The Morning Sixpack - September 24, 2025
Jimmy Kimmel returns, Trump rants at UN, floats Tylenol-autism myth, clashes with NATO, fires critics, hypes Oz’s supplement ties—chaos as policy, again.
Kimmel Returns, Trump Fumes: Late-Night Meets Authoritarian Rage
Jimmy Kimmel came back to ABC after a four-day suspension, and Donald Trump lost his mind over it.
Kimmel walked back onto the stage Tuesday night visibly emotional, insisting he never intended “to make light of the murder of a young man” while also tearing into Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for flirting with censorship.
“This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,” he said, calling Trump’s attacks on comedians “anti-American.”
Disney and ABC had yanked Kimmel off the air after his crack about Charlie Kirk’s killing, which conservatives spun as crossing a line. Kimmel clarified he wasn’t pointing fingers at any group and acknowledged why some were upset. He praised Kirk’s widow for her forgiveness, calling it a rare moment of “selfless grace” the country could use more of.
But he didn’t hold back on the FCC or Trumpworld. He mocked Carr as “the most embarrassing car Republicans have embraced since this one”—flashing a Tesla Cybertruck with “Trump” scrawled across it—and roasted Trump for trying and failing to cancel him: “You almost have to feel sorry for him, he tried his best to cancel me.” It was classic Kimmel: contrition mixed with comedy, barbs wrapped in sincerity.
Trump, meanwhile, took to Truth Social to rage at ABC for “giving Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” calling it an illegal campaign contribution to Democrats.
(Wait, wut?)
He even bragged about squeezing $16 million out of ABC in a past lawsuit and hinted this fight could be another payday. That’s not leadership—it’s mob boss energy.
Behind the theatrics lies something darker: government officials openly threatening broadcast licenses because they don’t like a comedian’s jokes. Even Joe Rogan weighed in, reminding people that “the government should [never] be involved in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say.” The chilling part? Trump and Carr aren’t even hiding it—they’re openly proud of trying to muzzle critics.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Editor: This isn’t about Jimmy Kimmel. It’s about whether we’re cool with a wannabe dictator deciding what jokes are allowed. Spoiler: The vast majority of us aren’t cool with this.
Hey, I didn’t like Dennis Miller, I don’t like the jokers on Fox (Fake) News, but here’s what I do: I don’t watch them.
Trump Threatens ABC Over Kimmel’s Return, Kimmel Fires Back
Donald Trump went on Truth Social threatening ABC just as Jimmy Kimmel returned from suspension—and Kimmel used his monologue to torch him.
Trump claimed ABC told White House officials that Kimmel’s show had been canceled, only to rage an hour later when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned to the air. He bragged about past payouts, saying, “I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million… This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers!”
Kimmel, meanwhile, addressed his four-day suspension head-on. He insisted it was “never my intention to make light” of Charlie Kirk’s killing, but he drew a hard line against censorship: “Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television… we have to stand up to it.”
The man who built his career roasting celebrities was now roasting authoritarianism.
And roast he did. Kimmel mocked Trump’s desperate attempt to cancel him: “He did his best to cancel me. Instead he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.
“He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now.” He even jabbed at Trump’s ratings attack, snapping, “I do tonight.”
This entire fiasco highlights what’s at stake. Trump isn’t just throwing barbs from the cheap seats; he’s openly threatening networks, bragging about cash settlements, and weaponizing government power against a comedian. That’s not free speech—that’s a thug’s playbook.
Kimmel’s return wasn’t just about jokes—it was about drawing a line in the sand. If a president can decide what you’re allowed to laugh at, then the joke’s on all of us. And right now, it’s not funny.
Editor: Trump calling ABC “a true bunch of losers” while he brags about suing them for millions is peak projection. The man’s running a shakedown racket, not a presidency.
Trump Turns UN Speech Into Self-Promotion Circus
Donald Trump’s latest United Nations speech wasn’t “America First”—it was “Trump First,” and the world watched America’s reputation sink with him.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Trump abandoned statesmanship for petty tangents and personal grievances. He whined about a broken escalator, mocked the UN’s terrazzo floors, and bragged that “Donald J. Trump” once bid to renovate the building with marble. Between cheap real estate riffs and gripes about malfunctioning teleprompters, he managed to humiliate the United States on the world stage.
Beyond the clown show, Trump once again undermined the UN as an institution. He falsely claimed to have ended seven “unendable” wars in seven months and even floated his favorite delusion: “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements.” He presented himself as a lone peacemaker while trashing the very idea of international cooperation.
The speech morphed into a campaign rally disguised as global diplomacy. Trump called the U.S. the “hottest country anywhere in the world,” touted his extremist immigration policies as a model for others, and warned that nations ignoring his hardline advice were “going to hell.” He railed against Europe for Russian energy dependence while conveniently ignoring his own Moscow-friendly record. He called green energy a “scam” and mocked windmills as “pathetic.”
