Quote of the Week
“This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
– Talk Show Host Jimmy Kimmel
Free Speech Under Fire: Another weird week in America. As educators, students, journalists, and others continued to be punished for comments made in the aftermath of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s murder – sometimes quite tasteless but still very much protected speech – conservatives next came for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for remarks he made about the president and his “MAGA Gang” in relation to Kirk’s shooter. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Trump threatened retribution, broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar announced they wouldn’t air Kimmel’s show in their markets, and ABC elected to suspend the program “indefinitely.” A massive backlash ensued, with subscribers canceling in droves Disney+ and Hulu (owned, like ABC, by the Walt Disney Company) and unlikely allies like Mitch McConnell, Joe Rogan, and Ted Cruz all voicing concern over the blatant attack on free speech. By Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel was back on air – though still not in markets controlled by Sinclair and Nexstar – with Austinite Glen Powell on the couch. In an opening monologue, Kimmel expressed gratitude for the support, offered a spirited defense of free speech rights, continued to gleefully mock Trump, and urged viewers to follow the example of Erika Kirk, who forgave her husband’s shooter in a “selfless act of grace.” Whether this moment marks an enough’s-enough inflection point or just a momentary pause in America’s slide toward authoritarianism remains to be seen.
Vote Like Your Rights Depend on It: If you want to cast a ballot in the Nov. 4 election, you’ll need to register to vote by Monday, Oct. 6. All the info you need is at www.votetravis.com. Already registered? Better double-check you haven’t been accidentally dropped from voter rolls.
Rally to Defend Free Speech at Texas Universities: If you’re reading this first thing Thursday, you might still make it to the Hays County Historic Courthouse in San Marcos to join faculty, students, union reps, elected officials, and more in their call for Texas State University to reinstate Dr. Tom Alter, a tenured history professor abruptly fired by the administrators after a YouTuber took umbrage with a speech Alter gave as a private citizen at a socialism conference. The rally takes place Sept. 25, 11am-noon, and is also meant to raise awareness about similar threats to free speech rights at other Texas universities.
The War on Journalism Continues: Reporters at the Pentagon must now pledge not to gather any information that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, whether it’s classified or not. And possession of any confidential or unauthorized information is grounds for a press pass to be revoked. Those are the new rules announced last Friday by the Trump administration. To repeat: Reporters may only possess and report press releases. ?!?!?!?
DOJ Looking Into City Employment Practices: The U.S. Department of Justice’s crusade against DEI appears to have found its latest target close to home, launching an investigation into the city of Austin’s hiring practices, reports KUT. In a statement, the Justice Department specified it was focusing on the city’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, Equity Division, and that it would “not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies.” While it is unclear what led to the investigation, Mayor Kirk Watson took to X to rebut: “I feel strongly that the City of Austin is in full compliance with the law.”
Burn Ban Reinstated: An outdoor burn ban is effective for unincorporated areas of the county until Oct. 21, commissioners announced Tuesday. Open fires, outdoor trash burning, and campfires in non-designated areas are prohibited. Travis County is under abnormally dry conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. County Fire Marshal Gary Howell said the ban could be lifted early if more rainfall arrives.
Sam Sparks Dead at 86: Senior U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, who presided over several high-profile cases, died on Sept. 17, the Statesman reports. Sparks’ career spanned 34 years after his nomination to the Western District in 1991 by President George Bush. As a senior judge, Sparks sentenced former Attorney General Dan Morales for fraud and tax crimes. In 2017, Sparks ruled Texas could not require health care providers to cremate or bury fetal remains.
OutYouth Lead Stepping Down: The Central Texas LGBTQIA+ nonprofit, which serves more than 5,000 local youth annually, announced Tuesday that Executive Director Aubrey Wilkerson will leave his role at the end of the year after 20 years with the org.
Rocking Out in SE Austin: Ground broke Wednesday on the new 109-acre River Park Development. The property, located at the northwest corner of East Riverside Drive & Crossing Place, will include a 65,000 sq. ft., 4,000-capacity, indoor music venue.
Abbott Draws a Challenger: Andrew White, son of former Texas Gov. Mark White, announced Wednesday he is running for governor in the Dem primary. A Houston businessman, White pledges to “unite Progressives, Moderates and Independents to expand the Democratic base.”
This article appears in September 26 • 2025.