Democratic lawmakers have intensified their criticism of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr following his influence in the decision to suspend ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” This backlash was sparked by comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Carr is engaging in “bullying” tactics that pressure media companies to suppress viewpoints that are critical of President Donald Trump. Following the suspension of Kimmel’s show, Democrats have called for Carr’s resignation and are considering an investigation into his leadership at the FCC.
Schumer expressed grave concerns at a press conference, labeling Carr as “one of the single greatest threats to free speech America has ever known” and urged both Democrats and Republicans to call for his removal.
ABC’s abrupt decision to take Kimmel’s show off the air occurred shortly after Carr criticized Kimmel during a podcast, suggesting that the FCC could take regulatory action against ABC. Following Carr’s remarks, Nexstar Media Group announced it would withdraw “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its schedule, leading Disney, the parent company of ABC, to pause the program indefinitely. Nexstar is currently pursuing a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna Inc., which is likely influencing its decisions.
This incident reflects a broader trend of media companies aligning their actions with the Trump administration’s policies. For instance, CBS ended its late-night program hosted by Stephen Colbert in July, citing cost concerns, even as its parent company, Paramount Global, sought FCC approval for a merger with Skydance Media, which was later granted.
This year, Carr has launched formal reviews of major broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, and NBC, criticizing their diversity policies and alluding to the possibility that some could face license revocations. “We’re not done seeing the consequences” of the changing media landscape, Carr stated in an interview with CNBC.
Trump himself has suggested that television networks might face license revocation for negative coverage. Schumer remarked that the country is in a “moment of peril.” Democrats, led by Schumer and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, have sent a letter to Carr urging him to cease his efforts to “censor” media organizations.
