Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is facing pushback from a Republican lawmaker after warning Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they publish what the federal agency considers “fake news” about the Iran conflict.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said in an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Briefing that he did not favor government control of private enterprise or efforts to intrude on constitutionally protected free speech.
“I strongly support the first amendment,” Johnson said. “I don’t like the heavy hand of government, no matter who exercises it. So no, I prefer that the federal government stay as far away from the private sector as possible.
“The role of the federal government is to protect our freedoms, to protect our constitutional rights,” he added.
Carr, a Trump appointee to the FCC, is facing criticism for comments made Saturday in which he said broadcasters’ licenses could be revoked.
“Broadcasters that are spreading hoaxes and news distortions – also known as fake news – now have the opportunity to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr wrote in X. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and will lose their licenses if they do not.”
Democrats criticized Carr’s warning shot. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said: “It is illegal for the government to censor free speech it simply doesn’t like about Trump’s war on Iran. This threat is straight out of the authoritarian playbook.”
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut agreed. “A truly extraordinary moment,” he wrote on social media. “We are not on the brink of a totalitarian takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Act like it.” California Governor Gavin Newsom said it was “flagrantly unconstitutional.”
Carr later doubled down on that threat in an interview with CBS News.
“People have become accustomed to the idea that licenses are some kind of property right and that there is nothing you can do that will result in the loss of the license,” Carr said. “I try to help reorient people that no, there is a public interest and broadcasting is different.
“All broadcasters should, you know, feel completely free to do all their reporting,” Carr added, as long as they don’t engage in “news distortion.”
The FCC has lost power in recent years as national local television “over-the-air” broadcasting has lost ground to cable, satellite and online distribution systems over which it has little or no influence. But it has the power to regulate media acquisitions and mergers, including the recent deal between Paramount Skydance, owner of CBS News, and Warner Bros. Discovery, owner of CNN.
Anna Gomez, the only Democratic member of the committee, said the FCC “can make threats all day, but it is incapable of carrying them out.” Gómez warned in a post that “such threats violate the First Amendment and will lead nowhere.”
“Broadcasters should continue to cover the news, fiercely and independently, without fear of government pressure,” he added.
