Jimmy Kimmel and Free Speech in the United States

The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel are creating concerns and conversations about the state of free speech in the United States.

Rachel Abrams, Jim Rutenberg, Jeremy W. Peters and Adam Liptak, all journalists for The New York Times, discuss Mr. Kimmel’s removal and why the action is provoking fears and applause from different camps of a polarized country.

Guest:

• Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine.
• Jeremy W. Peters, a national reporter for The New York Times who focuses on free speech and the politics of higher education.
• Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court and writes Sidebar, a column on legal developments, for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• The Trump administration has wielded its full toolbox to bring media to heel.
• What to know about “hate speech” and the First Amendment.
• In Charlie Kirk killing, finger pointing began before the evidence was in.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Samuel Corum for The New York Times

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