CNN’s Brian Stelter is a liar and a hypocrite, but you already knew that. Even so, it’s important to document the most pivotal moments of his stupidity and hypocrisy.
Over the last 24 hours, since it was first reported that ABC had indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel, Brain Stelter has been going on the air and hyperventilating over the news, declaring that this is the end of freedom in America, that this is a threat to free speech.
None of that is true, but what is really important to remember at a time like this, is that Brian Stelter has been trying to silence and censor conservative voices for years.
Let’s start with what Stelter is saying now. From the Daily Caller:
CNN media reporter Brian Stelter claimed Wednesday that ABC’s decision to place Jimmy Kimmel’s show on hiatus made the United States “less free.”
“In fact, this was very sudden this afternoon after Carr spoke out on that far-right podcast. Then, some stations that are owned by other companies but affiliated with ABC started to complain to ABC,” Stelter told host Erin Burnett. “We know one of them, Nexstar, which has about two dozen stations with the ABC logo and all the ABC programming. Nexstar publicly announced that they were going to drop Kimmel’s show indefinitely.”…
“America is a less free place if late-night comedians cannot do and say what they want,” Stelter claimed. “Of course, they can be tuned out. People can change the channel. That’s how we vote. That’s how we have our say in America. But this really does have a chilling effect across the American media.”
Watch Stelter liken this to the end of democracy.
STELTER: “This is so serious! America is a less free place if late night comedians cannot do & say what they want.”
(Nexstar & ABC made the decision to end Kimmel’s show, not the U.S. government.) pic.twitter.com/xAC2dSPVxM
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 17, 2025
Brain Stelter’s entire business model, for years, has been to take Media Matters talking points and use them to silence people on the right.
This was Brian Stelter in 2021. Via Mediaite:
CNN’s Stelter Proposes Model to Crack Down on Spread of Disinformation: ‘Reducing a Liar’s Reach Is Not the Same as Censoring’
“While some cry cancel culture, let me suggest a different way to think about this: a harm reduction model,” Stelter proposed.
From there, Stelter moved on to the expanded efforts big tech companies have taken lately to reduce disinformation on social media platforms.
“Do these private companies have too much power? Sure, and many people would say ‘yes of course,’” Stelter said. “But reducing a liar’s reach is not the same as censoring freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is different than freedom of reach. And algorithmic reach is part of the problem.”
“It is impossible to make all those lies go away, but they can be reduced,” Stelter mused. He then went back to slamming “apocalyptic” narratives in right-wing media.
Watch:
2021: CNN’s Brian Stelter blasts people “crying” about cancel culture and wants to institute a “harm reduction model” to censor conservative media:
“It’s as predictable as the sunrise. Democrats win elections, and then Republicans say they are being silenced.”
“But while some… pic.twitter.com/S7WfBWMriT
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) September 18, 2025
This is one of the reasons why you’re seeing such a huge freakout on the left right now. They all know that we remember all of this.