The FCC’s MAGA standard: Target Trump’s enemies, let Fox News off the hook

Chair Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission, President Donald Trump’s “censure-in-chief,” is waging a war on the First Amendment and freedom of the press by investigating all of the president's perceived enemies and the major media networks, while letting Fox News and Rupert Murdoch off the hook. The selective weaponization of the FCC against media outlets that President Trump dislikes by threatening to revoke their licenses is not only unprecedented and dangerous but also beyond hypocritical. The fact is that only Fox’s leadership has repeatedly violated the character qualifications required for broadcast licensees. In 2023, the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) and its allies, former FOX executives and FCC officials, asked the FCC to deny the renewal of a Fox-owned local broadcast station’s license. The groups alleged that senior management of Fox Corporation—including Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch—manipulated their audience by knowingly broadcasting false news about the 2020 election. How do we know? The factual findings in the Dominion case confirmed that Fox repeatedly made false statements. Carr must stop playing political games and ignoring a case against Fox that is based on judicial rulings showing egregious behavior. To serve the public and defend free speech, the commission should use MAD’s Fox petition to erect bright-line protection against the misuse and abuse of the commission's rules.
 

[Jonathan Reiss is a co-founder of the Media and Democracy Project.]