Donald Trump and the FCC Battle The News Media

Amid the flurry of executive actions, declarations, and staff dismissals during President Donald Trump's initial weeks in office, the actions at the FCC have been somewhat overshadowed, yet they carry significant implications for the media landscape.

The FCC, often buried under technical discussions like spectrum allocation, holds substantial regulatory power over media entities. Under Trump-appointed Chairman Brendan Carr, the agency has taken a more aggressive stance towards media in his first month:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scrutiny: Carr initiated an investigation into the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies of Comcast and NBCUniversal, signaling that similar reviews would be forthcoming for other media giants. He also criticized PBS and NPR's funding and underwriting practices, hinting at potential cuts by congressional Republicans.

Targeting Specific Coverage: He launched an inquiry into KCBS-AM's reporting on a San Jose immigration raid, directly engaging with content at the core of Trump's policy focus.

Challenging CBS's Editorial Practices: Perhaps most notably, Carr demanded CBS provide an unedited transcript of a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris after a conservative group alleged a violation of the FCC's "news distortion" policy. Even after CBS complied, revealing no deceptive editing, Carr chose not to dismiss the complaint outright but instead opened it up for public comment, effectively delaying any decision.

These actions reflect a broader Trump administration campaign against the press, particularly at a time when media companies are navigating significant changes. Notably, CBS's parent company was in the midst of seeking FCC approval for a merger with Skydance, highlighting how regulatory oversight might be leveraged in merger considerations.

According to Deadline, the "news distortion" policy Carr invoked is seldom used, only applicable if deliberate factual distortion can be proven. Historically, the FCC has acknowledged its limited authority over content, explicitly stating it cannot censor or infringe on First Amendment rights. This stance was previously upheld by then-Chairman Ajit Pai in 2017 when he responded to Trump's call to revoke NBC’s license by clarifying the FCC's legal boundaries.

Carr's approach marks a departure from this precedent, especially considering his earlier statements against government interference in newsroom decisions, as expressed when addressing Democratic concerns about conservative networks post the January 6th Capitol attack. This shift illustrates a complex interplay between regulatory oversight, political agendas, and media freedom.