Jon Stewart interviewed Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) head Lina Khan yesterday, saying that he’d needed to do it whereas his present was hosted on Apple TV+, however the firm wouldn’t enable it.

The revelation comes after one of many (many and diverse!) complaints within the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit was that Apple was controlling content material and impacting on free speech …

Jon Stewart’s time at Apple TV+

A multi-year partnership between Apple and comic & commentator Jon Stewart was introduced again in 2020. It was reported that this would come with a chat present on Apple TV+, and a companion podcast.

The present was later named The Downside with Jon Stewart, with the subject of every present expanded on within the accompanying podcast.

The present was a hard-hitting one, tackling points like US gun coverage and the indictment of Trump, however Apple reportedly baulked at a number of the subjects Stewart needed to cowl within the third season, which included China and AI. Apple subsequently cancelled the present and podcast – resulting in questions by Congress.

Stewart returned as a part-time host on The Each day Present at Comedy Central, subsequently taking a dig on the viewers measurement of Apple TV+ when commenting on the rationale for his departure.

“I needed a spot to unload ideas as we get into this election season. I believed I used to be going to do it over at, they name it, Apple TV+. It’s a tv enclave, very small. It’s like dwelling in Malibu. However they determined, they felt, that they didn’t need me to say issues which may get me in hassle.”

Jon Stewart interviews Lina Khan

In an interview with Lina Khan, who chairs the FTC, Stewart stated he’d tried to take action whereas he was with Apple TV+, however the firm refused to allow it. Axios experiences:

Jon Stewart on Monday advised Khan that Apple wouldn’t let him interview her for a podcast […]

“I needed to have you ever on a podcast and Apple requested us to not do it,” “The Each day Present” host stated to Khan, in reference to his former podcast that was an extension of his Apple TV+ comedy present “The Downside With Jon Stewart.”

“They actually stated ‘please don’t discuss to her,’ having nothing to do with what you do for a dwelling. I believe they simply… I didn’t assume they cared for you is what occurred,” he added throughout his dialog with Khan.

He additionally referenced Apple’s ban on him speaking about a number of the issues with AI.

“They wouldn’t allow us to do even that dumb factor we simply did within the first act on AI. Like, what’s that sensitivity? Why are they so afraid to even have these conversations out within the public sphere?”

The piece contrasts Apple’s tight management with that of different broadcast networks. It notes that John Oliver was allowed to criticize AT&T even if the corporate was the final word proprietor of the community, and Jimmy Kimmel was permitted to name out claims made on one other present made by the identical media group.

ABC late evening host Jimmy Kimmel earlier this yr referred to as out incorrect allegations made by Aaron Rodgers on “The Pat McAfee Present” — which airs on ABC’s sister community ESPN.

One component of the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit towards Apple reads:

Apple’s conduct extends past simply monopoly earnings and even impacts the circulation of speech. For instance, Apple is quickly increasing its function as a TV and film producer and had exercised that function to manage content material.

On the face of it, that appears one of many sillier ones. A TV manufacturing firm by definition controls content material, and free speech solely turns into censorship when restricted by the federal government, not by a non-public firm. Apple’s timidity on content material could also be disappointing, however it’s not an antitrust subject.

Apple had not responded to a request for remark on the time of writing.

Picture: Comedy Central