FCC consideration of license renewals prompted by dispute over local broadcast preemptions involving Jimmy Kimmel, as proposed by Trump.
In a dramatic turn of events, the House Oversight Committee has announced an investigation into the Trump administration, ABC News, and Sinclair, with a focus on the actions of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr.
The investigation was initiated by Representative Robert Garcia, the panel's top Democrat, following comments made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC News preempted Kimmel's show indefinitely following these comments, a decision that has sparked controversy and calls for Carr's resignation from the Democrats.
Prior to the network's decision, Carr had publicly called for Kimmel's suspension over the comments. He later weighed in on Kimmel being preempted during an appearance on CNBC, stating that local broadcasters pushing back on national programmers was a significant moment.
Carr's actions have not gone unnoticed by President Donald Trump, who has praised Carr, calling him 'outstanding' and a 'patriot.' Trump has also suggested the FCC reexamine licenses for television networks that repeatedly criticize him, with the decision up to Carr.
However, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna has moved to subpoena Carr to appear before the House Oversight Committee, a move supported by Representative Jamie Raskin. House Democratic leaders have stated that Carr has disgraced his office by bullying ABC News, a claim Carr has yet to address publicly.
The House Oversight Committee is trying to have Carr testify voluntarily, with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer expressing belief that Carr would be willing to do so. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson does not believe it's something for Congress to get involved in regarding Kimmel.
Representative Garcia has stated that he's launching an investigation into the Trump administration, ABC News, and Sinclair over Kimmel, but also mentioned a desire to move forward in a bipartisan way regarding Carr's testimony.
The investigation comes as Carr also expressed a desire to empower local broadcasters to push back on national programmers, giving people more choice. This is a significant development in the ongoing debate about media ownership and control in the United States.
As the investigation unfolds, the public will be closely watching the actions of the House Oversight Committee and the FCC, and the potential impact on the relationship between the media, the government, and the American people.
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