Meryl Streep Tells Kimmel He's 'Carrying The Banner Of Freedom Of The Press'

Alex Christy
May 1st, 2026 12:27 PM

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The notion that late night comedy shows have turned into late night liberal group therapy was on full display on Thursday’s taping of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! After the eponymous host alleged Republicans’ goal is to see to it that only white people get elected, actress Meryl Streep stopped by to tell Kimmel that he is the global leader in defending a free press. Later, The Daily Show correspondent and occasional host Desi Lydic swung by to add that he literally “cannot ignore” politics in the current climate given his recent controversies.

Once Kimmel and Streep finished their mutual greetings, Streep launched straight into her ode to her host, “You're a prince. You are a Knight Templar.”

After Kimmel thanked Streep for her remarks, she continued, “You're carrying the banner of freedom of the press.”

 

 

Kimmel tried to appear modest, “I'm just trying to do some jokes and, you know—” but Streep upped the stakes to a global level, “We all depend on you. And the world is listening. I’ve just come around the world.

Later, Kimmel asked Lydic, “Were you interested in politics in a big way before you started hosting The Daily Show?”

Lydic replied that she did not, “No. I don't know what I'm doing there. I have no idea what I’m doing.” Kimmel agreed while once again arguing that he has to talk about politics, “It's something that came—well, it was the same for me. I wasn't super focused on this stuff, and then it became something that you cannot ignore.”

 

 

Lydic agreed while adding that Kimmel quite literally cannot, “You certainly can't. You cannot ignore it. You can't. Oh, man, they're both going at you. You got Melania and Trump going at you.”

Before anyone could point out that was a self-fulfilling prophecy, Lydic continued, “I will say it's kind of sweet the way you've unified them. You’ve really brought them together.”

Kimmel retorted, “You know, I try. That's why I did it.”

Lydic then added, “You have done what no marriage counselor has been able to accomplish. So, good for you. I'm happy for them.”

Nowhere is it written that Kimmel had to do a fake White House Correspondents’ Dinner routine where he claimed Melania had the “glow like an expectant widow.” That does not make the audience smarter or more informed, nor did his remarks about the political identity of Charlie Kirk’s assassin make anyone smarter. Jimmy Kimmel is not a global free speech leader, but he is the poster child for a guy who gets to paid to say dumb stuff on TV.

Here is a transcript for the April 30 show:

ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live!

4/30/2026

11:57 PM ET

JIMMY KIMMEL: How are you doing? Everything all right?

MERYL STREEP: Everything all right. How are you?

KIMMEL: Good. I'm good, thank you. You know, I'm holding up.

STREEP: Yeah, you are. You're a prince. You are a Knight Templar. You are—

KIMMEL: No, please, thank you.

STREEP: You're carrying the banner of freedom of the press.

KIMMEL: I'm just trying to do some jokes and, you know—

STREEP: We all depend on you.

KIMMEL: Well, thank you for saying that.

STREEP: And the world is listening. I’ve just come around the world.

…

12:28 AM

KIMMEL: Were you interested in politics in a big way before you started hosting The Daily Show?

DESI LYDIC: No. I don't know what I'm doing there. I have no idea what I’m doing.

KIMMEL: It's something that came—well, it was the same for me. I wasn't super focused on this stuff.

LYDIC: Yeah.

KIMMEL: And then it became something that you cannot ignore.

LYDIC: You certainly can't. You cannot ignore it.

KIMMEL: Right.

LYDIC: You can't. Oh, man, they're both going at you. You got Melania and Trump going at you.

KIMMEL: Yeah, yeah.

LYDIC: I will say it's kind of sweet the way you've unified them. You’ve really brought them together.

KIMMEL: You know, I try. That's why I did it.

LYDIC: Yeah. You have done what no marriage counselor has been able to accomplish. So, good for you. I'm happy for them.

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