Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr has escalated his scrutiny of ABC programming, suggesting on September 18, 2025, that the agency may investigate “The View” for potentially violating broadcast rules. In an interview on “The Scott Jennings Radio Show,” Carr questioned whether the daytime talk show qualifies as a “bona fide news program,” a designation that exempts it from the FCC’s equal opportunity rule requiring comparable airtime for political candidates. His comments come days after ABC indefinitely suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following the host’s remarks about the assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Carr, a Trump appointee and vocal critic of perceived media bias, stated, “I think it’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether ‘The View’ and some of the programs that you have still qualify as bona fide news programs.” He referenced the show’s history of hosting Democratic figures like Kamala Harris without offering equivalent time to Republicans, potentially breaching regulations during election cycles. The rule, per FCC guidelines, mandates “comparable time and placement” but not identical programming.
The announcement follows Carr’s threats against ABC affiliates, which prompted Nexstar and Sinclair to preempt Kimmel’s show over his comments linking the “MAGA gang” to the shooter in Kirk’s September 10 assassination. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, demanded Carr’s resignation, accusing him of weaponizing the FCC against free speech. Former FCC chairs under both parties expressed alarm in a letter to media columnist Oliver Darcy, warning of politicization beyond regulatory bounds.
ABC has not responded, but insiders fear further fallout could impact ratings for “The View,” which averages 2.5 million viewers. Carr’s move aligns with his Project 2025 contributions, aiming to curb “censorship cartels.” As midterms near, the probe risks deepening media-government tensions.
