Senators grill FCC chair over Kimmel case, independence

Democratic and Republican senators pressed Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr at a Capitol Hill oversight hearing about his role in pressuring local TV stations that air ABC host Jimmy Kimmel and about whether the FCC still operates independently from President Trump’s administration. Carr defended earlier warnings that broadcasters could face fines or license issues if they continued to carry Kimmel after comments he criticized, while Democrats argued this looked like government retaliation against a news program protected by the First Amendment. Under sharp questioning, Carr said the FCC is “not an independent agency,” a position at odds with how the commission has long described itself and with his own past characterizations, prompting concerns about direct White House influence over media regulation. The hearing also highlighted internal dissent at the commission, as Commissioner Ana M. Gomez told senators that broadcasters should assert their rights and “push back” if they believe the administration is overstepping, underscoring that U.S. institutions are actively debating how to safeguard free expression in a polarized climate.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr speaking at a public event earlier in 2025.

Highlights:

Website language change: After Carr told senators the FCC is "not an independent agency," staff began removing references to the commission as an independent body from its official website, a shift identified by outside observers comparing current and archived versions of the site.
License threat details: Hours before Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from air, Carr publicly warned that stations carrying the show risked financial penalties or potential license problems and urged broadcasters that "it's time for them to step up".
Cruz’s free‑speech focus: Sen. Ted Cruz used the hearing to argue that the First Amendment should protect viewpoints across the political spectrum, telling colleagues that free speech cannot belong to only "one team" in partisan debates.
Commissioner Gomez’s stance: Commissioner Ana M. Gomez testified that she believes broadcasters should use legal tools and public advocacy to resist what they view as improper pressure from the Trump administration on their editorial decisions.
Ongoing investigations: Lawmakers questioned Carr about how the FCC is handling investigations into media outlets and broadcast licenses in light of President Trump’s repeated public calls for regulators to target news organizations he criticizes.

The 1st Amendment is not a one-way license for one team to abuse the power. - Sen. Ted Cruz

Perspectives:

Brendan Carr, FCC chair: Carr defended his warnings to stations about Jimmy Kimmel as consistent with the FCC’s role in enforcing broadcast rules and argued that his comments did not amount to censorship but to reminding licensees of their obligations under federal law. (The Hill)
Democratic senators: Democrats on the Senate Commerce Committee said Carr’s pressure on outlets carrying Kimmel and his claim that the FCC is not independent suggest he is aligning enforcement with President Trump’s political grievances rather than neutrally applying communications law. (PBS NewsHour)
Sen. Ben Ray Luján: Luján repeatedly demanded a simple yes‑or‑no answer on whether the FCC is independent and, after Carr said it was not, pointed to the commission’s own website description to argue that the chair was redefining the agency to fit the current administration’s desires. (The Hill)
Sen. Ted Cruz: Cruz criticized Democrats for focusing only on Kimmel’s treatment, contending that media bias and the First Amendment must be considered for all sides and warning that free speech rules should not favor one political viewpoint over another. (Los Angeles Times)
Commissioner Ana M. Gomez: Gomez told NPR she worries that attempts to punish specific shows or networks for their content risk chilling journalism and urged broadcasters to use legal channels and public engagement to resist pressures that may infringe on free‑expression rights. (NPR)

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