It was another tough time for this column, as so many outlets were vying to be recognized as the best at being irresponsible and vile. Between more Charlie Kirk death irrationality, there was the Jimmy Kimmel suspension news (itself caused by the irrationality), and it only led to more irrational coverage.
It seems rather apparent that there is little inspiration for rationality and decency to begin creeping into the news industry, and as a result, we must sit back and marvel at the waves of unsettled coverage and bile from the press. So let's pull on the rubber gloves and the hip boots so we can filter our way through the debris-strewn landscape of the outmoded media complex.
THE CONTENDERS
Rolling Stone – After giving the direct quote from Jimmy Kimmel that led to his trouble, the site helpfully informed us by insisting he did not say what they just quoted. In this environment, the outlet thought it wise to bring out Randy Weingarten to call conservatives “fascists”.
Washington Post – Longtime editorial fixture and activist commentator Karen Attiah was let go for her comments on Charlie Kirk, largely for misquoting him to paint him as a racist. Her firing brought out the newspaper's union in defense. The paper was surprised at the level of security at Kirk’s memorial service - held for someone assassinated. And of course, they cited censorship following the Jimmy Kimmel Suspension.
MSNBC – Chris Hayes lambasted the Kimmel suspension, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he cheered Tucker Carlson being fired for the very same reasons. The network’s disinformation reporter, Brandy Zadrozny, insisted that there was no negative pushback of Charlie Kirk online. None. She then stated that Kirk would approve of the conspiracies cropping up in the wake of his death. On “Morning Joe,” here was Scar-Joe equating the shooter to the attacker of Paul Pelosi.
New York Times – Peter Baker was more upset with the anger seen from President Trump over Charlie Kirk’s murder than the anger from the shooter who killed him. The outlet moaned that the administration was focusing its effort on left-wing violence. David French whined about censorship in Kimmel’s suspension, but he raved when Roseanne Barr lost her job with the very same network. In a lecturing piece on free speech, the experts at the paper repeated the lie about shouting “fire” in a crowded theater.
ABC News – The network created a firestorm in announcing it was suspending Jimmy Kimmel. Reporter Matt Gutman tried to paint Charlie Kirk’s murderer as a loving, heartfelt soul. He was properly shamed into an apology. Jon Karl tried to sell us that the assassination of a famed political figure at a political rally was not, somehow, an act of political violence.
THE WINNER
CNN – Maybe not a case of the “worst,” but definitely the most prolific. The consistency of disturbing coverage from the network was almost impressive.
Kaitlan Collins idiotically tried to tell Ted Cruz there was no motive known for the killer.
Kate Bedingfield was very bothered by the concept of Democrats receiving punishment for negative comments about Kirk, and she insisted no one in the party was doing so. (So… Why is she upset…?)
Kate Bolduan was met with harsh truths from Tim Burchett after trying to impugn Trump for raising the temperature of the national rhetoric.
Boris Sanchez played the clip of Jimmy Kimmel’s comments, and then promptly told us that we did not hear what he had actually said.
On the day of Charlie’s funeral, the network brought on Jasmine Crockett to spew her intolerance, unchallenged.
As he is mewling over Kimmel’s situation, Brian Stelter forgets his past of trying to get Fox News entirely removed from cable providers.
He also forgot he had cheered Roseanne’s firing due to her language.
Also, Stelter the Genius tried explaining that the media are on an always-descending elevator, unaware that he was describing the very actions of an industry choosing to get on, punching the buttons to go lower, and never attempting to get off and climb back up to relevancy.
Imagine we're all stuck in an elevator together. It's only moving in one direction — downward. Every time the doors open, we're at some new, lower level. No one knows how to reverse course. No one knows what awaits us at the very bottom. The US media is on that ride right now... pic.twitter.com/PEffCMkUrd
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 19, 2025
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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