FCC's Carr Insists He's Not Retaliating Against Media Critics

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly denied allegations that he is leveraging the FCC to retaliate against media outlets critical of President Donald Trump, asserting that such claims have been "mischaracterized." 

This statement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Carr's actions since he assumed the chairmanship. Critics, including media watchdogs and Democratic lawmakers, have expressed concern that Carr, a vocal Trump ally who authored the FCC chapter in the conservative Project 2025 blueprint, might use the agency’s authority to target broadcasters perceived as unfavorable to Trump.

The controversy stems from Carr’s swift moves in his first week as chairman, including reviving complaints against CBS, ABC, and NBC—networks Trump has frequently criticized—for alleged bias. For instance, Carr reinstated a probe into CBS over its "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed was selectively edited to favor her. Similar actions against ABC and NBC followed, while a complaint against Fox News was notably left dismissed. These decisions have fueled accusations that Carr is weaponizing the FCC to settle political scores, especially given Trump’s past threats to revoke licenses from networks he dislikes.

In response, Carr has maintained that his actions are about enforcing the FCC’s public interest mandate, not political retribution. 

He has argued that broadcasters, who use public airwaves, must operate fairly, and he’s pointed to public distrust in media—echoing a sentiment from a Jeff Bezos op-ed—as justification for his focus. In a statement to Reuters in March 2025, Carr insisted the CBS investigation remains "active and ongoing," rejecting calls from some conservative groups to drop it, who feared setting a precedent for future regulatory overreach. He’s also emphasized that his goal is to ensure equal application of rules, not to punish specific viewpoints, though skeptics like Free Press Action’s Craig Aaron argue Carr’s selective targeting belies his free-speech warrior image.

Carr’s defenders, including Trump, who called him a “warrior for Free Speech,” say he’s addressing long-standing conservative grievances about media bias. However, critics, including FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, warn that his approach risks infringing on First Amendment protections, accusing him of cherry-picking cases to align with Trump’s agenda.