FCC License Threats Spark Free-Speech Backlash

A national fight over free speech has intensified after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel following his remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggested the agency could revoke network licenses — comments critics say veer into political censorship. President Trump defended Carr and called much critical television coverage "illegal," even as Republicans including Sen. Ted Cruz condemned Carr's actions as dangerous. Beyond late-night television, critics point to Congress stripping public broadcasting funds and recent campus controversies in Texas — firings, a presidential resignation, and a wrongful-termination suit — as signs of a broader chill on speech. Legal scholars, journalists and commentators warn the FCC is being transformed into a political tool that could reward allies and punish dissent, risking erosion of First Amendment protections. The disputes have provoked bipartisan backlash and raised fears that regulatory threats will chill journalism, comedy, and campus debate rather than protect the public interest.