FCC chair threatens to pull TV licenses over Iran news coverage. Why that's highly unlikely
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Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is using his bully pulpit to push back against coverage of the U.S.military action in Iran that his boss President Trump doesn’t like, marking an extraordinary escalation in his clashes with the media.On Saturday, Carr posted a message on X suggesting TV stations could lose their government licenses to use the public airwaves if they “don’t operate in the public interest.” Underneath his statement, Carr shared a social media post from Trump, who complained about the New York Times and Wall Street Journal stories on the five refueling tankers that were hit during an Iranian missile strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Hollywood Inc.Job cuts and pressure to placate Trump loom over major changes in store for two TV news organizations that will be combined under Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros.
Discovery.Carr seized on Trump’s missive to issue a warning to TV outlets, which are frequently threatened by the president when he is angry at their coverage.It’s the latest attempt by the FCC chair to apply pressure on media companies that irritate Trump with critical coverage of his administration.Since becoming FCC chairman last year, Carr has repeatedly threatened to use the levers of power he has to punish TV and radio stations when they get in Trump’s crosshairs.
His behavior has alarmed free speech advocates.“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr wrote, without providing evidence to back up his claims.
“The law is clear.Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.” Hollywood Inc.
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