Brendan Carr

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FCC Chair Jumps on Trump's Media Criticism

Brendan Carr says stations will lose licenses if they air distorted war coverage

(Newser) - The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission again is dangling the ultimate penalty over broadcasters, this time for how their news operations are covering the war with Iran. Brendan Carr threatened on social media Saturday that TV stations could lose their licenses if they continue to air "hoaxes and...

FCC Chief: Broadcasters Should 'Pledge America'

Critics say Brendan Carr's call to air 'patriotic,' pro-US programming raises First Amendment worries

(Newser) - FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is urging TV and radio stations to sign on to a new "Pledge America Campaign" that promotes what he calls patriotic, pro-US programming ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. In a statement on Friday, Carr said the semiquincentennial is a chance to highlight the...

The View Under Investigation by the FCC

Probe comes after interview was pulled from Stephen Colbert's show for same reason

(Newser) - The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC's The View over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air, according to the head of the agency that oversees US broadcast airwaves. "The FCC has an enforcement action underway on...

FCC Chair: Media Is Being Misled in Colbert Dispute

Carr defends equal time rule, denies censorship of Colbert interview

(Newser) - Stephen Colbert's clash with CBS over an interview he says was blocked just got a sharp rebuttal from the nation's top media regulator, the Guardian reports. FCC chair Brendan Carr on Wednesday accused news outlets of being "lied to" by the Late Show host, insisting there was...

Colbert Calls Out CBS Over Blocked Interview

Late Show host posts interview with James Talarico to YouTube to avoid FCC equal-time rule

(Newser) - Stephen Colbert kicked off Monday's Late Show monologue by introducing his band and guest Jennifer Garner—then pivoted to the guest he says CBS wouldn't let him have: Texas state Rep. James Talarico . Colbert told the audience that the Democrat "was supposed to be here," but...

FCC Brings Back Equal-Time Rules for Late-Night TV

Agency's guidance says certain talk shows must offer rivals airtime when political candidates appear

(Newser) - Late-night TV may have just been pulled into a campaigning fight. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, issued new guidance Wednesday saying that entertainment-themed talk shows on broadcast stations must offer "equal opportunities" to rivals if they host a political candidate, reviving rules that had...

FCC Abandons Claim to Being Independent

Edit follows Brendan Carr's revised characterization to Senate panel

(Newser) - Chair Brendan Carr said in congressional testimony Wednesday that the Federal Communications Commission is "not formally an independent agency"—a characterization that was news to lawmakers. Soon afterward, the phrase "an independent U.S. government agency" became "a U.S. government agency" in the FCC's...

Seth Meyers Gets a Taste of the Jimmy Kimmel Treatment

FCC chair reposts Trump's call for NBC to fire Late Night host

(Newser) - President Trump publicly called for NBC to fire Seth Meyers on Saturday, with the message later amplified by the head of the FCC. Trump, posting on Truth Social , again claimed Meyers' anti-Trump jokes are "probably illegal." He accused Meyers of suffering from "an incurable case of Trump...

Ramaswamy to GOP: Time to Stop 'Owning the Libs'

Ohio gubernatorial candidate calls for less hostility, more persuasion within his party's ranks

(Newser) - Vivek Ramaswamy, now vying for Ohio's governor seat, is set to tell fellow Republicans it's time to drop the "owning the libs" routine. Ramaswamy's remarks—scheduled for a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday at Montana State University—mark a sharp pivot from the combative...

South Park Returns, Goes Straight for FCC Chief

Carr suffers multiple slapstick injuries in delayed episode

(Newser) - South Park returned Wednesday night, and fears that the show might shy away from controversy after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension were unfounded. The "Conflict of Interest" episode takes aim at both FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The episode sees Kyle objecting to a...

Op-Ed: Kimmel Can Do This the Easy Way or the Hard Way

With his show returning, it's no time for the host to back down, Anita Chabria writes in the Los Angeles Times

(Newser) - Whether Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC's air represents a triumph of free speech or another warning that Americans should be afraid to express opinions out of favor with certain politicians may become clear Tuesday night. The host could step back onstage undaunted or subdued, Anita Chabria writes in...

Jay Leno Weighs In on Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

Leno and others defend Kimmel as free speech debate grows

(Newser) - Jay Leno has weighed in on ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel's recent monologue drew criticism from the Federal Communications Commission, according to the Hollywood Reporter . Speaking at Chris Wallace's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony Thursday, Leno backed Kimmel, saying, "I'm...

Cruz Warns Allies FCC Move Could Backfire

Strategy to silence Kimmel could be used against others, senator says

(Newser) - Editorials from Republican-leaning outlets including the Wall Street Journal and the Free Press have objected to the FCC chairman's push to knock Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air . GOP Sen. Ted Cruz has joined the outcry, warning allies they might come to regret their victory, the Washington Post...

Carr Turns to The View, Which Stayed Silent About Kimmel

FCC chairman says he might have the show investigated over equal time rule

(Newser) - The View was about the only place on your TV dial not consumed on Thursday by the news of ABC's shutdown of Jimmy Kimmel Live! the day before. The show usually is all about robust discussions of hot topics. But this time, the ABC show skipped over the Kimmel...

Democrats: It's 'War on the First Amendment'

Hakeem Jeffries calls on FCC chief Brendan Carr to step down following Jimmy Kimmel's suspension

(Newser) - Top House Democrats are demanding the immediate resignation of FCC Chair Brendan Carr over what they call a blatant abuse of power—"forcing" ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! In a joint statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and senior Democratic colleagues described Carr's actions as a...

Is This Censorship? Reactions to the Kimmel Suspension

Media companies involved are seeking FCC approval of acquisition deals

(Newser) - President Trump has heralded the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! , which he termed a cancellation, as "great news for America," per the Guardian . Outside of Republican circles, it's widely viewed as an example of how Trump's critics are being censored. The main complaint against Kimmel is...

FCC Votes 2-1 to Approve Politically Charged Merger

Chairman praises Paramount's buyer for promising its journalism will be unbiased

(Newser) - The Federal Communications Commission announced Thursday it has agreed to Paramount's merger with the Hollywood studio Skydance, after a yearlong campaign by the companies that included political charges and countercharges—as well as new alignment with President Trump's agenda. The commission's vote was 2-1, the Los Angeles ...

Latest Gift to Trump: Bronze 7-Foot Statue of Himself

'Monument' bestowed by MAGA businessman will apparently reside at Trump's Florida golf club

(Newser) - A businessman and former GOP New York congressional candidate wanted to make an impression on President Trump, and he certainly has, with his "Defiance Monument": a 7-foot bronze statue in Trump's likeness, which Anthony Constantino says will now be a "permanent fixture" at the commander in chief'...

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