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U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is set to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee on December 17, following bipartisan criticism over his efforts to pressure broadcasters to remove ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” from the air. Committee Chair Senator Ted Cruz announced the oversight hearing late Friday, which will also feature FCC Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez.
The controversy stems from Carr’s condemnation of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Carr reportedly urged broadcasters to stop airing Kimmel’s program, calling for stations to reconsider their licenses. The comments triggered outrage from both parties, with Cruz comparing Carr’s actions to a “Mafioso-style threat”, saying the statements—“We can do this the easy way or the hard way”—were “dangerous as hell.” Cruz warned that such behavior could set a precedent that might one day target conservative media under a different administration.
Media companies Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, which had briefly boycotted the show across their 70 ABC-affiliated stations, have since reversed course, resuming broadcasts that reach nearly a quarter of U.S. households.
Carr is also expected to face Democratic scrutiny regarding the FCC’s handling of other broadcaster-related pressures. Earlier this year, the FCC approved the $8.4 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, contingent on commitments to unbiased news programming and the hiring of an ombudsman. Additionally, Carr revived inquiries into CBS’s “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, ABC’s 2020 election debate moderation, and NBC’s decision to feature Harris on “Saturday Night Live” before the election.
As Carr prepares for what could be a heated Senate session, both Republicans and Democrats appear ready to challenge his handling of the FCC’s authority over the media.
