ABC Sues the FCC

On Tuesday, ABC filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging the agency infringed upon the network's First Amendment rights and engaged in a "retaliatory campaign" targeting ABC, as reported by The New York Times. This legal action stems from the FCC's preliminary examination of ABC's local broadcast licenses, which ABC claims were prompted by the network's internal diversity and inclusion policies.

The FCC's investigation followed President Trump's ongoing criticism of ABC programs, including popular shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The View, as well as a broader effort to potentially remove these shows from airwaves. "The retaliation against ABC is a clear message to all media companies throughout the country: conform to the Administration's perspective on what news coverage should be, or face severe consequences," stated ABC's legal team in their lawsuit.

"Government agencies at various levels, including regulatory bodies and contractors, have been using various incentives and penalties to pressure disfavored speakers. The common goal is to discourage any media outlet from freely reporting the news."