ABC Caves on Kimmel as Affiliates Hold Out | The Big Ben Show

Ben opens with the Kimmel saga and why affiliates, not just the FCC chatter, drove ABC’s decision. He breaks down Disney’s calculations, media double standards, and what this moment says about free speech and accountability. Lee Smith, journalist and author of “The China Matrix,” joins to unpack Gaza politics at the UN, Saudi leverage on a Palestinian state, and Qatar’s influence in the West. He also explains why tariffs and the trade deficit are central to America’s China strategy. Jon Levine, Washington Free Beacon Reporter, weighs in on the online reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, consequences vs cancel culture, and how campus events and speaker security should change. Ben closes with DC’s plan to bring the Commanders back to RFK Stadium, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s dealmaking, National Guard support, and the sharp drop in crime that followed. DROP A COMMENT: Was the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel the right move? Or cancel culture? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices