But jokes allow a society to mock itself, spotlight uncomfortable truths, bridge differences and say what cannot otherwise be said. To play that role, comedians need the leeway to embarrass, provoke and take risks, sometimes crossing the line into offense. Dating back to pre-revolutionary times, political satire has been a mainstay of American culture. In the age of international television and social media the potency, and the perceived threat, of comedy has only grown. If a comedian as mainstream as Jimmy Kimmel is not safe from silencing, it is hard to imagine who is.