Jimmy Kimmel feud with Trump escalates to ABC suing the FCC over threats to its broadcast licenses

ABC is taking an unprecedented step by suing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its demand for early review of its broadcast licenses. The network, its parent company Disney, and the eight ABC-owned stations affected by this demand have filed a lawsuit, arguing that the FCC's actions pose an existential threat to their operations.

The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, an ally of President Donald Trump, ordered the early review in April, a rare move, of all eight ABC licenses years before they are set to expire. Carr claimed the review was based on ABC's diversity and inclusion practices, but this came after a joke by ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, a vocal critic of Trump, enraged the president.

ABC alleges that the Administration has been attacking their speech and now demands the revocation of their licenses due to their speech. In the lawsuit, ABC seeks an injunction from the court to prevent the FCC from taking any action against them regarding the early license renewal applications. This lawsuit is just one part of a broader conflict between ABC and the FCC, which includes the network's opposition to the agency's efforts to make the morning talk show "The View" subject to equal-time rules.

ABC argues that "The View" is a bona fide news program and should be exempt from these rules. The lawsuit also highlights the potential far-reaching consequences of the FCC's actions, warning that it could lead to a world where media companies must only report stories favored by the Administration or face government coercion. The lawsuit quotes Carr, stating that he will consider revoking ABC's licenses if necessary, potentially leading to a lengthy legal battle.

Floyd Abrams, a longtime free-speech attorney, notes that tensions between the press and the FCC have never been this pronounced, particularly under the Trump Administration. Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, commends ABC and Disney for standing up against the FCC's actions, calling for more broadcasters to push back against government intimidation.

The FCC maintains that all broadcasters have a legal obligation to operate in the public interest, regardless of the ongoing investigation into ABC.