For Hollywood’s political class, Jimmy Kimmel’s return at the end of the night after a week -long suspension was a cause to celebrate – a crucial and momentary victory – for a city that threw a path to follow since Donald Trump returned to the oval office in January. The question in the minds of many is whether democrats and industry activists can take advantage of what many consider that the exaggerated government and an assault against freedom of expression by President Trump and its president of the Federal Communications of Communications Brendan Carr to their advantage.
A few days ago CNN data chief analyst Harry Enen, made a report on the air that painted the Democrats – even in the midst of President Trump’s approval ratings following a series of recent controversies – like the party that is in trouble with American voters before the middle of 2026. “At this particular point, the ball can be on the ground, but the Democrats did not take the ball and do not, what are the Republicans who run with the ball on the best problems, “he said. It seemed that nothing worked for the Democrats.
Then came Kimmel. The abrupt decision of last week by Disney CEO, Bob Iger and co -president of Disney Entertainment, Dana Walden, to Yank Kimmel, sent waves of despair in an industry that had already seen various media magnate and societies to fold the knee to the Trump administration in the past eight months. ABC News and Paramount paid eight -digit sums to resolve various legal disputes with the administration and many saw the announcement by CBS that Stephen Colbert’s program would not return next season, another capitulation to Trump. The night of Kimmel’s return, which saw a massive increase in viewers, the National Democratic Committee launched a digital advertising campaign focused on Trump’s attacks on media companies.
Regarding campaigns, it was a small expenditure – only five figures – but its impact underlines how powerful freedom of expression and censorship are as problems through the parties of the parties. The 30-second announcement was seen more than half a million times and has reached 40,000 unique voters, which is more than double the commitment that we would generally see on this type of campaign, explains Abhi Rahman, deputy communications director of the National Democratic Committee. “Freedom of expression is a problem that transcends party lines,” said Rahman, who noted that a large part of the DNC expenses would pay for pre-roll advertisements that operated on Ben Shapiro and Joe Rogan’s programs.
In the days following the suspension of Kimmel, the Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) And Ted Cruz (R-TX) warned his republican colleagues on censorship and criticized the declarations of Carr, and a recent Quinnipiac survey showed that fifty-three percent of voters say that they are pessimistic as for the freedom of expression protected in the United States, while 43% are 43% are 43% optimistic. The Kimmel campaign did not collect a huge sum of money, but according to Rahman, it was not the goal. “It was as if it was existential,” he says.
In an information cycle 24 hours a day, in particular the one who is widely controlled by the Trump administration, it is anyone who guess how long the Imbroglio Kimmel will remain in the lead. On November 4, California will hold a special election to vote on proposal 50, which, if adopted, would allow a temporary replacement of the State redistribution commission. The whole Kimmel affair could very well be a distant memory by then. “As an autonomous event, it is not a magic solution, but it is part of a broader story of concerns and angle than many Americans – not only democrats but independent and even certain Republicans – feel the surpassing of the government at that time,” explains Steve Caplan, a veteran strategic communication consultant who now teaches USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
If nothing else, Kimmel’s suspension and the later return come back Hollywood’s political class. “Will this strengthen Hollywood and make donors more willing to get involved?” I think it shows relevance and it is a momentary victory, ”explains Caplan. “Talent and the leaders who stood up and have spoken out credit, but I don’t think that changes the way Hollywood is perceived from the point of view of messaging, and I certainly do not think that battles with Trump are finished with any stretch of imagination.”
