The First Amendment and the Late-Night Fallout: Legal Limits on Government Action

Recent disruptions involving Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel have sparked urgent legal questions about the boundaries of government influence over media organizations. Are public officials crossing the constitutional line? Has the First Amendment shifted to allow the government to curtail speech without issuing direct orders? This panel brings together Eugene Volokh (Professor, UCLA School of Law), Doug Mirell (Partner, Nolan Heimann), and David Loy (Legal Director, First Amendment Coalition) to examine how the legal framework of the FCC and First Amendment jurisprudence applies when viewed from the lens of political satire. Moderated by John R. Baldivia (Partner, Rossi Baldivia Klein Fine & Spector), the discussion will focus squarely on legal principles rather than political narratives—offering critical insight for entertainment and media attorneys navigating the evolving intersection of law, politics, and speech.