Jimmy Kimmel’s Ratings Surge, Trump Rankings, and U.S. Policy Shifts: Rick Rosner with Scott Douglas Jacobsen
How does Rick Rosner’s analysis of Jimmy Kimmel’s record-breaking return, Trump’s historical rankings, and recent U.S. policy changes on tariffs, jobs, and immigration highlight the intersection of politics, media, and public perception?
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What are your thoughts on the Kimmel “resurrection”?
Rick Rosner: Kimmel’s return drew about 6.26–6.3 million live viewers—his biggest regularly scheduled episode in roughly a decade and the most-watched in the show’s 22-year run—despite blackouts on some ABC affiliates. His monologue garnered ~26 million social/video views across platforms (YouTube accounted for around 17–20 million views at the time of reporting). He did the job well and will continue to do it—he has been at it for ~22–23 years. The show has not changed as much as the political weather has. Comedians cannot ignore a daily torrent of mockable politics. On the “worst president” line: multiple recent scholar surveys have ranked Donald Trump last among U.S. presidents (e.g., the 2024 American Political Science Association survey). Earlier C-SPAN rankings (2021) also placed him near the bottom.
The administration implemented “reciprocal” tariffs in 2025 via executive orders—baseline rates of ~10% with country-specific adjustments, later modified with exemptions and trade deal procedures. Some rates were adjusted (e.g., EU autos reduced to 15% retroactive to August 1, following a July agreement). This is not random; it is formal policy under EO 14257 and subsequent orders, though the scope is broad and economically significant. Economy: In August 2025, U.S. unemployment was 4.3%, up slightly from 4.2% in July; the CPI year-over-year rose to 2.9% in August from 2.7% in July. So yes—both unemployment and inflation have edged up in recent months, but from relatively low levels. Immigration: Rhetoric aside, current deportation totals remain well below Obama-era highs (FY2012 saw ~410k removals), and reports indicate that the administration has not yet matched its early mass-deportation promises. At the same time, border encounters have fallen sharply in 2025, with DHS and independent trackers noting multi-decade lows in mid-year months. Both things can be true: fewer crossings, but removals not at historic peaks.
Kimmel’s surge is real; the scholar rankings are documented; tariffs are sweeping but codified; jobs and prices ticked up modestly; and immigration data show record-low crossings with deportations still below Obama-era records. That is the factual spine; the commentary rests on it.
Hordes of criminal immigrants were not disrupting Americans’ lives. That just was not the case. He is damaging the health system through the CDC—undermining vaccinations—and by cutting health benefits for up to 20 million Americans. He is raising premiums under Obamacare. Moreover, he is creating conditions that could, in four days, lead to a government shutdown, which would cost billions and deny tens of millions of Americans, including much of the military, their paychecks. He is destructive. We will move on.
Rick Rosner is an accomplished television writer with credits on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Crank Yankers, and The Man Show. Over his career, he has earned multiple Writers Guild Award nominations—winning one—and an Emmy nomination. Rosner holds a broad academic background, graduating with the equivalent of eight majors. Based in Los Angeles, he continues to write and develop ideas while spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.
About the Creator
Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.
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