URGENT: Colbert Cancelled, Kimmel Suspended: Media Consolidation = Censorship

Corporate media consolidation enables systematic censorship through regulatory leverage. THE EVIDENCE: Stephen Colbert cancelled days after criticizing CBS’s $16 million Trump settlement. Jimmy Kimmel suspended after Nexstar and Sinclair threatened boycotts. ABC paid Trump $15 million rather than defend journalism. FCC Chairman Carr weaponizes merger approvals for political concessions - Skydance-Paramount required eliminating diversity programs and installing content monitors. Media ownership consolidated from 50 companies (1983) to 5 controlling 90% today. Nexstar’s pending $6.2 billion Tegna acquisition creates 265 stations reaching 80% of households. Government retaliation against critical coverage through regulatory pressure equals state censorship by proxy. Constitutional rights mean nothing when consolidation prioritizes profits over journalism, eliminating diverse viewpoints and accountability coverage. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUIRED: 1. CHALLENGE NEXSTAR-TEGNA MERGER - Investigate dangerous concentration 2. HOLD FCC ACCOUNTABILITY HEARINGS - Stop merger approvals extracting political concessions 3. COSPONSOR H.R.1880/S.867 - Prohibit license revocation based on viewpoints 4. USE APPROPRIATIONS POWER - Add NDAA riders prohibiting content-based FCC enforcement 5. DEPLOY CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT - Overturn ownership rule changes enabling consolidation Supreme Court (Associated Press v. United States): government can prevent private power from restraining free expression. ACLU recognizes media concentration threatens marketplace of ideas essential to democracy. CONSTITUENTS EXPECT: • Written response detailing specific actions • Public condemnation of regulatory retaliation • Oversight hearings within 30 days• Press freedom legislation cosponsorship • Opposition votes to consolidation mergers Major deals await FCC approval under deregulation push. Congress has immediate leverage through oversight, CRA procedures, appropriations riders. Americans need diverse, independent media to hold government accountable. We’re tracking your actions. Press freedom or state-sponsored media - choose now and choose wisely.