The Chill On Constitution Day

Rights mean nothing if they can vanish at the government's whim.

Today, on Constitution Day, the atmosphere in America went from being “alarming” to “I once read about this in a book.” Two hundred thirty-eight years ago, a room full of men in wigs and tights signed their names to a promise bigger than themselves. They had fears over the type of government they were building. That’s why they wrote limits into it.

And on this September 17th, we’re watching those limits be tested in real time. The FCC threatened ABC. And ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely. There’s no way to lighten the magnitude of this situation. This is the government using its power to chill speech it dislikes, perhaps the most direct assault on the First Amendment we’ve ever seen.

It isn’t about Kimmel. It could be a comedian tonight, a journalist tomorrow, a teacher by the end of the week. Actually:

• Karen Attiah from WaPo was fired for a quote. She was the last full-time Black journalist WaPo had on staff.

• Over 200 Texas teachers are currently facing backlash.

America’s founders were flawed men, to say the least, most of them were complicit in unforgivable systems. But they understood that once the government goes on offense, our rights mean nothing.

We can’t be complicit in their system.

This is not my idea, nor am I the only creator calling to pull ABC subscriptions, but I am. This evening, I cancelled both Hulu and Disney+. ABC also owns ESPN.

If we’re serious about the Constitution and the First Amendment, then we have to hit them back with our wallets.

Pay attention to Indivisible and 50501 in the coming days and weeks for any protests and boycotts, and if I hear anything else, I’ll pass it on.

Independent journalism right now is more important than ever. Big names like Joy Reid, Mehdi Hasan, and Don Lemon are all leaving big networks for independent platforms like Substack and YouTube. Make sure to follow them wherever they go.

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Two students in Texas have been expelled following the Governor’s demands on Twitter, which he made in response to their speech. One was at Texas Tech, and the other was at Texas State. Both were Black.

Oxford University European Studies Professor Timothy Garton Ash warned in a new essay for The Guardian that Americans have just 400 days to save their democracy, and he gives us a few ways that it could be done. Some people worry we don’t have that long.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Tomorrow, we’ll return to Texas politics and the 2026 midterms (unless there’s another crisis), although at some point in the next week, I want to get into the nitty-gritty of some economic things that are flying under the radar.

We go forward, because that’s the only direction we have right now. But I promise, if we’re given another direction at some point, I’ll print up newsletters on zines in a back alley and tape them to lampposts.

It’s Constitution Day. Speak out and show up. We’re not giving the First Amendment back.

• November 4: Constitutional/TX18/SD09 Election

• Who Will Be On The 2026 State Ballot?

• Who Will Be On The 2026 Federal Ballot?

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

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