1 week ago MIKEY SMITH: 9 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he unveils Gold Card and declares 'war'

Trump is on the offensive. Declaring war on American cites, berating and attacking reporters and declaring America's free speech principles don't apply to criticism of him

Politics

2 w. ago The Guide #209: Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel and the battle for the future of late

In this week’s newsletter: Once the preserve of backslapping celebrity interviews and inoffensive segments, late-night TV is now in Trump’s sights – giving its hosts unprecedented political weightIf nothing else, the Trump administration’s assault on late-night talkshows is creating some proper old-school water cooler TV. The first thing I did this morning was fire up YouTube and watch Jon Stewart’s monologue on last night’s Daily Show. Stewart usually only does the Monday edition, but he had made an exception in the wake of ABC’s decision, at the encouragement of the Federal Communications Commission and its Trump acolyte head, Brendan Carr, to indefinitely sideline Jimmy Kimmel. Stewart’s midweek appearance, then, was an event – and one that didn’t disappoint.Set to the images of soldiers saluting and American flags billowing in the wind, the opening voiceover trumpeted the “all-new, government-approved Daily Show, with your patriotically obedient host Jon Stewart”. Cue Stewart, h...

Events

2 w. ago Yanking Jimmy Kimmel’s show is a new low for free speech in America | Margaret Sullivan

Kimmel’s sudden defenestration may be a political success for Trump but it’s a dire sign for free speech in AmericaIn Donald Trump’s first term as president, he tried to get the mainstream media in line but largely failed. Yes, he ranted about the enemy of the people, insulted journalists and taught his followers to hate the press. But the guardrails mostly held and the spines of media owners stayed fairly stiff.This time, his project to keep the media on a tight leash – and therefore control the message – is going much better. At least from the point of view of a would-be authoritarian. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Jon Stewart’s ‘obedient’ Daily Show monologue on Jimmy Kimmel lambasts Trump and the state of free speech in America

Jon Stewart interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa about disinformation and free speech

Events

2 w. ago ‘Obedient’ Jon Stewart and The Daily Show poke fun at free speech in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension

Jon Stewart interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa about disinformation and free speech

Events

3 w. ago Chris Pratt leads celebrity reactions to ‘senseless’ Charlie Kirk shooting

Killing of the Turning Point USA founder has been dubbed an ‘appalling assault on free speech’, with president Donald Trump calling it a ‘dark moment for America’

Events

last month Farage condemns UK’s ‘authoritarian censorship regime’ ahead of giving evidence at US congress

Reform UK leader to speak about Online Safety Act at House judiciary committee; government set to announce date of budget at PMQs later Good morning. It is the first PMQs, and with the government set to announce the date of the budget today (Wednesday 26 November, if HuffPost UK is right), you would expect Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch to get stuck into a debate about the economy, and taxation.But it might end up as a free speech day at Westminster, as a result of the conflation of two related issues.On the question of civil liberties, Britain has, unfortunately, now lost her way.I will do my part, as a participant in UK democracy, to help our country find its way back to the traditional freedoms which have long bound together our two countries in friendship. In the meantime, Congress should draw bright lines: British free speech rules, applicable to Britons, are made in Britain, and American speech rules, applicable to Americans, are made in America. Continue reading...

Culture