Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of news networks, claiming that broadcasters are running “hoaxes and news distortions.”
This threat was fueled by President Trump’s criticism of how the media reported on the war with Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump highlighted a headline about the war that he felt was “misleading.” This headline claimed that five tanker planes were destroyed in Saudi Arabia. President Trump rebuked this claim, explaining that the planes were not destroyed. He described the New York Times and Wall Street Journal as “lowlife papers” and claimed that the media wants America to lose the war.
After Trump posted this, Carr published his own social media post, warning broadcasters that their licenses could be revoked, and explaining that the purpose of news is to serve the public interest. He also emphasized that the networks have a chance to “correct course” before license renewals.
“And frankly, changing course is in their own business interests since trust in legacy media has now fallen to an all-time low of just 9% and are ratings disasters.” – Brendan Carr
FCC Tensions
This is not the first time the FCC and news organizations have clashed. This ongoing conflict reflects the tension between free speech protection and the limits of government authority.
The purpose of the FCC is to regulate and issue licenses to radio and television networks. One of its primary functions is monitoring content by prohibiting obscene and indecent material. However, the agency’s authority is limited to broadcast television and radio, not cable networks or streaming platforms.
The term “fake news” first began circulating in mainstream media during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. From conspiracies such as “Pizzagate” to rumors of a rigged election, the proliferation of fake news during the campaigning process led to increased partisanship and animosity. However, the popularity of the phrase did not end with the election. By 2018, the phrase had been used on X (formerly Twitter) about two million times.
More recently, tensions between the FCC and broadcast stations escalated when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was taken off the air due to Kimmel’s comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Major broadcast media owners, such as Nexstar and Sinclair, pulled the show from their networks.
CBS star Stephen Colbert faced similar challenges when he was told by his network that he could not air an interview with Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico of Texas due to concerns that the Trump administration would consider it a violation. Colbert decided to share the interview on YouTube instead, where FCC regulations do not apply.
Lawmakers Push Back
The FCC’s newest threat against broadcast licenses has faced much backlash from Democratic leaders. Many are arguing that revoking licenses would violate the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
“When our nation is at war, it is critical that the press is free to report without government interference” – Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the threat “flagrantly unconstitutional,” claiming that it was an “overreach by the FCC.
Similarly, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote on X: “Constitutional law 101: it’s illegal for the government to censor free speech it just doesn’t like about Trump’s Iran war.”
Carr responded to Warren’s statements on X, referencing a 1969 Supreme Court ruling, Red Lion Broadcasting vs. the FCC. The ruling defends the FCC’s First Amendment authority to revoke a broadcast license if the content does not serve the public interest.
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