Sunday shows preview: Kirk shooting sparks free speech debate; government shutdown looms
The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has struck a nerve in the U.S., causing an outpouring of responses from national leaders, elected officials and online communities that debated the legality of statements that were critical or supportive of the Turning Point USA co-founder.
President Trump and his allies made clear that any posts celebrating Kirk’s death would result in immediate pushback from the Justice Department or Department of Homeland Security.
However, some conservative advocates and Democrats say the measures violate free speech protections under the First Amendment.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last Wednesday. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
The president is set to join Fox New’s “The Sunday Briefing” to speak more about his admiration for Kirk and the controversy surrounding his legacy.
Another close friend of Kirk’s, Ben Shapiro, will also join Fox to speak about the impact of the GOP adviser and beloved Trump supporter.
Shapiro wrote Saturday that his friend was “murdered in cold blood in front of a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.”
Another topic that will come up is the fate of late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who sparked backlash on Monday when he said the country “hit some new lows over the weekend,” when the “MAGA gang desperately tried to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” He went on to allege the president was mourning the death of the conservative activist like a “four year old mourning a gold fish.”
ABC ultimately pulled Kimmel off air amid the ensuing criticism of Kimmel’s comments, in a move that was celebrated by Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr, Trump and other GOP lawmakers.
But Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Democrats criticized the effort as a broader attempt to censor American citizens.
“I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he was fired,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Friday on his podcast.
“But let me tell you, if the government gets in the business of saying ‘we don’t like what you the media have said, we’re going to ban you from the airwaves, if you don’t say what we like,’ that will end up bad for conservatives.”
The Texas senator will likely expand on his views during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Media personalities have also weighed in on the controversy, such as David Letterman, the former late-night host, who lit into the Trump administration on Thursday after Kimmel’s show was nixed “indefinitely.”
“I just, I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It’s managed media and it’s no good,” the former “Late Show” host said at The Atlantic Festival in New York City. “It’s silly; it’s ridiculous; and you can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.”
Meanwhile, disagreements on Capitol Hill have stalled lawmakers from agreeing on a stopgap bill to fund the government.
A House-passed bill was blocked in the senate by Democrats with one dissent from Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).
He supported a Democratic version of the continuing resolution but refused to vote against legislation authored by Republicans.
Fetterman said, “despite their refusal to restore health care, I am unwilling to vote to shut down our government and unleash massive, national chaos.”
The Pennsylvania senator is set to appear on CNN’s “State of the Union” where he will likely further explain his reasoning behind bucking party lines.
Alternatively, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said he will shut down the government if GOP members of the upper chamber bypass bipartisan negotiation.
He and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have requested to meet with the president in an effort to mend broken bonds by cross collaboration.
Schumer may increase public calls to action during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” in addition to highlighting a few areas where the party is willing to break with structural norms.
All these topics and more will be highlighted on this week’s Sunday shows.
Please see the full list of guests below:
NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.)
Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.); Benny Johnson; Andrew Kolvet; David Engelhardt
Fox News“The Sunday Briefing”: President Donald Trump; Meghan Hays; Ben Shapiro
Fox News “Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.); Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R ); Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D)
CBS “Face the Nation”: French President Emmanuel Macron; Gary Cohn.
NBC “Meet the Press”: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro; Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
CNN “State of the Union”: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.); Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.); Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas); Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).