“This is terrifying, and it’s not a partisan issue,” Ansari said in a video posted to her social media accounts Sept. 20. “The firing or forced removal of media personalities under political pressure can have a chilling effect on dissent and signal a dangerous slide toward authoritarian practices rather than democratic accountability,” Ansari wrote. Just before the show was suspended “indefinitely” last week, both Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would refuse to air it. While his specific motivations are unclear, authorities said Robinson sent texts that mentioned “hatred” to his roommate following the shooting. Our democracy depends on the ability of journalists, comedians, and everyday Americans to speak truth to power without fear.