In a week where American politics felt more like a reboot of The Sopranos, Senator Ted Cruz took to his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz to deliver what might be the most unexpected twist in the media regulation saga: defending Jimmy Kimmel.

Yes, you read that right. The same Ted Cruz who once called Kimmel a “smug Hollywood liberal” is now defending his right to say dumb things on national television. Why? Because FCC Chairman Brendan Carr allegedly threatened to yank ABC’s broadcast license after Kimmel made controversial remarks about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Cruz’s response? “Dangerous as hell.” And Carr’s rhetoric? “Right out of Goodfellas.”

🎧 The Podcast Bombshell

On his podcast, Cruz didn’t mince words. He said:

“I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he was fired. But let me tell you: If the government gets in the business of saying, ‘We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,’ that will end up bad for conservatives.”

Translation: “I hate the guy, but I hate censorship more.”

Cruz also mocked Carr’s phrasing—“We can do this the easy way or the hard way”—as something straight out of a mob movie:

“That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.’”

🕵️‍♂️ Oversight or Overreach?

Cruz chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees the FCC. When asked if the committee would investigate Carr’s comments, Cruz said:

“There’s no doubt the Commerce Committee has oversight, authority and responsibility over the FCC… We will do our job and engage in oversight.”

So yes, the guy who once filibustered by reading Green Eggs and Ham might now be the one holding hearings on whether the FCC is acting like Tony Soprano.

📺 The Kimmel Factor

ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air indefinitely the day after Carr made his comments on far-right podcaster Benny Johnson’s show. Carr reportedly said:

“These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel… or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

That’s not exactly subtle. It’s like saying, “Nice ratings you got there. Be a shame if someone regulated them.”

🧠 Cruz’s Warning

Cruz’s central argument wasn’t just about Kimmel—it was about precedent. He warned that if Republicans use government power to silence liberal voices, Democrats will do the same when they’re back in charge:

“It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel. But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it.”

It’s the political version of “don’t start none, won’t be none.”

🗣️ Trump Weighs In

Former President Donald Trump, never one to miss a media brawl, praised Carr and disagreed with Cruz:

“I think Brendan Carr is a great American patriot. So I disagree with Ted Cruz on that.”

Trump also continued to bash networks for “dishonesty,” but notably didn’t address the censorship angle directly.

📚 Perspectives

• Critics of Carr’s Comments: Say threatening licenses over speech is government overreach and violates the First Amendment.
• Supporters of Carr: Argue that networks like ABC have abused public airwaves with biased content and the FCC has a duty to enforce standards.
• Cruz’s Position: Agrees with criticism of Kimmel but rejects government enforcement as the solution.

🧨 Final Thoughts

In a political climate where every press release feels like a movie trailer, Ted Cruz’s “mafioso” comparison might be the most cinematic moment of the year. Whether you love him or loathe him, Cruz is making a rare bipartisan argument: free speech should not be regulated by the government—even if the speech is dumb, offensive, or hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

So what’s next? Senate hearings? A Kimmel comeback? Carr doubling down with a cigar and a pinstripe suit?

Stay tuned. And remember: in politics, the easy way and the hard way usually end up being the same way—loud, messy, and full of plot twists.