*Disclaimer* We’re talking about politics in this episode. If you don’t want to hear it, totally get it. We’ll see you at our next episode, where we'll return to our regular content.
Freedom of speech has never been simple, and in today’s climate, it’s anything but. In this episode, we look at how the First Amendment plays out in real time, from Jimmy Kimmel’s public clashes to the press’s constitutional protections. As former journalists, the First Amendment is near and dear to our hearts because without freedom of the press, there is no democracy. We revisit landmark Supreme Court decisions that define the limits of free expression, unpack what’s truly protected (and what isn’t), and explore why knowing your rights matters now more than ever.
SOURCES:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/18/jimmy-kimmel-suspended-trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/business/media/abc-jimmy-kimmel.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-kimmel-suspension-fragility-late-night-tv-2025-9
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/26/sinclair-end-boycott-of-jimmy-kimmel-live
https://abcnews.go.com/US/tyler-robinson-charlie-kirk-suspect-shooter-utah/story?id=125474359
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/brendan-carr-abc-fcc-jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-1236522406/
https://apnews.com/article/abc-kimmel-affiliate-charlie-kirk-8eb9dca5dff2c717fd00a7083982c5c4
https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/7-things-to-know-about-the-first-amendment/
https://www.axios.com/2025/09/24/trump-jimmy-kimmel-return-abc
https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/6-bln-broadcast-tie-up-adjusts-ma-picture-2025-08-20/
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/283/697