What media consolidation means for free speech

This podcast episode discusses the recent suspension and return of late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, linking it to a national conversation about free speech and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The hosts, Darian Woods and Adrian Ma, explain how the act enabled media consolidation, leading to large corporations like Nexstar and Sinclair gaining significant control over TV stations. They interview Rohit Chopra, a former FTC commissioner, who argues that this consolidation makes media vulnerable to government pressure and censorship, citing the Jimmy Kimmel incident as an example. The episode explores how the government's leverage over corporate mergers encourages compliance from media companies, potentially impacting the flow of information.