Over sixteen Democratic members of Congress have criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week, claiming its license reviews are biased and driven by political motivations. They’re specifically asking the FCC to reconsider its initial investigation into Disney-owned stations like KABC-TV in Los Angeles and KGO-TV in San Francisco, arguing that the agency is abusing its authority for political reasons.
I was really disappointed to learn that several members of Congress have written to the FCC, expressing serious concerns about how they’re reviewing important issues. They’re questioning whether the current process is fair and legitimate, and I completely agree with them – we deserve transparency and a system we can trust!
This campaign comes after the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, announced in April that he wanted a quick look at Disney’s licenses for its eight ABC-owned TV stations. The review is nearing completion, and the FCC will accept public feedback until July 29th.
I find it really striking how unusual it is to even ask for a station’s license to be reviewed so soon. Honestly, it’s been forty years since the FCC actually took a TV station off the air by revoking its license – that just doesn’t happen anymore, and it’s a big deal when it’s even considered.
Representative Carr requested Disney undergo an immediate review following strong reactions from President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to a joke made about the First Lady by comedian Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s late-night show.
According to a letter signed by Representatives Laura Friedman, Kevin Mullin, Nancy Pelosi, Ro Khanna, Ted Lieu, and others, this early push for renewal is a deceptive tactic intended to carry out former President Trump’s desire to suppress opposing viewpoints and penalize businesses that don’t comply with his wishes.
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‘60 Minutes,’ the Associated Press, an Iowa newspaper: Trump’s attacks on the media reach new heights
The president and those who support him are aggressively trying to use the power of the government to pressure the news media, which is already divided and often at odds with itself, according to many observers.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has stated its review of ABC stemmed from questions regarding Disney’s diversity and inclusion efforts internally. However, legislators involved found no proof that Disney’s employment practices break any existing laws.
Rather than focusing on public interest, critics say Trump seems intent on using TV license renewals to punish news organizations he disagrees with.
The Federal Communications Commission is also focusing on “The View,” a talk show on ABC that often discusses political topics.
Disney is challenging the timing of reviews for its local TV station licenses, which weren’t scheduled to be examined until 2028-2031. They submitted their license renewal requests while formally objecting to the process.
In a recent filing, Disney’s New York station WABC-TV stated that the Commission hadn’t requested an early license renewal for over fifty years. They also pointed out that the Commission had never before asked a group of stations owned by a network to renew their licenses at the same time, and argued that this request serves no valid purpose.
The FCC maintains that Disney is the one politicizing the station review.
In May, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr disputed Disney’s assertion that the agency unexpectedly initiated early renewal reviews of their broadcast licenses. He stated that records indicate a different story, emphasizing that broadcasters have a responsibility to serve the public interest and that the FCC will base its decisions on evidence and legal principles.
Regarding discussions about whether “The View” needs to follow equal time rules for political candidates, an FCC representative stated that ABC should prioritize fulfilling its responsibility to serve the public interest instead of misrepresenting those duties.
The lawmakers, in the two letters, did not wade into the controversy over “The View.”
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The only Democratic member stated that some decisions made by the FCC seemed intended to encourage television networks to avoid critical reporting about President Trump, leading them to soften or alter their news coverage.
They highlighted how important both KABC and KGO were to the people in their respective areas.
As a big local news watcher, I know how important KABC is. Millions of people in our area depend on it every day – not just for the news, but also for things like getting to work with the traffic reports, staying safe with those emergency weather warnings, and seeing programs that really focus on our community. That’s why this letter from Friedman – whose district actually includes Disney! – really hits home. It’s about protecting a vital resource for all of us.
“Any refusal to renew this license would be strongly against the public interest,” the group wrote.
Another letter emphasized how important Disney’s San Francisco station is, as it provides service to nine counties in the area.
According to a letter from Supervisor Mullin, KGO has served the local community for more than 75 years by providing trustworthy news, crucial emergency updates, and consistent support that people depend on.
The station is a media partner for major local events like the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, Pride parade, Oakland Black Joy parade, and Bay to Breakers race. It also supports organizations such as Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Bay Area Autism Collective, according to officials.
In a letter, several lawmakers stated that KGO-TV demonstrates a strong dedication to Bay Area viewers and serves as a valuable community resource. They are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop what they consider an illegal effort to censor ABC News and other news organizations critical of President Trump.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with eleven other state attorneys general, have voiced worries that a major new agreement could severely harm movie theaters.
2026-07-22 18:31