Hakeem Jeffries' statement on Kimmel: Update

[mcar]

Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2025, 01:43 PM - Edit history (1)

House Democratic Leadership Statement on the Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) 2025-09-18T13:03:42.639Z

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220653870

[OLDMDDEM]

1. Words are just words. DO SOMETHING!

[Mr.WeRP]

2. I think they are finally about to: Gov't Shutdown

[OLDMDDEM]

4. I hope so. Doing nothing doesn't work.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

5. He said what he is going to do-congressional subpoenas

That's pretty damn good IMO. What do you want him to do, storm the White House?

[OLDMDDEM]

9. We haven't seen the Dems do anything about this criminal. Doing something entails having a plan

and working with it. Once it has begun, keep doing more. Congress is week thanks to Republicans in both houses, but something more needs to happen or Dumpy will get away with everything he touches. No one has done, or said, anything about his riches from the UAE. Impeachable and probably a bribe.

[ancianita]

21. No. We have seen. YOU haven't seen.

"something more" is all you got? And you complain about what you don't see? pffffft

Re the UAE, try reading more. Try the NYT reports...
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/trump-uae-chips-witkoff-world-liberty-takeaways.html

And THIS one Lawrence covered in detail, interviewing the writer.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/trump-uae-chips-witkoff-world-liberty.html

Stop indulging in complaining and put that negative energy toward learning something.

[mcar]

29. Well said!

[mcar]

6. What, exactly, should he DO!!11

[Just_Vote_Dem]

12. I think some people want him to respond like they think Trump would

Sorry, the Leader is not going to lower himself like that.

[betsuni]

22. Meet the Moment with authentic passion-fighting spirit magic press conferences.

The People will hear and know and everything will be nice. Easy.

[mcar]

30. Ah yes, the old Magic Press Conferences

That every media outlet will cover live, right?

Jeffries, of course, does regular press conferences. MSM doesn't air them.

[betsuni]

38. Whining that Democrats do nothing, threats they better do something or else, they do it and it's ignored or mocked.

Democrats doing what people say they want, as usual. Belief that media not covering Democrats is an excuse (at the same time saying oligarchs own all media and is all right-wing). Also that being in minority and not having votes is an excuse.

[mcar]

39. Lather, rinse, repeat

[Just_Vote_Dem]

51. Yes, it's very annoying

Every time a Repub farts, it's big news

[QueerDuck]

16. Such as? What realistic advice would you give to Jeffries? Why does this particular response draw your ire?

So, let's get specific: what exactly do you think it is that he can do (or should do) that he's not already doing?

[OLDMDDEM]

18. Hold news comferences. Tell the public what a liar the magat party is. Rinse, repear. Do something isntead of just

standing there and shaking your head that this is bad.

[ancianita]

23. You are blind. You need to do your homework. Just this month...

September 16: Jeffries held a press conference discussing Democrats' position against a partisan Republican spending bill that would cut healthcare.
September 11: Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer held a news conference on the looming government funding deadline.
September 10: Jeffries held his weekly press briefing, during which he spoke with reporters on various topics.
September 8: A news conference was held to discuss the new January 6 committee.
September 4: Jeffries held his weekly briefing after the August congressional recess.
September 2: Jeffries and other Democrats held a news conference on housing affordability.
September 1: Jeffries held a news conference on the Democratic approach to the fall legislative agenda.

Previous news conference THIS year alone...

July 17: Jeffries held a press conference discussing the rising cost of living.
May 16: Jeffries held a weekly press conference where he spoke about government funding issues and the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
March 14: He participated in a press conference with other House Democratic leadership.
February 27: Jeffries addressed Republican budget proposals and their potential impact on Medicaid and other programs.
February 24: He spoke at a press event about the "reckless Republican budget".
January 14: He di

So far this month, that's every other day. What is wrong with you?? Grow up. Do your homework before undermining your party and its leaders.

[OLDMDDEM]

27. I'm not blind. I'm tired of the same old thing. I have grown up. Listen to those around you. You might

be surprised at what you hear. People are not happy and are worried. The majority are that way.

[ancianita]

31. Not blind, just tired? Oh.

I see. I'm old, too. It could have to do with trump and his unwise destruction of govt and driving out its skill and knowledge base. But then, I'm probably putting words in your mouth.

Old as I am I still hold to the adult standard of basic argument -- to base one's claims on authorities whose job it is to record facts, report events, write history, that are the basis of truthful generalizations.

Fear for oneself is lazy. Right now it's a luxury we can't afford.
Love of others, party and country takes effort.

