During a 2½-hour Senate Commerce committee hearing, Democratic senators blasted FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for pressuring ABC host Jimmy Kimmel off the air, accusing him of politicizing the agency and infringing the First Amendment.
The Hearing
Senate Democrats questioned Carr about his remarks on Kimmel, who had commented on the September killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Carr defended his stance, saying he was enforcing stricter scrutiny on broadcast networks.
Carr’s Statements
- “The FCC is not an independent agency.”
- “President Trump has designated me as chairman of the FCC.”
- “I think it comes as no surprise that I’m aligned with President Trump on policy.”
- “The FCC has walked away from enforcing the public interest standard.”
- “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
- “I think the hearing went really well.”
Carr also noted that the FCC’s website, which had described the agency as an “independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress,” had removed the word “independent” during the hearing.
Democratic Reactions
Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., pointed out the website’s change. Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., said, “You are weaponizing the public interest standard,” and urged Carr to resign. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., countered, “Joe Biden is no longer president.”
Republican and FCC Commissioner Responses
Republican senators criticized Biden’s administration for perceived First Amendment violations, while also raising unrelated issues such as spectrum auctions and robocalls. GOP members largely avoided Carr’s Kimmel remarks, focusing instead on other topics.
FCC Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna M. Gomez, a Biden appointee, said the agency had “undermined its reputation as a stable, independent and expert-driven regulatory body” and warned that its actions to intimidate critics and pressure media companies “challenge the boundaries of the First Amendment.”
Broader Context
Carr, who was nominated by both Trump and Biden and confirmed unanimously three times, has recently shown overtly right-wing views. He contributed a section on the FCC to “Project 2025,” a Trump blueprint for dismantling agencies. Since becoming chairman, he has launched investigations of all three major broadcast networks.
Key Takeaways
- Democratic senators accuse Carr of politicizing the FCC and violating the First Amendment.
- Carr maintains the FCC is not independent and aligns with Trump’s policy.
- FCC commissioners and Republicans focus on other regulatory matters, sidestepping Carr’s Kimmel remarks.
The hearing underscored deep partisan divisions over the FCC’s role and the extent of presidential influence on the agency.
