For years, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has called for a shift in power from the New York and Hollywood elites who run the television networks back to the local broadcast stations that serve each individual community. Jimmy Kimmel’s week-long absence from the airwaves is a vindication of that vision as local stations reclaimed their rightful place as gatekeepers over network programming.

The decision by numerous ABC affiliates to refuse to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the late-night host’s callous and intentionally inaccurate monologue on the assassination of Charlie Kirk reflected the views and values of many of their viewers and may lead to greater balance in television programming moving forward.