The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Tuesday that it is accelerating the review of eight local broadcasting licenses owned and operated by ABC, a move critics view as political retribution against a disfavored broadcaster. The decision follows the White House's attack on ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made about Melania Trump last week.
Background of the Controversy
On Monday, Donald Trump called for Kimmel to be fired after the host said the first lady had "a glow like an expectant widow." The joke was made two days before an attempted shooting interrupted the White House correspondents' dinner. The FCC, chaired by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, does not grant licenses to national networks but to individual stations. ABC owns eight stations: WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KTRK-TV Houston, KGO-TV San Francisco, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and KFSN-TV Fresno. These stations were not due for renewal until 2028-2031 but must now file by May 28.
FCC's Justification
David J Brown, chief of the video division at the FCC's media bureau, wrote in a memo that the early renewal is essential to an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. "The FCC determines that calling in Disney's ABC licenses for early renewal, at this time, under the Communications Act's public interest standard is essential," Brown stated. Carr, on a conservative podcast, said there is evidence Disney categorized employees by race and gender, which could raise character questions.
Reactions and Criticism
Anna M Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, called the move "unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere," urging companies to challenge it under the First Amendment. Former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler accused Carr of turning the agency into a political organization. "There's a message to the MAGA base, to the president, and to every licensee: 'I can do this to you too,'" Wheeler said. Freedom of the Press Foundation's Seth Stern called it "illegal jawboning," and the Knight First Amendment Institute's Jameel Jaffer warned it threatens democracy by pushing government-aligned media.
A Disney spokesperson stated confidence in their compliance with FCC rules and the First Amendment. Despite Trump's calls, Kimmel's show aired as scheduled, with Kimmel explaining his joke was not a call to assassination. The FCC is also investigating ABC's "The View" for equal-time violations.
