'Hurricane level' victory shows voters aren't 'powerless' against Trump: DC insider
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U.S. President Donald Trump attends the commencement ceremony at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, U.S., May 24, 2025. REUTERS Nathan Howard
On Monday, September 22, ABC's parent company, Disney, announced that the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was ending and that the show would be returning to the airwaves the next day.
Disney suspended the program in response to comments that Kimmel made following the murder of Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk. Kimmel never condoned the killing in any way, but Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Director Brendan Carr was offended by the late-night host's contention that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, was motivated by MAGA ideology rather than leftist ideology — comments that MSNBC host and former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki described as benign.
In an opinion column published by The Guardian on September 23, liberal economist Robert Reich argues the backlash against Carr and restoration of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show that voters are not "powerless" during Donald Trump's second presidency.
"In the days since ABC's decision," Reich explains, "the blowback against Disney has been hurricane level. At least five entertainment industry unions, with at least 400,000 workers, spoke out, with the screenwriters’ union charging Disney with 'corporate cowardice.' Celebrities Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep called out 'government threats to our freedom of speech.' Kimmel was supported by his late-night peers, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, all of whom blasted Disney and ABC with rapier-like humor."
Reich adds, "Jon Stewart devoted his show to a takedown of Disney's cowardice. Disney talent was up in arms."
Reich notes that even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called Carr out, saying that the FCC chairman's threats against companies were "dangerous as hell." Cruz argued that Carr's actions were terrible for conservatism and that he was paving the way for a future left-wing president to take similar actions against Republicans.
"Investors got the message," Reich emphasizes. "Consumers were upset, which meant they'd buy fewer Disney products and services — which meant lower profits. There's never one single reason for the ups and downs in the value of a particular firm's shares of stock, but the timing here has been almost exact. Bottom line: We consumers have extraordinary power. We're the vast majority."
Reich continues, "Like every other big corporation — especially one selling so directly to consumers — Disney relies on us. Even if we can't count on our elected politicians to protect our first amendment rights, we can rely on ourselves. When our outrage translates into withholding our consumer dollars, a big corporation like Disney is forced to listen — and respond. Next time you're feeling powerless, remember this."
Robert Reich's full Guardian column is available at this link.