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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr suggested ABC's The View could come under additional scrutiny, questioning whether it qualified as a "bona fide news" program after Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended by the network this week.
Newsweek has contacted Disney Entertainment, ABC's parent company, and the FCC for comment on Friday via email outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Carr's remarks come after ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday in response to Kimmel's comments following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in which he suggested the shooter could have been part of "the MAGA gang."
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Media watchdogs and free speech advocates are closely monitoring these developments, which intersect with broader concerns about government intervention in broadcast content and potential impacts for political discourse ahead of next year's midterm elections.
What To Know
"We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel, who is a critic of President Donald Trump, said during his monologue on Monday.
The suspected gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody in connection with Kirk's murder last week. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson's political ideology was "very different" from that of his conservative family during an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday.
"There clearly was a leftist ideology with this assassin," Cox said.
After Kimmel's comments, Nexstar Media Group, the owner of several ABC affiliate stations, announced it would stop airing the show "for the foreseeable future." Nexstar is attempting to complete a merger with Tegna, which requires FCC approval.
In an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday, Carr, a Trump ally and appointee, called the late-night host's comments "some of the sickest conduct possible."
During an appearance on conservative commentator Scott Jenning's podcast on Thursday, Carr said he considered it "worthwhile" for the agency to examine whether The View qualifies as a "bona fide news program."
Carr said that over the years, several shows had been exempt from the equal opportunity rule, which states that during an election, if a show has on one political candidate, it must have on their rival candidates, using the bona fide news exception.
"I think it's worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether The View and some of these other programs that you have still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place," he said.
In a July interview with Fox News, Carr said The View was "in the crosshairs of this administration," citing co-host Joy Behar's outspoken criticism of Trump.
The View, which is in its 29th season and operates under ABC's news division, did not address the network's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! during its Thursday broadcast.
Previously, Carr had also raised similar criticisms toward NBC's Saturday Night Live for an episode featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris close to the 2024 presidential election, which led NBC to grant equal time to the Trump campaign.
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What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible. That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT."
FCC chairman Brendan Carr on X Wednesday: "I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing. Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values. I hope that other broadcasters follow Nexstar's lead."
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, said in a statement: "Mr. Kimmel's comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located."
Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert, whose show is ending next year after it was cancelled by CBS, said: "Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel. With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch...if ABC thinks this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive, and clearly, they've never read the children's book 'If You Give a Mouse a Kimmel.' And to Jimmy, just let me say, I stand with you and your staff 100 percent."
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on X Wednesday: "Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren't coincidences. It's coordinated. And it's dangerous. The @GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time."
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, wrote on X on Thursday: "I call for Brendan Carr's resignation. Censoring Jimmy Kimmel goes to the core of suppressing free speech in this country. Trump—through his lapdog chair of the FCC—is creating the fear & intimidation that serves an instrument of authoritarian power."
What Happens Next?
ABC's suspension of Kimmel is open-ended as the network and its affiliates may negotiate next steps internally.
The FCC has not formally announced a review or investigation into The View or other ABC programming as of this writing. However, Carr's comments have prompted outcry from free speech advocates and lawmakers, with some calling for further oversight of FCC actions, arguing that regulatory scrutiny could have a chilling effect on editorial independence.
Industry analysts note that if The View were deemed ineligible for the bona fide news exemption, ABC could be legally compelled to offer equal on-air time to Trump's political opponents. Any future FCC enforcement action could set a wider precedent for talk shows and political commentators on broadcast television, amplifying broader debates about media regulations in politically sensitive environments.
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