Free Republic

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...

Disney's ABC said "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" "will be will be pre-empted indefinitely," a spokesperson confirmed to NBC News, after the late night host's Monday monologue about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Elon Musk's SpaceX said Monday it will buy wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar (SATS.O), opens new tab for its Starlink satellite network for about $17 billion, a major deal crucial to expanding Starlink's nascent 5G connectivity business.The companies also agreed to a deal that will enable EchoStar's Boost Mobile subscribers to access Starlink direct-to-cell service to extend satellite service to areas without service. The spectrum purchase allows SpaceX to start building and deploying upgraded, laser-connected satellites that the company said will expand the cell network's capacity by "more than 100 times."...The push comes amid fast-rising wireless usage. In 2024, Americans...

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is ripping into CBS News for omitting her full answers during an interview on Face the Nation. The network cut almost 25 percent of her answers for their Sunday show, where Ms. Noem spoke about the ongoing efforts and operations to deport illegal aliens. She also expounded more about the ongoing case against Abrego Garcia, but CBS News took the hatchet to that as well (via DHS): During the broadcast, CBS edits deprived the American people from hearing the truth about MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The following 25 seconds were cut from...

President Trump went on a late-night attack against NBC and ABC News on Sunday, deriding them for what, in his view, was "biased" coverage and said he would be in favor of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoking their licenses. The Republican president said the news outlets had given him negative coverage on "97%" of stories. It wasn’t clear from where Trump was citing the "97%" figure. A study released earlier this year by the conservative media watchdog group, Media Research Center (MRC), found that coverage of the president’s first 100 days in office was "92% negative." "IF THAT IS...

Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!! MAGA

Biden’s broadband plan wasted billions, favored political allies, and failed rural voters. Trump scrapped it — and Democrats are furious. President Trump has consistently applied one simple litmus test to any government program: Does it work? If so — a rare occurrence — he keeps it. If not, he either ends it or reforms it. Intentions, noble or otherwise, count for nothing. Execution is everything. For Americans, this is good news. For bureaucrats who enjoy wasting taxpayer dollars while pretending to serve the public, it’s a nightmare. From zero to nowhere If you need an example, just look at the...

The CEO of a company that benefited immensely from the Lifeline program, commonly referred to as ‘Obama phones’ during the Obama administration, has been sentenced to five years in prison and, along with his company, ordered to pay $128 million in fines. Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, FL, and his company, Q Link Wireless, were sentenced for a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from the ‘Obama phone’ program dating back to 2012. Asad was also sentenced over charges of money laundering. Between 2013 and 2019, Q Link Wireless made $618,736,494 from the Lifeline program. According to the...

This week has demonstrated that the tech “broligarch” who’s most influenced President Donald Trump’s second administration isn’t Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, or Marc Andreessen—it’s Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, the 80-year-old software tycoon who recently became the second-richest man in the world. Just look at everything that’s gone his way. On Thursday evening, the Federal Communications Commission finally voted to approve Paramount’s $8.4 billion merger with fellow entertainment firm Skydance Media. The controversial, long-awaited deal only came about thanks to Paramount’s appeals to this administration: settling a baseless lawsuit that Trump brought against 60 Minutes for “deceptively” editing its Kamala Harris...

Stephen Colbert declared to Donald Trump that “the gloves are off” in his first broadcast since his Late Show was cancelled amid a political firestorm, as his fellow hosts lined up to defend him with Jon Stewart scathingly denouncing Paramount for trying to “censor and control” its hosts. Colbert, the top-rated late-night talk show host in the US, said last week on his CBS show Late Night – which he took over from David Letterman in 2015 – that Paramount’s decision to pay a $16m settlement to Trump over another flagship CBS show, 60 Minutes, amounted to a “big fat...

MSNBC contributor Joyce Vance seems to believe illegal aliens are justified in shooting federal immigration enforcement agents because they think they’re being kidnapped. No, really. Hear her for yourself. (WATCH)https://x.com/WesternLensman/status/1944535049476743189