Overview

• FCC chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters over Jimmy Kimmel’s show, saying companies could handle it the easy way or the hard way or face additional work from the agency.
• ABC, owned by Disney, suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program after the warnings, and several ABC-affiliated station owners said they would stop carrying the show.
• President Donald Trump praised Carr as a patriot and reiterated that broadcasters critical of him should potentially lose their licenses.
• Senator Ted Cruz, who oversees the FCC in the Senate, called Carr’s threats dangerous and likened them to Mafia methods, marking a notable Republican dissent.
• Democrats and press-freedom advocates are preparing legislative responses, while networks point to ratings, budget pressures, and sensitive regulatory reviews, leaving the role of political pressure disputed.