Perhaps most grotesque was his Orwellian plea: “Together, let us defend free speech and free expression.” This, while his administration openly threatens journalists, comedians, and media outlets that dare to criticize him. The hypocrisy wasn’t lost on anyone—least of all the diplomats in the room.
One senior foreign diplomat texted a Washington Post reporter: “This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?”
Sadly, many do—but not enough. And Trump? He’s immune to shame. For him, humiliation isn’t a bug—it’s a brand.
Editor: Watching Trump at the UN is like watching a heckler grab the mic at Carnegie Hall—loud, crass, and utterly clueless about the damage he’s doing to the stage he’s standing on.
Imagine being a world leader flying in to talk climate change or peacekeeping, and instead you get a rant about escalators and terrazzo floors. America: World superpower turned open mic night for the worst comedians EVER.
Oh, by the way, Trump’s own team caused the escalator to stop for safety reasons. You can’t make this shit up.
Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, said a videographer from the U.S. delegation who ran ahead of him triggered the stop mechanism at the top of the escalator.
“The safety mechanism is designed to prevent people or objects accidentally being caught and stuck in or pulled into the gearing,” Dujarric said in a statement. “The videographer may have inadvertently triggered the safety function.”
Trump Pushes Tylenol-Autism Myth, Scientists Call It Dangerous
Donald Trump is telling pregnant women to “fight like hell” not to take Tylenol, falsely linking acetaminophen to autism—and doctors are furious.
In a White House appearance Monday, Trump—joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (“Brainworm Bobby!”) and Dr. Mehmet Oz—claimed autism rates are climbing because pregnant women use acetaminophen. “Taking Tylenol is not good,” Trump warned, even discouraging its use for children. Tylenol’s maker, Kenvue, fired back: “Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise.”
Experts say Trump’s rhetoric isn’t just wrong—it’s harmful. Helen Tager-Flusberg, director of Boston University’s Center for Autism Research Excellence, called the comments “appalling” and warned that mothers of autistic children may wrongly blame themselves. “There’s absolutely no evidence out there to support the kind of strong statement that we heard from President Trump,” she said.
Trump didn’t stop at Tylenol. He once again resurrected the long-debunked myth that the MMR vaccine causes autism, suggesting parents split doses over multiple visits. Tager-Flusberg said these claims will only fuel fear, sow confusion among parents, and create chaos for pediatricians. As she put it: “This is really not what our society needs right now.” (Do you think she meant the rhetoric or Trump?)
Meanwhile, the FDA announced that leucovorin, a form of vitamin B, will be labeled as a treatment for speech deficits in children with autism. Tager-Flusberg noted the evidence is weak at best, with only small-scale studies showing promise. She argued large-scale, randomized trials are needed before making claims about its effectiveness.
The bigger picture: Genetics remain the main driver of autism, not Tylenol or vaccines. But Trump’s reckless soundbites risk convincing millions of families otherwise. And once fear like that spreads, good luck getting it back in the bottle.
Editor: When the President of the United States starts giving out medical advice that sounds like it came from a Facebook meme, we’ve got a problem.
But wait, there’s more. You knew there would be. It’s MORE GRIFT.
Dr. Oz, Leucovorin, and the Autism Supplement Scandal
The FDA approved prescription leucovorin for a narrow autism-related condition, but Dr. Mehmet Oz’s supplement ties are raising serious conflict-of-interest questions.
This week, the FDA gave the green light for leucovorin—a folinic acid long used in chemotherapy—to be prescribed for children with autism linked to cerebral folate deficiency. The White House tried to spin it as a breakthrough, with Trump and RFK Jr. hyping it up at a briefing. But scientists quickly warned the evidence is thin, and this is not some miracle autism cure.
Here’s where things get messy: Dr. Oz, Trump’s pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, has been on iHerb’s payroll as a Global Advisor. He also has an equity stake in the fake science supplement company.1 iHerb just happens to sell folinic-acid supplements—the over-the-counter cousin of leucovorin. Ethics filings show he got stock-based compensation and pledged to divest if confirmed, but watchdogs say the timing is too convenient. Oz now claims he’s “fully divested,” though independent proof is scarce.
The distinction matters. Prescription leucovorin has limited approval for a subset of autistic children, while iHerb’s folinic acid is sold as a generic wellness supplement, marketed without medical claims. Still, the optics are ugly: The man who runs CMS has made money off a company retailing the very compound the White House is now trumpeting.
And let’s be clear—the science isn’t settled. Studies show at best weak, early evidence that leucovorin helps with speech delays in certain autistic kids. Experts stress more research is needed before promoting it as a treatment. Yet Trump, RFK Jr., and Oz are acting like it’s the second coming of penicillin, feeding false hope to desperate families.
