FCC Orders a Review of ABC’s Licenses Amid Feud Between Trump and Kimmel

Key Points:

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered a review of all station licenses owned by ABC, citing an investigation into the network’s diversity and inclusion policies.
• This action follows a recent conflict between President Trump and ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, during which Trump demanded Kimmel’s firing.
• The license review marks an unprecedented escalation by the Trump administration to pressure major media outlets for their coverage, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatening broadcasters with license revocations.
• Revoking station licenses is legally challenging, requiring proof of repeated violations, and ABC would have the opportunity to contest any FCC decision in court while continuing to broadcast.
• ABC owns eight local stations in key markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, making this the first federal review of its kind targeting a major television network’s licenses.