Trump's Threats to Revoke Broadcast Licenses Are Part of a Speech-Chilling Intimidation Campaign
President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr are using threats to revoke broadcast licenses as an intimidation campaign against TV networks that do not comply with Trump's demands. After ABC and NBC declined to provide live coverage of Trump's election security speech, Trump argued this should result in license revocation. Carr has adopted a vague 'public interest' standard, claiming broadcasters must cover the president 'fully, accurately, and fairly.' This has led to concrete actions: Carr entertained claims of 'broadcast news distortion' against CBS over a Kamala Harris interview edit, bragged about forcing changes to CBS journalistic practices as a condition for approving Skydance Media's acquisition of Paramount, and made regulatory threats that preceded ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The article argues these actions are unconstitutional speech-chilling measures that set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
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