At the end of the day, this is a story of hype outrunning science—and of a political appointee’s business ties colliding with public health. The FDA may have approved leucovorin for a sliver of cases, but the circus around it is about politics, profit, and PR, not patients.
Editor: You know things are off the rails when the nation’s health policy looks more like a late-night infomercial. Oz should be selling juicers, not running Medicare.
Welcome to Trumpmerica, where wellness grifters get Senate hearings.
Trump’s So-Called “Pivot” on Ukraine Is Just Another Performance
Donald Trump told the UN that Ukraine could win back its land, but his actions and words afterward prove this wasn’t a pivot—it was theater.
Trump made headlines by calling Russia a “paper tiger” and backing Ukraine’s full territorial restoration after meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. He even said his old “friendship” with Putin “didn’t mean anything.” On the surface, it looked like a major reversal. But peel back the curtain, and it’s the same Trump act we’ve seen for years.
Lev Parnas, a former Trump insider, cut through the noise: Watch the actions, not the words. At the very same UN podium, Trump attacked the institution, mocked its leaders, and fed his base nationalist red meat. Then, when pressed about NATO, he delivered the most dangerous phrase imaginable: “It depends.” NATO’s entire foundation is unconditional mutual defense. Trump just gave Putin a green light to keep testing the alliance.
Meanwhile, his Truth Social post told a very different story: Wishing “both countries well.” Let’s be clear—lumping Ukraine, the invaded, with Russia, the invader, isn’t diplomacy. It’s moral bankruptcy. That’s not a pivot; that’s cover fire for his buddy Putin while pretending to stand with Zelensky.
Behind the scenes, Trump wasn’t focused on NATO or Ukraine at all—he was raging that Jimmy Kimmel got back on the air and seething about a protest statue of him with Epstein outside the Capitol. That’s the real Trump: distracted by late-night comedy and public shaming, not the war tearing Europe apart.
The media is desperate to sell a “Trump 180.” European leaders cling to hope. But soundbites don’t shoot down missiles, and empty posts don’t deter Russian jets buzzing NATO airspace. This isn’t leadership—it’s distraction wrapped in applause lines.
Source: The Sun Source: Lev Parnas (Substack)
Editor: Trump calling Russia a “paper tiger” while shrugging off NATO’s defense pledge is like a guy calling his neighbor’s pit bull harmless—while leaving the gate open.
The press wants a redemption arc. What they got was a rerun: Trump grandstanding for the cameras, hedging on NATO, and wishing “good luck” to both sides of a war. Spoiler: Only one of those sides is dropping bombs on civilians.
BONUS
Fired Washington Post Writer Fights Back Over Social Media Posts
Karen Attiah, a prominent Washington Post opinion writer fired for posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, is filing a grievance and demanding damages.
Attiah, 39, was dismissed this month after posting commentary on Bluesky that The Post said violated its social media policy and “harmed the integrity” of the paper. But she’s not backing down—her union has filed a grievance, and her lawyers sent a four-page letter to HR arguing she “spoke truthfully and forcefully about matters of vital public concern.”
In the posts that cost her job, Attiah wrote about political violence, racial double standards, and America’s obsession with guns. One widely circulated post said, “Part of what keeps America so violent is the insistence that people perform care, empty goodness and absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence.” Critics seized on the comments, accusing her of being too blunt for a newsroom that claims objectivity.
The Post’s termination notice claimed her writing crossed a line, but Attiah’s letter insists her posts were “well-supported opinions” consistent with her role as an opinion writer. She also faced backlash for misquoting Kirk’s comments about Black women, writing he had demeaned all Black women rather than specific individuals. She corrected the record days later—but by then, she was already out the door. Editor: And seriously, let’s face it: Kirk’s audience knew what he meant.
This fight isn’t just about one journalist—it’s about the uneasy collision between free expression and newsroom “neutrality” in a political climate where speech is weaponized. If an opinion writer can’t post opinions, what does that say about the state of American journalism?
Attiah’s case may set the tone for how much freedom journalists have to speak candidly online. And if the answer is “none,” then The Washington Post should stop pretending it values bold commentary and just rebrand itself as stenographers for the status quo.
Editor: Firing an opinion writer for having opinions is peak irony. The Post isn’t protecting integrity—it’s protecting itself from blowback. And that’s not journalism, that’s brand management.
And his work as an adviser for iHerb, a website that sells health and beauty supplements, has earned Oz as much as $25 million in company stock, which he pledged to forfeit “as soon as practicable but not later than 90 days after confirmation.” He indicated he would also resign from his position with the company if confirmed. Source: AP