Free Republic

FCC chair Brendan Carr’s threatened revisiting of the Equal Time rule has come to fruition, forcing CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to not air an interview with Democratic politician James Talarico. Instead, Stephen Colbert’s sit-down with the Texas State Representative currently running for Senate was posted to the late-night program’s YouTube page—the URL for which Colbert was not allowed to share on-air. Colbert detailed his run-in with CBS over the interview during Monday night’s broadcast. “[James Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly,...

Many were triggered by the Bad Bunny halftime show at Super Bowl LX, largely because it became the latest fuel for the American outrage and counter outrage machine. Some complained to the FCC about the supposedly profane nature of the lyrics they loudly complained they didn’t understand anyway, because they weren’t in English. Whatever the language, an initial FCC review concluded that the show didn’t violate applicable decency regulations. Via Charles Gasparino of the New York Post, the FCC determined that the songs sung weren’t blue. They were, as Gasparino puts it, “scrubbed of lyrics that normally include references to...

It's a political commentary video with a strongly conservative-leaning perspective, running in the style of right-leaning news/analysis content. The main points covered include: A University of Houston poll showing U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) leading state Rep. James Talarico by 8 points in the Democratic primary for Texas' U.S. Senate race (flipping a previous Talarico lead). The host argues this is bad news for Democrats' chances of winning the seat in a general election because Crockett is portrayed as more controversial/weak electorally. Mentions allegations of racism directed at Talarico (e.g., a supporter allegedly calling a Black Democrat "mediocre"). Criticizes Crockett...

At least one GOP lawmakers is calling on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to take action after Bad Bunny’s shocking and vulgar halftime lyrics were translated from Spanish to English. As TGP reported, on Sunday night, Hispanic entertainer Bad Bunny performed at the halftime show at Super Bowl LX. Commissioner Roger Goodell and his team picked this anti-American act, who no one has heard of and most people cannot understand, to play at the Super Bowl this year. This was infuriating to millions of Americans. And that is when TPUSA stepped in and decided to hold their own halftime show....

"You can't say the f-word on live TV...Had he said these lyrics – and all of the other disgusting and pornographic filth in English on live TV, the broadcast would have been pulled down and the fines would have been enormous."

The Federal Communications Commission said it will step up enforcement of politically driven daytime and late-night programming to ensure equal treatment for both sides of the aisle. The three major broadcast networks were issued guidance regarding their compliance with the Communications Act of 1934’s “statutory equal opportunities requirement,” which requires equal access to broadcast station facilities for legally qualified candidates, regardless of political affiliation, the FCC announced Wednesday. The law states that if a broadcaster allows one eligible candidate to appear or use its facilities, it must offer the same chance to every other eligible candidate for that office. “A...

A radio anchor for the George Soros-controlled KCBS 740 AM "All News Radio" station who had the gall to unmask the vehicles of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in the gang-infested San Jose, California area in January has reportedly been demoted after MRC Business took him to task. Anchor Bret Burkhart elevated the unmasking of “undercover” ICE agents from the leftist Rapid Response Network, which fights against deportation initiatives during the January 26 edition of KCBS Radio Weekend News. To make things worse, he gave exact descriptions of the vehicles the ICE agents were reportedly using, including specific...

The FCC is seeking the public’s input on Nexstar Media Group and Tegna’s pending $6.2 billion merger. On Monday, the agency began accepting the two companies’ applications to transfer the licenses of Tegna’s 64 full-power television stations, one AM radio station, one FM radio station and other related FCC licenses to Nexstar. Per a public notice released by the agency, Nexstar has said that it would serve 54.5% of the national audience post-transaction and is seeking a waiver of the National Television Multiple Ownership Rule, which prohibits a single entity from owning television stations that, in the aggregate, reach more...

AT&T has vowed to scrap its DEI policies, including a worker training program that labeled racism as a “uniquely white trait.” The telecommunication giant’s sudden change of heart on policies that discriminate against white men comes after pressure from FCC Chairman Brendar Carr. The New York Post reports that AT&T, the Dallas-based telecom company with over 110,000 employees in the United States, has announced its decision to eliminate its DEI policies. This move comes in response to pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has made it clear that companies will not be approved for crucial FCC licenses until they...

