FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Faces Senate Hearing Over Media Censorship and Intimidation Tactics
U.S. senators recently questioned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr during a hearing that explored media censorship, the FCC’s oversight, and Carr’s alleged intimidation tactics. The hearing was called by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) following the controversy over ABC comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s comments earlier this fall. Kimmel’s remarks, made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, sparked a social media backlash, leading to a brief suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by Walt Disney Co.
Carr had suggested that Disney-owned ABC should punish Kimmel for his remarks, or face FCC scrutiny. This move was seen as an attempt to intimidate the broadcaster, with some progressives arguing that it violated the First Amendment rights of the network. Two major TV station groups subsequently announced that they were pulling Kimmel’s show, although both reinstated the program several days after ABC resumed production.
Democrats Challenge Carr’s Independence and Alleged Fealty to President Trump
During the hearing, Democrats challenged Carr’s independence and alleged fealty to President Trump. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) asked Carr if he remembered his oath of office, which includes protecting the Constitution. Kim also asked Carr if he had ever had a conversation with the president or senior administration officials about using the FCC to go after critics. Carr declined to answer.
The lone Democrat on the FCC, Anna M. Gomez, was frequently at odds with her fellow commissioners, including during an exploration of whether she felt the FCC was doing Trump’s bidding in its approach to merger approvals. Gomez stated that “without a doubt, the FCC is leveraging its authority over mergers and enforcement proceedings in order to influence content.”
Partisan Bickering and the 1st Amendment
Parts of the hearing devolved into partisan bickering over whether Democrats or Republicans had a worse track record of trampling on the 1st Amendment. Cruz and other Republicans referenced a 2018 letter, signed by three Democrats on the committee, which asked the FCC to investigate conservative TV station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group
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