- United States
- Utah
- Letter
Rein in the FCC's Unconstitutional Attack on the Free Press
To: Sen. Lee, Sen. Curtis, Rep. Maloy
From: A verified voter in Salt Lake City, UT
October 21
Investigate and rein in FCC Chairman Brendan Carr before his campaign of intimidation against broadcasters does permanent damage to the free press. Carr posted a public warning to broadcast outlets this week, threatening their federal licenses if they air polls he and President Trump dislike. That is not regulation. That is a government official using licensing power to punish unfavorable coverage.
Carr has already ordered a review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC TV stations, which ABC says was retaliation for content and viewpoints expressed on its programs. Now, less than two weeks before the midterm elections, he is warning all broadcasters to avoid airing polls that "violate their regulatory obligations," without citing a single specific poll or any legal standard. The message is clear: cover Trump favorably or risk your license.
This is the same Brendan Carr who co-authored Project 2025. His actions are not a bureaucratic overreach. They are a coordinated effort to silence independent journalism at a critical moment in our democracy. Congress must act to stop him.