Good Morning! Time to Check The Pulse for Thursday, February 26

Radio Broadcasting

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Defends His Leadership:  Brendan Carr, as FCC Chairman, has been actively defending his aggressive leadership approach amid criticism. In recent appearances and statements, he pushed back against claims of overreach, declaring "This isn’t Ronald Reagan’s FCC" and emphasizing a shift toward deregulation, national security priorities, and public interest obligations aligned with broader administration goals.

He has faced scrutiny over initiatives like the "Pledge America Campaign" (launched earlier in February), which urges broadcasters (including radio) to voluntarily air "patriotic, pro-America content" to support the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4, 2026. Carr ties this to broadcasters' existing public service duties, but critics (including Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez) argue it represents government pressure on content and erodes independence/First Amendment principles.

Carr has also defended the FCC against accusations of censorship or bias in enforcement (e.g., equal-time rules affecting TV but with radio implications in broader media policy debates), while highlighting 2025 as a "banger" year of deregulation and previewing more in 2026. These actions continue to spark debate in broadcasting circles about the FCC's role in content and speech.

Media Industry

Nexstar Media Group Continues Layoffs Ahead of TEGNA Merger: Nexstar laid off prominent on-air talent, including longtime KTLA anchors Glen Walker and Lu Parker, meteorologist Mark Kriski in Los Angeles, and staff at WPIX in New York (following earlier cuts at WGN-TV in Chicago). These reductions, affecting about a dozen on-air roles in major markets, are tied to cost-cutting as Nexstar pursues its $6.2 billion acquisition of TEGNA. SAG-AFTRA has condemned the moves as evidence of harmful media consolidation, arguing that the deal (pending FCC approval) prioritizes savings over local journalism amid declining traditional TV ad revenue and viewer shifts to streaming. READ MORE

Streaming and CTV Advertising Growth Accelerates:  U.S. connected TV (CTV) ad spend is projected to rise about 14% year-over-year in 2026, surpassing $37 billion, as brands pivot from linear TV to targeted streaming platforms. Agencies like Clicta Digital launched new OTT/CTV services to capitalize on this surge, highlighting measurable performance gains. Broader trends show sports viewing on streamers up significantly (e.g., Prime Video leading), with Netflix positioned to capture around 10% of CTV ad dollars as buyers increase investments.

U-S News

U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume in Geneva Amid Heightened Tensions:  The third round of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran kicked off in Geneva, focusing on limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for potential sanctions relief. These talks occur against the backdrop of a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, including deployments of F-22 jets and warships to pressure Tehran. The Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Iran just ahead of the meetings. A recent AP-NORC poll shows that most Americans (around 61%) view Iran as an enemy and express high concern about its nuclear ambitions, but only about 3 in 10 trust President Trump's judgment on using military force abroad.

MN Medicaid Payments Stopped: The administration announced it is pausing more than $250 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota, citing widespread fraud. Vice President JD Vance highlighted the move, but Minnesota officials and critics described it as political retribution against a Democratic-led state. This fits into broader scrutiny of federal funding in certain states.