FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania Trump joke

Key Points:

• The FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, is fast-tracking the renewal review of eight ABC local broadcasting licenses, a move critics view as politically motivated retaliation following criticism of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel by President Trump.
• The accelerated license renewal requires ABC stations to file by May 28, years earlier than scheduled, linked to an ongoing FCC investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
• FCC Commissioner Anna M Gomez and former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler have condemned the expedited review as unprecedented and politically charged, emphasizing the protection of broadcasters from arbitrary regulatory actions.
• Despite political pressure, Kimmel’s show aired as scheduled, with supporters warning that the FCC’s actions threaten press freedom and could lead to government control over media content, undermining democratic principles and the First Amendment.
• The FCC is also investigating ABC’s daytime talk show The View for potential violations of equal time rules, signaling broader scrutiny of the network under the current administration.