Senator Ted Cruz issued a warning to conservatives about the potential dangers of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) overreaching in its efforts to enforce media accountability. In his podcast, Cruz emphasized the risks of allowing government agencies to use censorship as a tool against media outlets, particularly in light of FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to revoke ABC’s broadcast license over Jimmy Kimmel’s false statements. He cautioned that such actions could create a dangerous precedent, one that might lead to retaliation against conservative voices if Democrats regain power.
The controversy began when Kimmel, ABC’s late-night host, made a series of statements about the alleged assassin of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. Kimmel suggested the suspect was a MAGA supporter, a claim that proved to be misleading after the indictment of Tyler Robinson, the accused assassin, was made public. In response, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced plans to reinvigorate the agency’s enforcement of its public interest obligation, signaling a potential crackdown on media outlets that fail to uphold journalistic integrity.
Cruz, a vocal conservative and a strong supporter of limited government, argued that the FCC’s approach could set a dangerous precedent. He warned that granting the government the authority to silence media over false statements could lead to abuse, with future Democratic administrations potentially using similar tactics against conservative outlets. ‘What he [Carr] is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying. That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest,’ Cruz said. However, he cautioned against using government power to enforce this, arguing that it could lead to the suppression of legitimate speech.
In contrast, President Donald Trump defended Carr’s actions, calling him ‘an incredible American patriot with courage.’ Trump echoed Cruz’s frustration with media credibility, noting that networks have long been distrustful of their coverage and that Carr’s actions are necessary to protect the public interest. Meanwhile, the debate over media regulation extends beyond this incident, with recent examples of the FCC rejecting petitions that sought to use the public interest standard to censor media outlets, highlighting the complex balance between free speech and regulatory oversight.