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No, Sam, They Do Not Advocate for a Free Press

Comedians will never mention the genocide, but America silencing reporters is a whole other thing

Araci Matos
Politics From Hell
4 min readJan 17, 2025

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I often watch the hosts of famous American talk shows — whether it’s the lighthearted Jimmy Fallon, the more emotional Jimmy Kimmel, the sarcastic Stephen Colbert, or the unapologetic Jon Stewart.

They always seem unfiltered when discussing American reality, satirizing and critiquing it. They expertly expose the wounds, mismanagement, and glaring inconsistencies of the Republican Party.

Yet, it’s not what they say that lingers — it’s what they refuse to say. You can sense it in their uncomfortable glances, in their reliance on clichés like “God Bless America,” even when they are likely the staunchest atheists. They enjoy the freedom to entertain, but that freedom fades when it comes to truly challenging power or addressing taboo topics.

One of these taboos? Palestine and Israel.

There’s a resounding silence. Nothing is said. Some hosts may hint at pro-Palestinian sympathies, but their silence speaks volumes — it’s the fear of losing their jobs.

And when any form of communication operates under the shadow of fear, freedom of expression is no longer free. Some might argue that…

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Politics From Hell
Politics From Hell

Published in Politics From Hell

Speaking with no party affiliations, or at least trying to.

Araci Matos
Araci Matos

Written by Araci Matos

Trying to be the Portuguese Annie Ernaux or Elena Ferrante

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