FCC Chair Brendan Carr says Democrats “massively weaponized” the agency in the Biden years, pointing to nonrenewals and pressure on cable outlets. His remarks came as Senate Democrats demanded he reverse early license reviews for Disney’s ABC stations after a
FCC Chair Brendan Carr did not wait long to turn a question about political power into a fight about enforcement. On CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” Monday, he argued that Democrats, if returned to control of the commission, would use the FCC again for overtly partisan ends.
The exchange began when host Sara Eisen asked whether Carr would be “OK” if Democrats gain power over the agency under a Democratic president. Eisen pushed further, asking what Carr’s reaction would be if Democrats “assert the [same] power” and enforcement on conservative media.
Carr’s answer was blunt. “Well. Democrats were in charge of the FCC in the Biden era. ” he said. arguing they “claimed far more sweeping powers than I’m suggesting” and did so “for overtly partisan political reasons unlike the steps that we’re taking.” He pointed to what he characterized as efforts in the Biden years to deny renewal of a Fox broadcast television license tied to content he said was carried by Fox News Cable.
He also described earlier pressure aimed at the FCC. Carr said Democrat Senators, including Sen. [Ed] Markey. wrote to the agency even before Biden took office. asking it to investigate a perceived conservative broadcast associated with Sinclair [Broadcast Group]. In Carr’s telling. the Biden FCC then “didn’t renew almost a single license for Sinclair the entire time — that was unprecedented.”.
Carr expanded the argument to cable distribution. He said Democrats “pressured cable companies to drop Fox News, OAN and NewsMax,” adding, “You don’t hear about that because a lot of the national news media just runs [for] cover and doesn’t focus any attention or news stories on that.”
Then came his key line. “The Democrats massively weaponized the FCC,” Carr said. He followed it with a warning about what happens if Democrats return to power. “I’m confident if they back in. they’re gonna massively weaponize it again.” Carr said he did not believe that meant Republicans should respond in kind. but insisted. “let’s at least enforce the public interest standard.”.
Eisen later asked Carr if he is a “culture warrior” who has “turned the FCC into a political commission.” Carr responded, “If culture is making sure the laws on the books are enforced, then I guess I’m a culture warrior.”
Carr’s remarks land at a time when Senate Democrats are pressing him on a specific FCC decision that has become a proxy battle over loyalty. speech. and oversight. Senate Democrats demanded Carr rescind his order for early license reviews of Disney’s eight owned-and-operated ABC stations. years ahead of their original schedule.
In a letter earlier this month, Senate Democrats called the review a “blatant effort” to punish Disney for refusing to agree to President Donald Trump’s calls to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The dispute centers on a joke Kimmel made about the president.
Carr’s position is that the FCC’s scrutiny is not being driven by outside pressure. He said his demands are tied to an ongoing investigation into Disney’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices and not political pushback.
The two threads run in parallel: Carr argues Democrats used FCC authority in the Biden era to target conservative outlets. then warns they would do it again if given the chance. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are insisting his own early license reviews for ABC stations are punishment tied to Kimmel. In the middle of both accounts sits the FCC’s enforcement power. now treated less like a neutral referee and more like a lever both sides believe can be pulled for political ends.
FCC Brendan Carr Democrats weaponize the FCC Biden era Sinclair Fox OAN Newsmax Disney ABC license reviews Jimmy Kimmel Senate Democrats