If you want to be heard, you have to have something helpful to say, like President Obama...

On learning from failure...
Obama has stated that making a significant impact is challenging and involves failure. The key is to learn from these failures and persevere rather than becoming inactive. He also advises that failures should be seen as learning opportunities, not defining moments.

On hope and courage...
He defines hope as a persistent inner belief in a better future, requiring courage to continue striving. Obama notes that while life may be difficult and not all problems can be solved instantly, individual importance should not be underestimated, as courage and hope can spread. He suggests that taking action is the best way to combat hopelessness and create positive change.

On working hard for what matters...
Obama's advice includes the simple message to persevere because achieving anything worthwhile is not easy. He believes that lasting leaders and institutions are built not on popularity or personal gain, but on dedication to a greater purpose. Furthermore, he encourages those who have found success through hard work and opportunity to help others gain similar chances.

I'll leave you with this:
You are indeed entitled to your uninformed opinion, fears and frustrations. Some fellow Democrats might join you as occasional comrades in commiseration, which just blocks their ability to really to see many others' very real, legitimate misery.
I, for one, won't be among them.
Right now, as long as I'm alive, there is no taking breaks from this fight for the future.

Take care.

[OLDMDDEM]

34. I never said anything about your being old. Heck, I'm 78. People do not see anything happening.

Only words. I realize there are protests and many of them. I also realize being in the minority, ideas are limited. However, there are right wing individuals that feel like something is wrong and could possibly be aiding what the left is doing.

[ancianita]

36. I'm just a youngster, then, at 77.

You don't think Bernie and other Dems at over 130 town halls across 50 states haven't been listened to? That they aren't bringing right wingers toward the left's efforts?

We both got on DU in the same year. One would think that if you've been on DU daily, you'd have learned more than what you're saying. If not, then maybe you just don't want to leave your feeling world and move around in the fact world. Good luck with that.

[OLDMDDEM]

43. I'm not arguing with you. It isn't worth the effort for either of us. Your feelings are yours and mine are mine.

I understand what you say about my not being on here routinely. It's been many years since I discovered DU and I'm glad I did. I'm sorry my thoughts have riled you. Many, many people feel betrayed by both sides. I'm hanging on that my senators from Maryland and my representative, Steny Hoyer, will do what should be done. From what I see, they are.

[QueerDuck]

35. Thank you. Very well stated.

These types of emotions are luxuries that we cannot afford. A common theme among those who angrily shout "DO SOMETHING!" is an obvious desire that the Democrats must immediately and instantly cure everything that ails this country... RIGHT NOW, DAMN-IT! RIGHT FN NOW! (As if our party was the majority party, or the SUPER MAJORITY party, but that's just not the case.) Making matters more insulting are the insinuations that party leaders are "incompetent" for not complying with the RIGHT NOW demands. Or, worse yet, the ridiculous suggestion (implied but never said out loud) that party leaders are willfully making things worse with inaction or by being in cahoots with the GOP. Bringing us full-circle to the "both sides are the same" argument (lie) we've heard so often.

Heavy sigh.

[ancianita]

37. The lazy often persist in making the perfect the enemy of the good. Thanks for your post.

[mcar]

32. Maybe you should be asking MSM to cover Jeffries' pressers

or using social media to repost about them.

You're demanding that Jeffries DO SOMETHING, then criticizing him when he does something, then demand that he do what he is already doing.

[betsuni]

45. There should be a strongly worded generic DEMS MUST DO SOMETHING!!!! OP automatically posted every five minutes.

Long angry pointless blame & bash threads, I think it would be very popular.

[mcar]

46. It would save time

cutting and pasting.

[Joinfortmill]

49. Thank you. Lately it's just bitch, bitch, attack. Just to vent, I think

I know it's scary out there, but screaming at the wind or other folks isn't an answer. Or, worse, deliberately trying to create chaos.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

41. When challenged about doing more than "words", you suggest WORDS (news conference). That's all you got: words. . . . nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Do what?

[ancianita]

24. Also, did you read about THIS? It's right on the Main Page. Is Dems writing a budget bill good enough for you?

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10143532230

More time reading. Less time complaining.

[KPN]

25. Yeah, I didn't see anything in any news source about this statement or a presser expressing outrage and rejection of

this iron-fisted fascist federal government. Where are the rallying cries?!

