politics
Jimmy Kimmel feud with Trump escalates to ABC suing the FCC over threats to its broadcast licenses
Further escalating its battle with the Trump administration, ABC on Tuesday took the rare step of suing the Federal Communications Commission on First Amendment grounds, saying the agency’s demand for early review of its broadcast licenses posed an “existential threat” to the network.
TL;DR
- ABC is suing the FCC on First Amendment grounds, calling the agency's demand for early broadcast license review an "existential threat."
- The lawsuit alleges the FCC's actions are retaliation for ABC's speech, specifically mentioning criticism of President Trump and a joke by Jimmy Kimmel.
- The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, ordered an early review of ABC's licenses years before expiration, citing diversity and inclusion practices, but the network views it as punishment.
- ABC argues that if the administration succeeds, it sends a message to all media companies to only report favorable stories or face government coercion.
- The network is also fighting FCC efforts to subject "The View" to equal-time rules, which ABC argues is a news program exempt from such requirements.
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez supports ABC's stance, calling the FCC's actions a "campaign of censorship and control" and "government intimidation."
- Chairman Carr maintains broadcasters have a duty to "operate in the public interest" and that the FCC is restoring that standard, also investigating CBS and NBC News.
- The FCC spokesperson stated the commission is examining claims of illegal DEI discrimination by Disney and will "follow the facts and law."