The Federal Communications Commission could soon issue guidance to broadcast television networks over what FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called "fake polls" ahead of the midterms.Speaking on "The Sunday Briefing," Carr argued that broadcast television is subject to different federal requirements than cable channels or online platforms because stations operate under FCC licenses."The one thing that President Trump gets, fundamentally, is that broadcast TV is completely different than other forms of distribution, including cable," Carr said Sunday.FCC CHAIR SUGGESTS ABC SKIPPING TRUMP'S SPEECH WILL FACTOR IN LICENSE RENEWAL DECISIONFCC Chairman Brendan Carr, right, speaks with Sen.Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, after attending a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy presentation in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)"And so many broadcasters right now, they [want to] break the deal that they cut with the American people.They get billions of dollars in taxpayer, effectively, subsidized distribution.
And what they're supposed to do in exchange is operate in the public interest, not some sort of narrow partisan interest," he added.His comments come after President Donald Trump criticized NBC News’s Kristen Welker on August 30 over what he said was a mischaracterization of his endorsement record in political primaries.Welker, speaking during a segment on a local NBC affiliate, noted that Trump would "loom large" over the midterms before pointing to his endorsement record.DEMS DERIDED TRUMP’S MIDTERM GAMBLE — UNTIL HE ENDED UP WINNING BIG"He, of course, has endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries," Welker said.
"He's had some mixed results, but most recently, his pick of Senator Darline Graham, of course, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was successful in her primary battle."Then-President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Brendan Carr, whom he had selected to lead the Federal Communications Commi...