[JustAnotherGen]

48. What would you have them do?

[C_U_L8R]

3. Much appreciated

Time to fight back. The DOJ may be all trumped, but the NY and CA attorney generals could put these corruptions under scrutiny. And the rest of us... we are the ratings. We have the power of the clicker. Both media and their sponsors cannot survive without us. Maybe they need some reminding. The customer is boss.

[mcar]

7. The customer is boss

I'm guessing ABC/Disney is getting an earful today, along with lots of cancellations.

They need us way more than we need them.

[OldBaldy1701E]

50. You are correct.

However, they made 88 Billion in 2023. I doubt losing a few billion is going to do much to them.

[PunkinPi]

8. And there is always the hypocritical tweet with these guys...

Link to tweet

[mcar]

10. There's always a tweet, isn't there?

Fcking hypocrites.

[PunkinPi]

11. Always.

Hate and hypocrisy is all they got.

[C_U_L8R]

13. Foreshadowing

Just like their obsession with pedophilia… until everyone discovered they’re the actual pedophiles

[PunkinPi]

14. One thing they're good at is projection.

As the saying goes, every accusation is a confession.

[C_U_L8R]

15. And hiding in plain sight

The more atrocious, the better… it seems.

[Native]

28. I love the responses to this tweet.

[Wiz Imp]

54. Carr wrote the FCC chapter of Project 2025

Of course, he didn't mention anything in there about the FCC pulling licenses for any station that allows a single word of criticism of President Trump - the crusade he is currently on.

However it does have plenty of other examples of blatant hypocrisy.

Support legislation that scraps Section 230’s current approach. The
FCC should work with Congress on more fundamental Section 230 reforms
that go beyond interpreting its current terms. Congress should do so by
ensuring that Internet companies no longer have carte blanche to censor
protected speech while maintaining their Section 230 protections. As
part of those reforms, the FCC should work with Congress to ensure that
antidiscrimination provisions are applied to Big Tech—including “back-end”
companies that provide hosting services and DDoS protection. Reforms
that prohibit discrimination against core political viewpoints are one way to
do this and would track the approach taken in a social media law passed in
Texas, which was upheld on appeal in late 2022 by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit.

So Internet companies should not have carte blanche to censor protected speech. But it's perfectly fine for the FCC itself to have that power.

Address TikTok’s threat to U.S. national security. As law enforcement officials have made clear, TikTok poses a serious and unacceptable risk to America’s national security.22 It also provides Beijing with an opportunity to run a foreign influence campaign by determining the news and information that the app feeds to millions of Americans. As of this writing, the Biden Administration’s Treasury Department has not announced a final decision concerning its long-pending review of TikTok. If that inaction persists, or if the Administration allows TikTok to continue to operate in the U.S., a new Administration should ban the application on national security grounds.

Of course, Trump has not only done nothing to address TikTok's supposed threat to national security, he is actively working to allow TikTok to operate in the US without ever addressing any security concerns. Funny how this was scandalous for Biden according to the Heritage Foundation, but they're 100% A-OK with Trump doing it.

[ancianita]

19. Every single day, demand at least one resignation -- what our party should do every damn day.

[Passages]

20. Good. Every constitutional lawyer worth his/her salt needs to come together and go after

all of them. Solidarity is essential.

These fucking bastards have gone too far.

[Rver]

26. Another strongly

worded letter. WTAF?!
This is getting ugly

[dalton99a]

33. .

[leftstreet]

40. REPEAL the 1996 Telecom Act

FFS - aren't these people legislators?

Writing some laws

[mcar]

53. You do realize they are in the minority?

How are House Democrats going to repeal anything?

[Ruby the Liberal]

42. Yay, a strongly worded memo

That should help move things along.

[mcar]

44. What do you suggest Jeffries do?

Hold a press conference? Oh yeah, the Democrats are holding one now.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220653870

Propose funding alternatives that reflect our values? Oh yeah, they did that.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143532230

[Scrivener7]

56. How about voting no on the resolution to honor Kirk?

[mcar]

57. To mean, that whole thing is meaningless

I honestly don't give AF who votes for it or not. I do care about Democrats getting credit for all the good things they are doing rather than focusing on one or two things you don't like.

[Scrivener7]

58. Of course. Everything is fine.

[mcar]

59. Please point to where I said that

[Cha]

47. Mahalo, mcar... I missed this earlier..

[Scrivener7]

52. I'm still waiting to see if he will vote for the resolution honoring Kirk.

The answer to that will be an action that speaks a lot louder than words.

It will either restore my faith in him, or make me understand we stand for nothing at all.

[Scrivener7]

55. He voted "yea" to honor Kirk.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20656682

Shame.