After 40 years in broadcasting, I’ve never seen free speech under attack like this

I’ve been in broadcasting for nearly 40 years. And in all that time, I have never — not once — seen this kind of direct pressure from the federal government to silence voices they don’t agree with.

What just happened with Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air isn’t just about one comedian making a controversial remark. It is a test case. It is a signal. And it’s already having a chilling effect inside newsrooms and studios across this country.

I’ll give you an example from right here in our building. We asked a colleague to join us for a discussion about Kimmel. Someone with strong opinions, someone who wanted to speak out. But he said no. Not because he didn’t have something to say, but because he was afraid. Afraid he might lose his job. Afraid the station could lose its license. Imagine that, a longtime broadcaster declining to speak on the air about free speech … for fear of punishment.

That is dangerous. That is insane. And that is not the America I know.

Just yesterday, one person went on “The Gee & Ursula Show’s” Facebook page and accused me of ridiculing Charlie Kirk. Let me be absolutely clear: I have been extremely careful in how I talk about his assassination. I have said repeatedly that political violence is not the answer. I’ve also said that celebrating his death is just plain wrong.

What we have talked about is why Charlie Kirk’s legacy is complicated — how he said some deeply offensive things about Black people, about the LGBTQ+ community, about other marginalized groups — while also recognizing that Kirk had a wide appeal and a loyal following. That is not ridiculing. That’s offering perspective. But even doing that, there are some people who want to silence me.

What the First Amendment means to me

The First Amendment isn’t just a decoration we hang on the wall. It’s the foundation that allows all of us to say what we believe without fear of government retribution. And yes, I understand that employers have the right to fire you if they believe your speech violates company policy or is detrimental to the business.

When the Department of Justice threatens to “target” critics of a political figure, when regulators hint that licenses could be in jeopardy, when even radio hosts like me are accused of crossing a line simply for giving context — that’s not democracy at work. That’s democracy under attack.

In nearly four decades of broadcasting, I’ve seen America argue, shout, laugh, and cry through our airwaves. But never have I seen fear like this.

Whether you’re a Democrat, an Independent, or a Republican, you should care about this issue. This is a line we cannot allow to be crossed. Because if free speech falls, the rest of our freedoms won’t be far behind.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio. 

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