First Amendment advocates AWOL as "South Park" is suppressed by MAGA!
Comedy Central pulled an episode from circulation because it mocks Charlie Kirk; now the series' scheduled episode has been cancelled.
Shortly after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Comedy Central pulled from circulation an artistic work that ridiculed him. The artwork in question was a TV episode from the series “South Park.”
Then on Wednesday “South Park” announced, suspiciously, that they would not be releasing their scheduled episode for the week. Showrunners Trey Parker and Matt Stone said it was because they ran late, but I’m dubious.
What is going on? Why should First Amendment supporters be alarmed?
On August 6, 2025, the longtime Comedy Central sitcom “South Park” (1997-?) aired an episode called “Got a Nut.” In its story, the satirists lampooned President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the recently-assassinated Turning Point USA founder, Kirk.
The former is depicted as a pedophile and fascist; the second as a dog-killing racist whose face regularly melts off; and the last as a performative debater who “wins” debates through unfair editing practices.
Kirk, showing a savvy sense of humor, commented at the time of the episode’s release (five weeks before his death) that its jokes were “a badge of honor.” He promoted the avatar of antagonist Eric Cartman (Parker) dressed up as Kirk on his social media accounts. Clearly he did not believe that “South Park” was putting his life in danger. He even commented that “we as conservatives should be able to take a joke, we shouldn’t take ourselves so seriously – that’s something that the left has always done.”
While I disagree strongly with Kirk’s characterization of the left’s sense of humor about itself — anyone who has seen the many liberals mock President Joe Biden’s delusions of cognitive fitness, and contrast it with Trump supporters’ refusal to do the same about their champion, can see my point — Kirk is still fundamentally correct. When you can’t laugh at yourself, you prove to be a “great detriment to them and the movement.”
So why did Comedy Central pull “Got a Nut” from circulation? Why am I alarmed at the latest episode not airing, a development that smells extremely fishy regardless of Parker’s and Stone’s reassurances?
I’ll cite the First Amendment of the United States Constitution:
“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.”
Because Trump is canonizing Kirk as a hero, from lowering flags to sending his Vice President to host Kirk’s old podcast, it is not an exaggeration to say that the US government is celebrating Kirk as an official policy in response to Kirk’s assassination.
Comedy Central is ultimately owned by David Ellison, a Trump supporter who is accused of cancelling Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” because of the latter’s criticisms of Trump. It is therefore reasonable to suspect that “South Park” is in the hot seat from the government — either directly or indirectly — for its criticisms of Kirk.
And what were those criticisms? The show argued, in hilarious fashion, that Kirk uses style rather than substance to “win” debates and persuade impressionable viewers. He is shown a la Cartman as smarmy, bigoted, glib and (at one point) disarmingly honest about making himself look good by editing out liberals who make valid points.
Personally, I agree with those jokes. I also agree with the depictions of Trump as a sex predator and Noem as a vain, dog-murdering white supremacist, both of which are far more vicious than anything the episode says about Kirk.
Do you agree or disagree with these characterizations?
Either way, you are entitled to your opinion. It’s up to you.
What is NOT up to you, though, is to read violent intent into a parody that obviously had none.
When “Got a Nut” gets pulled from circulation to bend the knee to Trump, the clear message is that any criticism of prominent conservatives is the equivalent of stirring up violence against them.
When “South Park” finds itself in the hot seat for no other reason than criticizing a pundit favored by the government, the clear message is that the First Amendment is obsolete.
Let’s repeat the First Amendment here, with one particular passage in boldface:
“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.”
Conservatives claim they’re pro-First Amendment.
Where are they now?
Back Seat Socialism
Back Seat Socialism is a column by Matthew Rozsa, who has been a professional journalist for more than 13 years. Currently, he is writing a book for Beacon Press, "Neurosocialism," which argues that autistic people like the author struggle under capitalism, and explains how neurosocialism - the distinct anticapitalist perspective one develops by living as a neurodiverse individual - can be an important organizing principle for the left.
As the months and years get swallowed by time, we will see the culture of the US twist like a noose at a hanging. It will become more intolerant, more fascistic, more authoritarian, more sycophantic and more hostile to civil liberties. Fasci haircuts, new fashions in clothing, thumbs up for what is good for fascist culture, thumbs down for what is not. This cultural hegemony is necessary for the national socialist project. And bit by bit, from schools to cartoons the hammer is coming down.