The battle over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension has now escalated into a full-on political fight with lawmakers threatening to take action. On Monday, California State Senator Scott Wiener took to X to threaten Sinclair Broadcast Group after the company announced it would continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across its ABC affiliates despite Disney’s decision to bring the show back.
California Senator Scott Wiener threatens to break up Sinclair over their decision to continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! – X, @Scott_Wiener
Wiener wrote: “Can’t wait to break Sinclair up. Corporate media consolidation doesn’t jibe with democracy. And although Sinclair isn’t a fan of democracy, most people are.”
Of course, the double standard in that post was so staggering it practically caused whiplash for many. Democrats have spent the last week railing against the Trump administration for having a perceived hand in Kimmel’s ouster, and here’s a California lawmaker threatening to do the same thing in the name of so-called “democracy.”
The comment quickly sparked backlash — not least from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who accused Democrats of blatant hypocrisy and distortion in their attacks.
Sinclair’s Stand Against Kimmel
After Disney publicly announced Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night, Sinclair took a very different stance. The company confirmed it would continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across its ABC affiliates, opting instead to air news programming.
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the company said. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” Sinclair stated.
In other words, while Disney may have cleared Kimmel to come back, Sinclair isn’t budging. The company had previously stated that it expected Kimmel to apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and make a sizable donation to Turning Point USA. Kimmel has done neither of these things.
Charlie Kirk on his YouTube channel – YouTube, Charlie Kirk
For now, the affiliates it controls will not carry the program. This represents one of the strongest examples in recent years of local broadcasters asserting independence from the national networks — raising new questions about where the real leverage in television lies: with the corporate programmers in Hollywood, or with the stations that deliver content to local audiences.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Responds
FCC Commissioner Carr didn’t mince words in responding to Wiener’s threat. In a lengthy post on X, Carr blasted Democrats for “Projection and Distortion.”
And there it is.
On Kimmel, the Democrats are engaged in nothing more than Projection and Distortion.
Projection because Democrats are the ones that spent years illegally weaponizing government to silence dissent. And it is Democrats that will do it all again—as they are openly… pic.twitter.com/E3XRIvtBOJ
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) September 23, 2025
Carr’s full statement can be read below:
“And there it is. On Kimmel, the Democrats are engaged in nothing more than Projection and Distortion. Projection because Democrats are the ones that spent years illegally weaponizing government to silence dissent. And it is Democrats that will do it all again—as they are openly telling you today.
“Distortion because Democrats want to blame anything other than Disney and their local TV stations for Kimmel’s suspension. Those businesses decided that, in their view, a suspension made sense. The reporting on this is clear.
“Notably, this is the first time recently that any local TV stations have pushed back on a national programmer like Disney. And that is a good thing because we want empowered local TV stations. After all, local TV stations—not the national programmers—have public interest obligations, and they should be making decisions that in their view meet the needs of their local communities. I walked through all of this in my Concordia remarks yesterday, which are posted below.”
-FCC Chairman Brendan Carr
Carr’s statement illustrates a fundamental media issue: local affiliates are not merely passive outlets. They have obligations to serve their communities and the authority to decide when national programming undermines that responsibility.
The Bigger Picture
What’s most striking about this story is the wild double standard. Progressives often rail against corporate consolidation in media, yet in this case, their anger isn’t directed at Disney’s control over national programming, but at a rare example of local affiliates exerting independence.
Mark Ruffalo being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel – Youtube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
In fact, Sinclair’s move highlights a structural tension: Disney and ABC want nationwide control of messaging, but local stations — especially when they’re not directly owned by Disney — retain the right to preempt content. That right has now been exercised, and the reaction from Democrats like Wiener shows how quickly cries of “democracy” can shift when the narrative doesn’t go their way.
Bottom Line
Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is no longer just about one late-night host. It has become a proxy war between local broadcasters, corporate media giants, and politicians eager to weaponize the situation for their own agendas.
Pedro Pascal being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
If Sinclair stands firm, this could mark a turning point in the balance of power between local affiliates and the national programmers that rely on them. And with the FCC weighing in, the fight over Jimmy Kimmel Live! may reshape broadcast television in ways far beyond late-night comedy.
What do you think about a California senator threatening to break up Sinclair over their decision to keep Jimmy Kimmel off the air? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
