Arizona State Senate President Warren Petersen has submitted a formal request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an investigation into the state’s PBS station, KAET, over allegations of ‘viewpoint discrimination’ during the 2022 gubernatorial race. Petersen’s letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, argues that PBS improperly influenced the election by showcasing Democrat Katie Hobbs in a manner that favored her candidacy while withholding similar treatment from Republican Kari Lake. The senator asserts that PBS violated its legal obligations and contractual commitments by granting Hobbs a 30-minute interview and canceling Lake’s planned solo session, which had been scheduled for October 12, 2022.
Petersen’s accusations are rooted in a series of internal emails from Arizona State University (ASU), which he claims reveal that officials anticipated Hobbs’ victory and saw the PBS interview as an opportunity to amplify her campaign. The senator highlights that ASU’s communications suggested that Lake’s stance on election integrity was viewed as a liability, while Hobbs’ candidacy was seen as a stronger political asset. Petersen contends that PBS, in tandem with ASU, prioritized partisan interests over their public service mission, violating the obligations that come with a public broadcast license.
The dispute escalated following the decision by Arizona PBS to cancel Lake’s interview, which had been arranged through a partnership with the Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission. When Hobbs chose not to participate in a formal debate with Lake, the commission faced a dilemma: continue with a one-sided debate or adjust the format to allow for interviews with both candidates. The station opted to proceed with individual interviews, but Lake ultimately declined to participate, leaving only Hobbs with an extensive media engagement. This decision prompted Petersen to argue that PBS demonstrated a clear bias in its broadcasting choices, undermining its responsibility to serve the public interest impartially.
ASU, in response, explained that Arizona PBS operated independently, maintaining its own broadcasting standards and obligations. The university emphasized that while it produced the debate, Arizona PBS was responsible for maintaining its journalistic integrity and providing comprehensive coverage of the election process. However, Petersen’s allegations suggest that the station’s actions were not neutral, but rather aligned with the political interests of one candidate over another, which could have significant implications for the credibility of public broadcasting in the United States.
The controversy has also reignited broader questions about the role of public broadcasting in political discourse. While the FCC has historically defended the nonpartisan nature of PBS, Petersen’s letter is emblematic of growing skepticism about its neutrality. The senator’s request to revoke PBS’s license underscores the possibility that public broadcasting may be held to stricter standards for ensuring impartiality, particularly in high-stakes political environments. This case could set a precedent for evaluating the role of media in shaping election outcomes.