FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcasters' licences over Iran coverage
After Trump criticised media coverage of the Iran war, Carr says he can remove licences if they do not serve the public interest.
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Notable Quotes
"The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licences if they do not."
— Brendan Carr , Executive
"it was illegal for the government to censor free speech it just doesn't like about Trump's Iran war."
— Elizabeth Warren , Politician
"flagrantly unconstitutional"
— Gavin Newsom , Politician
"This is overreach by the FCC because this administration doesn't like the microscope and doesn't want to be held accountable."
— Mark Kelly , Politician
"I’m a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who’s wielding it."
— Ron Johnson , Politician
"The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not."
— Brendan Carr , Executive
"If Trump doesn’t like your coverage of the war, his FCC will pull your broadcast license. That is flagrantly unconstitutional."
— Gavin Newsom , Politician
"The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Military’s incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Iran’s ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time."
— Anna Kelly , Executive
"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up."
— Brendan Carr , Executive
"If Trump doesn’t like your coverage of the war, his FCC will pull your broadcast license. That is flagrantly unconstitutional."
— Gavin Newsom , Politician
"This is a clear directive to provide positive war coverage or else licenses may not be renewed."
— Brian Schatz , Politician
"FCC to journalists: cover the Iran war the way the president prefers or lose your broadcast license."
— Adam Steinbaugh , Activist
Key People
Adam Steinbaugh is a First Amendment lawyer.
Anna Kelly is a spokesperson for the White House.
Brendan Carr is the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
Senator from Hawaii who criticized the government's handling of the evacuation.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
Elizabeth Warren is the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.
Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California.
Jimmy Kimmel is a television host and comedian.
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
Mark Kelly is a former Navy captain, astronaut, and U.S. Senator.
Pete Hegseth is the United States Secretary of Defense.
Senator from Wisconsin known for his alignment with the Republican party.
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All Coverage
After Trump criticised media coverage of the Iran war, Carr says he can remove licences if they do not serve the public interest.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcasters' licenses over Iran war coverage, aligning with President Trump's goal to reshape the media landscape through intimidation and policy influence. This follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's criticism of CNN, expressing preference for new ownership.
Senator Ron Johnson publicly criticized the Trump administration's attempts to pressure media outlets over their war coverage. Appearing on Fox News, Johnson affirmed support for the First Amendment and rejected the idea of government policing news content, despite FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's controversial statement suggesting broadcast licenses could be revoked over 'fake news'.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a top Trump media ally, threatened to revoke broadcast licenses of networks that do not portray President Trump's unauthorized war positively. Citing the requirement for broadcasters to serve the 'public interest,' Carr warned networks against airing what he labeled 'hoaxes' and 'news distortions.' This came in response to growing dissatisfaction within the Trump administration over critical media coverage of the ongoing military conflict, notably involving Iran.
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