IMO the FCC threatened ABC in order to take advantage of a market driven change (the firing of Kimmel for low ratings) as a tool to further radicalize the portion of the left that they still have influence over. There are some who truly see Kimmel's firing as some sort of proof that the current admin is fascist. Doing so creates a precedent for further expansion of govt power (future govt pressure for firing govt opposed commentators & a foundation for hate speech laws) while further priming the most delusional leftists for violence against what they perceive to be fascism. With the further goal of using any resulting leftwing violence as an excuse for gun control (under the guise of required mental health assessments) and increasing authoritarian surveillance.