A Connecticut senator is jumping into the debate over the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, which sent shockwaves through the political and entertainment worlds.

On Thursday, Sen. Chris Murphy introduced the “No Political Enemies Act,” designed to protect media outlets and others from retaliation by the Trump administration.

ABC pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air Wednesday following comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his Monday night monologue, the comedian suggested that Trump supporters were responsible and accused them of "scoring political points."

“The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them," Kimmel said.

Nexstar Communications Group had announced plans to pull the program from its 23 ABC affiliates, including WTNH in New Haven.

The Federal Communications Commission chairman called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said his agency could hold the late-night host, ABC and parent company Disney accountable for spreading misinformation.

The news stunned viewers.

“I was very excited to watch the show, but there was no explanation at all,” said Kimmel fan Kyriakos Lazaridis.

There was no immediate comment from Kimmel, whose contract is up in May 2026.

Murphy called the suspension a direct attack on free speech.

“Trump’s FCC forced a major network to pull a loud Trump critic, Jimmy Kimmel, off the air,” Murphy told reporters. “Essentially saying that any media actor that doesn’t say what Trump wants them to say about Charlie Kirk or Trump's policies is going to be silenced.”

Murphy's bill expands civil rights protections for media outlets, political groups, non-profits and churches. It also lets judges “quickly dismiss abusive actions.”

“The No Political Enemies Act creates a specific defense for those that are being targeted for political reasons,” Murphy said. “It builds real consequences government officials when they use the power of the government to target speech that is protected.”

Murphy’s legislation faces a tough road in the Republican-controlled Congress, but he might find some allies in conservatives who have railed against “cancel culture.”

After Kirk’s killing, Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened to prosecute those who criticize him. But President Donald Trump insisted that Kimmel was not targeted.

“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” Trump said on Thursday.

Connecticut Republicans agreed.

“Disney chose to eliminate that program because he stated falsehoods during his comedy show, and refused to retract those falsehoods,” said Connecticut House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford).

Kimmel’s suspension comes just two months after CBS canceled Stephen Colbert, another frequent Trump critic.

“That's censorship. That's state speech control,” Murphy said. “That’s not America.”

At the time, the network was seeking FCC approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. Nexstar is currently attempting a takeover of Tegna, a deal worth $6 billion.

Congress may subpoena FCC Chair Brendan Carr to testify before the House Oversight Committee.

“This administration has initiated the largest assault on the First Amendment and free speech in modern history. They’re making comedy illegal,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). “Brendan Carr pressured ABC to cancel Jimmy Kimmel, and Disney cancels Jimmy Kimmel. This cancelling from an administration that lectured us about cancel culture.”

Aboard Air Force One on Thursday afternoon, Trump suggested that broadcasters who oppose him should lose their licenses.

“They give me only bad press," he said. "I mean they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their licenses should be taken away.”