Senator Wants Answers From FCC

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), as chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, launched a preliminary inquiry into the FCC over concerns of political targeting of newsrooms under its current leadership. 

In a letter addressed to Patrick Webre, Acting Bureau Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, and Erin Boone, Acting Bureau Chief of the Media Bureau, Blumenthal requested detailed information about what he described as “unprecedented, intrusive investigations against media broadcasters under arbitrary and capricious pretenses.” The inquiry focuses on actions taken by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who assumed the role on January 20, 2025, following Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.

Richard Blumenthal

Blumenthal’s letter highlighted eight specific FCC investigations and complaints initiated since Carr’s appointment, targeting media entities such as Paramount-Skydance, Comcast, NPR, and PBS—organizations he suggested were singled out due to their perceived opposition to President Trump. He noted that these actions appear to align with Trump’s past criticisms of certain broadcasters, including threats of litigation or investigations during his campaign, raising concerns about retaliatory motives. 

For instance, Blumenthal pointed out that Trump had previously clashed with these outlets over coverage he deemed unfavorable, suggesting a pattern where the FCC’s moves could be seen as punishing “disfavored” speech.

The senator argued that these investigations represent a shift from the FCC’s traditional stance, where its authority over news distortion was “narrow” and limited to cases of deliberate factual misrepresentation of significant events—a high bar rarely met. 

He accused Carr of adopting “ahistorical interpretations of longstanding legal standards” to intimidate newsrooms, potentially chilling critical coverage of the Trump administration. Blumenthal also criticized Carr’s public announcements of these probes, such as appearances on Fox News and posts on social media, as a departure from the FCC’s norm of keeping investigations confidential until enforcement actions are taken, further suggesting political grandstanding.

In the letter, Blumenthal posed specific demands, including descriptions of the FCC’s investigatory processes for complaints involving news distortion, equal time, and public interest obligations, as well as a list of all investigations opened since January 20, 2025. He questioned whether entities favored by Trump, engaging in similar activities, faced comparable scrutiny, implying a potential double standard. The deadline for the FCC to respond was set for March 26, 2025.