Time for action: Help stop the weaponization of the FCC against America!
Your representatives must hold FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accountable.
Brendan Carr is a government employee. He collects a government paycheck and receives perks paid for by US taxpayers. But he is a MAGA-partisan, abusing his office to work for billionaires – especially Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
We are extremely concerned that FCC Chairman Carr has weaponized the agency against the best interests of regular Americans. He has pressured media companies to eliminate DEI practices, strong-armed media conglomerates to take Jimmy Kimmel off the air, threatened licenses or blocked mergers, steered the sale of Paramount-CBS News to the Ellisons, and supported appointing a content police agent aligned with Donald Trump to oversee CBS News. He’s promoting hyperconsolidation of local TV outlet ownership, and granting requests favorable to Elon Musk’s satellite company SpaceX. On December 17th – before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee oversight hearing – Carr confirmed that he sees his role as to carry out the President’s bidding rather than to be an independent Government agency. He is using his as FCC Chairman power to clamp down on “speech” he does not like. This is very dangerous and violates the First Amendment. Carr shows no signs of reining in his work on behalf of the interests of powerful media companies, Elon Musk and President Trump.
“Actually you’re now the chairman of the Federal Censorship Commission…and these broadcasters, they feel that censorship. Your broad authority over the media industry, especially broadcasters, your words and actions matter.” - Sen. Ed Markey
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has called out Carr’s abuse of power “That’s right out of Goodfellas,” Cruz said, referencing the classic gangster film. “That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.'”
“...not only have we seen the actions against the broadcasters for editorial decisions that this administration doesn’t like. We’ve seen this administration, throughout the administration, threaten tech companies for their moderation practices to give consumers an environment that they want and to fast check this information. … it is an absolute pattern of censorship and control. If we let them do this, it will be to the harm of this country.” - FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez
Enough is enough!
Government employee Chairman Carr should have to answer for his past actions and ongoing abuse of power. Republicans and Democrats can see that targeting Jimmy Kimmel – and strong-arming companies to do his bidding – is un-American.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Chairman Carr will answer to Congress at a House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission”. We wonder if Carr will wear his gold Donald Trump lapel pin. Stay tuned.
Your Immediate Actions:
Contact your Congressional House Representative and tell them you believe the FCC and our government have no business threatening companies over comedians, and that Chairman Carr needs to be held to higher scrutiny based on his past abuse of power and abuse going forward.
See if your Representative is on the Oversight Committee here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/committees/subcommittee/communications-technology
1- Call your Representative. Tell your representative you care about the FCC and that you are upset at Chairman Carr’s abuse of power from Jimmy Kimmel to his threats about “news distortion” are a violation of the First Amendment. (Find them here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and call whether they are on the committee or not).
2- Demand that Chairman Carr stop weaponizing the FCC against news organizations, the First Amendment, and media companies.
3- Watch the hearing on Wednesday, January 14, here. See how our elected officials do – or do not – advocate for an FCC that works for the people.
4- Get involved in media activism. Join us for our next “MAD Monday,” coming up tonight, Monday January 12, at 7pm ET/5pm PT. RSVP now and share with a friend: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/430177/
More info on Chairman Carr, the FCC, and the First Amendment
Why FCC Chief Brendan Carr May Be the Most Dangerous Man in Media
FCC Chair Faces Ethics Complaint Over ‘Egregious Misconduct’
Jimmy Kimmel & the FCC: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
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