Senate GOP Feeling the Squeeze Over FCC Nominee

A fast-rising pressure campaign is emerging to push the Senate to speedily confirm — by December’s end — Commerce Department adviser Nathan Simington to fill the Federal Communications Commission seat now held by Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. (O’Rielly will have to depart by year’s end.) That timeline is lightning-fast for the Senate, considering President Donald Trump only nominated Simington about a month ago. If the Senate doesn’t fill the GOP seat this year, Republicans would be disadvantaged going into 2021 and potentially give a Biden-era FCC a Democratic majority sooner. And Trump allies see Simington as a potential necessary vote to move forward with a rulemaking to narrow Silicon Valley’s liability protections (although Commissioner O’Rielly dismissed that prospect, Simington helped draft the Commerce Department petition asking the FCC to take action). “Republicans need to get smart and confirm Nate Simington to the FCC ASAP!” the president tweeted. Meanwhile, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a Trump favorite, accused Senate Republicans of “sitting on his nomination.” The Senate Commerce Committee is now eyeing potential nominations hearing dates for Simington and two others.