In what was dubbed the “most anticipated monologue in late night in years,” Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air following a dramatic, week-long suspension that saw his show temporarily pulled from affiliates across the country. Kimmel’s comeback was a masterclass in political satire and earnest self-reflection, as he addressed the controversy surrounding his initial comments, fired back at the government officials who tried to silence him, and delivered scathing material aimed at Donald Trump and his recent claims.

Kimmel opened the show to a roaring ovation, acknowledging the absurdity of the last 48 hours: “I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol.” The host spent the first half of his lengthy monologue detailing the overwhelming outpouring of support he received from nearly everyone he’d ever met, from his first radio boss who fired him in 1989 to fellow late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, and even Jay Leno.

The Un-American Threat to Free Speech

The core of Kimmel’s message was a fierce condemnation of the government’s attempt to censor and remove his program from the airwaves, a situation he called “not American” and “so dangerous.”

He focused his attention on Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, accusing him of using mob-like tactics to suppress free speech. Kimmel cited Carr’s publicly made threat that the network affiliates could choose the “easy way or the hard way” to change their conduct, a move Kimmel said was a “direct violation of the First Amendment.” Later in the show, the host lampooned Carr by featuring a parody interview with a cartoonishly menacing new FCC Chairman, appointed by Trump, who confirmed that “speech… ain’t free no more” and that the agency was “charging by the word.”

Kimmel also exposed the chilling effect this has had, revealing that ABC had to fight to put the show back on, stating the government’s actions had made him and his staff a target: “The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs.” He concluded by rallying his audience to fight for freedom of the press, noting that the administration is also “gunning for our journalists” by pushing policies that require reporters to sign pledges limiting what unclassified information they can report.

Unexpected Solidarity from the Right

Perhaps the most surprising and moving portion of the monologue was Kimmel’s expression of gratitude for the support he received from his most ardent political opponents—people he said he “never would have imagined,” including Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, and Rand Paul.

He singled out Ted Cruz, who offered a defense of free speech despite his known animosity toward Kimmel. “He’s absolutely right,” Kimmel admitted, quoting Cruz’s argument that allowing the government to ban speech would inevitably end up “bad for conservatives” as well. Kimmel used this moment of unity to pivot toward a powerful call for Americans to find common ground on critical issues, such as affordable healthcare, social security, and reproductive rights.

Clarification, Forgiveness, and the Tylenol Theory

Kimmel took a moment to deliver a sincere clarification on the remarks that led to his suspension, which were perceived by some as making light of the murder of Charlie Kirk. He firmly stated, “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” and denied any intent to blame a specific group for the actions of a “deeply disturbed individual.” He said he understood why people were upset and that he would have likely felt the same way if the situation were reversed.

He concluded his return by focusing on forgiveness, referencing the emotional moment over the weekend when Erica Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband, calling it a “selfless act of grace forgiveness from a grieving widow.” Kimmel framed this as a profound example that should be the tragedy’s lasting lesson, rather than the political discord.

Finally, Kimmel returned to comedy, delivering a lengthy and sustained attack on the former President’s claim that Tylenol causes autism—a claim made alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz. He mocked the absurdity of the theory, contrasting it with Trump’s disastrous address to the United Nations, which included an embarrassing moment where the Trumps were forced to walk up a stopped escalator. Kimmel joked, “He broke the escalator. Where was that escalator 10 years ago when we needed it?” He concluded the segment by repeatedly shouting the new, satirical rallying cry: “Don’t take Tylenol!”