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'Systematic destruction of free speech.' Sen. Murphy says Trump is silencing speech

Murphy responded, "Stephen Colbert is gone, Jimmy Kimmel is gone, you need to see what is happening right now. This is the systematic destruction of free speech in this country."

News 12 Staff

Sep 18, 2025, 6:38 AM

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Sen. Chris Murphy is sounding the alarm over free speech in the United States following the firing of Jimmy Kimmel.

ABC says it has suspended the Jimmy Kimmel Live show indefinitely after comments Kimmel made about the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's killing.

The decision came shortly after Nexstar, which owns several ABC affiliates including WTNH in Connecticut, said it would pre-empt the show.

In his monologue Monday, Kimmel made statements that appeared to pin the blame for the murder on MAGA Republicans.

Nexstar called the comments "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse."

Murphy responded, "Stephen Colbert is gone, Jimmy Kimmel is gone, you need to see what is happening right now. This is the systematic destruction of free speech in this country."

He added, "It is Donald Trump using the power of the White House, in this case the power of regulatory agencies to try to shut down any speech that opposes him. Understand the gravity of this moment."

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