The Federal Communications Commission currently caps an entity from reaching more than 39% of U.S. TV households, but the federal agency is considering changing that rule. The longstanding federal regulation will likely be the topic of a Dec. 17 Senate Commerce Committee hearing, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, where all three FCC commissioners are set to testify. The federal rule has divided Republican leaders. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has considered modifying the federal agency’s cap on commercial broadcasters in the past. “Over the decades, as the media landscape has evolved, the Commission has revisited these rules to account for...

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr blasted Democratic California state Sen. Scott Wiener on Tuesday for calling to break up Sinclair Broadcast Group because it's keeping late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off its ABC stations. Carr pointed to Wiener as an example of Democratic lawmakers accusing opponents of stifling free speech while engaging in it themselves. "And there it is. On Kimmel, the Democrats are engaged in nothing more than Projection and Distortion," the Trump appointee posted on X in response to Wiener’s post... He added Democrats distort the issue by blaming Trump rather than Disney...

The Communications Act. The FCC was created by Congress in the Communications Act for the purpose of “regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communications service . . . .” (In this context, the word "radio" covers both broadcast radio and television.) The Communications Act authorizes the Commission to "make such regulations not inconsistent with law as...

GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to pull ABC’s broadcast license as “unbelievably dangerous” and compared some of his rhetoric to “mafioso” tactics.In an episode of his podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” released on Friday, the Texas Republican said he was “thrilled” Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air by ABC over his comments about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. But he said he strongly disagreed with the government policing speech, asserting it could come back to bite conservatives when Democrats retake power.“I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he...

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas sharply criticized the head of the Federal Communications Commission for urging ABC to crack down on the now-benched late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, calling the Trump appointee's comments "dangerous as hell" and comparing his move to a mafia shakedown. ABC, owned by Disney, took "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air indefinitely on Wednesday, two days after Kimmel faced criticism for his comments on conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. Just hours before the company's decision, FCC Chair Brendan Carr had publicly urged ABC to "take action" in response to Kimmel's remarks, saying in an interview: "We...

<p>OK. This might be hard. You know how the FCC can fine someone on radio or TV for obscenity or for a wardrobe malfunction? This applies to the public airways—broadcast radio and TV. Here’s the idea: Extend this to cable and internet (that alone would require some heavy lifting), but instead of obscenity, the rule covers lying. Not opinion, of course. Actual lying.</p>

Jimmy addresses the latest news, like ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely after FCC pressure, Trump wrapping up his visit to the U.K. and Melania Trump's unique outfit choice.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel could be probed by federal investigators after telling his audience that Charlie Kirk's suspected killer was a MAGA supporter. Federal Communications Commission boss Brendan Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday he was considering an investigation into Kimmel and his network ABC over remarks the host made about suspected shooter Tyler Robinson, 22, in the wake of Kirk's murder. Prosecutors say the suspect - who was charged with killing Kirk at a university event in Orem, Utah - had leftist leanings. 'When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it...

BREAKING: The FCC Chairman is threatening immediate action against Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for deliberately misleading the public by claiming Charlie Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA Conservative. Chairman Brendan Carr calls Kimmel’s malicious lies are “truly sick” and says they should result in Kimmel's immediate suspension and may lead to ABC losing its broadcast license. Chairman Carr confirms the agency has a “strong case” to hold Kimmel, ABC, and Disney accountable for spreading dangerous, politically motivated misinformation. "This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way....

… As the foregoing history suggests, the fundamental legal framework that governs the broadcast industry sets it apart from other media. In broadcasting, the Federal Government grants exclusive free speech rights to licensees, while denying such freedom to others. To justify this privileged treatment, Congress and the courts have mandated that licensees serve as “public trustees” of the airwaves. The public trustee model has given rise to a distinct genre of First Amendment jurisprudence. Unlike newspapers and magazines, broadcasters have affirmative statutory and regulatory obligations to serve the public in specific ways. Despite the philosophical complications and political tensions that...

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from.” “And in between the finger pointing there was grieving. On Friday the White House flew the flags at half staff which got some criticism, but on a human level you can see how hard the president is taking this.” ~~ video clip of President Trump ~~ “Gotcha. He’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction [audience laughs, applauds]...demolition...construction.” [at the White...