(TNS) Jimmy Kimmel directly thanked two powerful Kentucky Republicans in his return to television Tuesday night.

ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was pulled off the air by Disney, the network’s parent company, last week after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr suggested his agency could take action against them.

The comments from Carr and subsequent network action set off alarm bells for many because of the free speech implications. That included Kentucky Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, who were among many Republicans specifically shouted out by the liberal-leaning host Tuesday.

“Maybe most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway. People who I never would have imagined like Ben S

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