled" to see Kimmel off the air. He thinks Kimmel is "profoundly unfunny" and "bitter."
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But then he pivoted.
Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee and oversees the FCC, saw a massive red flag. He didn't see a victory for truth; he saw a terrifying precedent for censorship.
The "Goodfellas" Comparison
Cruz’s reaction was vivid. He compared Carr’s "easy way or hard way" comment to a scene from a mob movie. Honestly, it’s a pretty striking visual.
"That’s right out of Goodfellas," Cruz said. "That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar, going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.’"
The Senator’s argument is rooted in a very specific kind of conservative constitutionalism. He believes that if you give the government the power to silence a liberal late-night host today, you are handing a loaded gun to the next Democratic administration.
The Slippery Slope for Conservatives
Cruz is playing the long game here. He knows that the "public interest" standard is a vague, flexible tool. If a Republican FCC can say "lying about Charlie Kirk" is against the public interest, then a future Democratic FCC could say "questioning climate change" or "criticizing gender policy" is also against the public interest.
"They will silence us," Cruz warned. "They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly."
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He basically told his own base to be careful what they wish for. It might feel good to watch Jimmy Kimmel get "canned," but if the government is the one pulling the strings, the First Amendment is essentially dead. Cruz argued that if Kimmel lied, the remedy isn't a government shutdown—it's a defamation lawsuit. Let the civil courts handle it, not the guys who control the broadcast licenses.
A Rare Rift with Trump
This wasn't just a spat between a Senator and a regulator. It created a visible rift with President Donald Trump. When asked about Cruz's comments, Trump sided firmly with Carr. He called the FCC Chair a "great American patriot" and "courageous."
Trump argued that networks that give "97% bad publicity" are being "dishonest" and shouldn't necessarily keep their licenses. It’s a fundamental disagreement on the role of the state in policing the media. Cruz is standing on the side of "even if I hate what you say, the government can't stop you," while the administration is pushing for more direct accountability for "fake news."
What Most People Get Wrong About This Fight
A lot of people think this is Cruz defending Kimmel. It’s not. He still hates the guy’s show.
What’s actually happening is a fight over unconstitutional coercion. Cruz even led a letter with several other senators to Carr, demanding answers about whether the FCC was using "ideological neutrality tests."
He’s worried about the "chilling effect." If a network knows that one wrong monologue could cost them billions in license value, they’ll stop taking risks. They’ll stop being critical. And while that might sound great when it's Kimmel being silenced, it's a nightmare when it's a conservative outlet like Newsmax or Fox News under a different president.
The December Oversight Hearing
The drama didn't end with a podcast episode. In December 2025, Cruz used his power as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to bring the FCC commissioners in for a formal oversight hearing.
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During the hearing, Cruz was relentless. He told Carr directly that "government officials threatening adverse consequences for disfavored content is an unconstitutional coercion."
Carr defended himself by saying he was just upholding the law as written. He pointed out that broadcasters have a unique legal obligation because they use public airwaves. It was a high-stakes legal debate masquerading as a political fight.
Actionable Insights: Why This Matters to You
This isn't just about two famous guys in suits arguing over a comedian. It’s about how the internet and TV you consume is regulated.
- Precedent is Power: When you see the government take a "win" against someone you dislike, ask yourself if you'd be okay with that same power being used against someone you admire.
- The "Public Interest" Loophole: The FCC’s "public interest" standard is one of the most powerful and least understood tools in Washington. It’s the "backdoor" to content regulation.
- Private vs. Public Power: There’s a big difference between ABC deciding to fire Kimmel (private) and the FCC threatening to pull ABC's license until they fire Kimmel (public coercion).
If you want to stay informed on this, keep an eye on the Senate Commerce Committee transcripts. The legal definitions they are debating right now will decide how much "free speech" actually exists on broadcast television for the next decade.
For now, Kimmel is back on the air—his suspension ended after a week of massive corporate and political infighting—but the "mafia" tactics Cruz described have left a permanent mark on how the FCC operates.
Next Steps to Understand the Situation:
- Review the First Amendment: Read up on the "Doctrine of Unconstitutional Conditions" to see why Cruz thinks Carr's threats were illegal even if no license was actually revoked.
- Monitor FCC Filings: Look for any new "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (NPRM) regarding the "Public Interest Standard" to see if Carr attempts to codify his stance.
- Check Local Affiliates: See if Sinclair or Nexstar change their "preemption" policies, as this indicates how much pressure they still feel from the top.