Disney, ABC battle Trump's FCC in court over free speech protections : NPR

"There's not even a question as to what Carr is doing. What Carr is doing is unconstitutional," says Mark Fowler, a Republican former FCC chair under President Ronald Reagan. Fowler has filed a statement to aid ABC's lawsuit in which he likened Carr's actions to censorship. "The First Amendment is very plain in its wording and its meaning," he says…

 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/06/nx-s1-5991831/disney-battles-fcc

 

Brendan Carr’s ABC license fight meets a skeptical judge - POLITICO

The case could become a referendum on Brendan Carr’s leadership at the FCC, and marks the first major test of his media approach, which has largely been rooted in threats and indeterminate investigations. Carr has repeatedly pressed broadcasters to uphold their obligations to operate in the public interest, a campaign his critics say is geared toward punishing President Donald Trump’s perceived enemies in the media…

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/06/judge-disney-brendan-carr-licenses-01108411

 

Disney accuses Trump officials of ‘blatant violations’ of constitution amid FCC battle

Lawyers tell judge ABC being unfairly targeted as US regulator seeks review of network’s local TV station licenses…

 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/06/disney-trump-abc-fcc 

 

Jimmy Kimmel’s Interview with James Talarico That the FCC Doesn’t Want You to see

Jimmy’s interview with Democratic Senate candidate from Texas James Talarico was not televised because of threats from the FCC so we're hosting their discussion here on YouTube. James talks about Republicans being scared of him winning, Jesus being co-opted by MAGA, the RNC Convention being held in Texas, not taking money from corporate PACs, Trump calling him a “freaky guy” and having second thoughts about endorsing his opponent Ken Paxton, and the GOP making it harder for people to vote.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLDE9LrGpNk

 

You Have a Mixed Record, Donald | Paula Poundstone #shorts

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KxpBANVXfGE 

 

ABC sues over Brendan Carr’s review of its Disney broadcast licenses - POLITICO

The lawsuit asks a judge to block the FCC’s review, saying it violates ABC’s and Disney’s free speech rights. “Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” the lawsuit reads...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/18/abc-disney-fcc-license-lawsuit-carr-01039988

FCC scraps limit on local TV ownership in win for media conglomerates

In a historic vote on Thursday morning, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines to overturn a key check against the consolidation of the television industry, throwing out a rule that prevented any one company from owning stations that collectively reach more than 39% of all US TV households. 

The vote is a win for television conglomerates that aim to expand their reach across the country, particularly conservative-leaning companies like Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar...

 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/06/fcc-overturns-limit-local-tv-ownership

  

FCC plows ahead with scrapping TV ownership cap - POLITICO

The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday to wipe out a longstanding limit restricting the reach of any one TV station owner to no more than 39 percent of U.S. households, setting the stage for bigger broadcast mergers in the years to come. 

But the FCC is also bound to face court challenges, with many detractors arguing the agency is treading past its own statutory limits and warning about the potential ills of media consolidation...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/06/fcc-plows-ahead-with-scrapping-tv-ownership-cap-01027287 

Brendan Carr Speaks Out on Jimmy Kimmel, the Media and Trump - POLITICO

Carr also refused to say it would be inappropriate for Trump to direct the FCC to investigate certain broadcasters or that there should be any limits on Trump using the FCC against media companies he doesn’t like...

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/07/31/fcc-chair-brendan-carr-interview-trump-01017275

Brendan Carr: ‘I don't view the FCC as the speech police’ - POLITICO

“This renewal proceeding is the latest attack in a sustained campaign by Chairman Carr and the Trump administration of threatening legal sanctions against licensees whose speech President Trump dislikes,” wrote the ex-officials, including Reagan-era Chairs Mark Fowler and Dennis Patrick and Obama-era Chair Tom Wheeler. “And although the purported justification for the early renewal proceeding is that it is in aid of a Commission investigation into unlawful employment discrimination, it is in fact an assault on free speech disguised as regulatory process.”…

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/31/brendan-carr-i-dont-view-the-fcc-as-the-speech-police-01015485

FCC Officials Took Gifts From Paramount While It Had Business Before Them — ProPublica

Expensive Gifts: Despite regulating broadcast media, FCC commissioners have accepted pricey tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala from CBS or its parent company, now Paramount. 

Conflict of Interest: Ethics experts say that by accepting the gifts, FCC commissioners are compromising the agency’s impartiality and should avoid acting on Paramount’s pending merger. 

Mixing Business and Pleasure: After voting for a Paramount merger, Commissioner Olivia Trusty took tickets worth over $12,000. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has accepted tickets worth at least $63,000...

 https://www.propublica.org/article/paramount-mergers-fcc-kennedy-center-gala 

No internet, no screen time? FCC weighs cutting subsidy that lowers school internet bills

"In rural Alaska, we don't have numerous options," says Patrick Mayer, superintendent for the remote Alaska Gateway School District. "We have one provider." 

 His district, where some students rely on planes to get to school in the winter months, has just under 400 students. Still, the district spends more than half a million dollars per year to ensure it has internet access at its six schools. The price tag is high, but the connection is what allows them to keep up with the rest of the world. 

 "It means the difference between having a school in the 21st century," Mayer says, "or a school in the 20th century."…

 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5878405/fcc-erate-schools-internet-discount

ABC encourages viewers to back network amid FCC investigations

Then, a narrator tells viewers: “The View has welcomed your favorite guests and covered the issues you care about for nearly 3o years. Now, the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Viewers, use your voice.”…

 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jun/22/abc-fcc-investigations

Trump's Scheme to Control the Media

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41yJed1Kui8

 

‘Trump’s roving censor’: Top Senate Democrats demand Brendan Carr end Disney review - POLITICO

The letter, led by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, called the review a “blatant effort” to punish Disney, which owns ABC, for refusing to acquiesce to President Donald Trump’s demand to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made about the president. Carr, who announced the review a day after Trump’s demand, has said it’s the result of the agency’s year-long investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices, a claim rejected by Democrats...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/07/disney-censor-fcc-carr-senate-democrats-00910167

 

Following Kimmel's Melania Trump joke, FCC orders early license renewal for 8 ABC stations : NPR

The move follows criticism from first lady Melania Trump who objected to a joke about her made by late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel. President Trump followed up with a social media post calling for Kimmel to be fired...

 https://www.npr.org/2026/04/28/nx-s1-5802997/fcc-abc-license-renewal-melania-trump-jimmy-kimmel

FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania Trump joke

Eight local broadcasting licenses under review after White House launched attack on late-night host over comment…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/fcc-abc-jimmy-kimmel

 

Carr throws ABC licenses into jeopardy in clash with Disney - POLITICO

The FCC has broad leeway to consider Disney’s character and whether it is operating in the public interest, but policy veterans worry Carr is violating the First Amendment by using government power to squelch speech disfavored by the president...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/carr-throws-abc-licenses-into-jeopardy-in-clash-with-disney-00896133

 

Trump’s FCC weighs whether to flag shows with trans or non-binary ‘programming’

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching a new inquiry into the TV ratings system, including whether content related to gender identity is not adequately flagged for parents, in the latest warning shot to broadcasters from the agency headed by the Trump loyalist Brendan Carr...

 https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/apr/22/trump-fcc-inquiry-gender-identity-tv-shows 

The FCC’s blatant disregard for the law cannot continue.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bDKknUvK1w0