Trump’s latest pick vows to ‘dismantle’ the ‘censorship TV network cartel’

Appointment comes after the president-elect threatened to revoke the licenses of CBS, ABC and NBC after allegations of political bias

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Donald Trump has appointed an author of the controversial “Project 2025” blueprint and critic of broadcaster “bias” as the head of the communications regulator.
Brendan Carr vowed to “dismantle the censorship cartel” after he was named the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the government agency in charge of licensing radio and television networks.
Announcing the appointment, Mr Trump praised Mr Carr as a “warrior for Free Speech” and promised he would “end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”
Responding to the promotion, Mr Carr vowed to “dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans.”
The appointment comes after the president-elect has threatened to revoke the licenses of major US broadcasters including CBS, ABC and NBC after levying a string of allegations about political bias.
Mr Trump’s former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in 2017 the regulator has no authority to revoke licenses based on the content of a particular broadcast because it would violate First Amendment protections.
Last month, the current chair of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworce, said the agency “does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”
Mr Carr, 45, who is currently the top Republican on the FCC, has previously indicated he supports Mr Trump’s concerns about broadcaster bias.
After Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live in the days before the 2024 election, Mr Carr said the appearance was a “clear and blatant effort to evade” the rule that’s designed to “avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct.”
NBC said it had given Mr Trump an equal timeslot after concerns were raised that Ms Harris’s appearance violated election rules.
In recent months CBS News has been embroiled in several impartiality controversies.
Mr Trump called for the network’s broadcasting licence to be suspended after it was accused of editing a Kamala Harris interview to make her answer more succinct.
A CBS spokesperson denied these claims in a statement, branding them “false”.
The network was also been rocked by accusations of anti-Israel bias following its censure of a Jewish presenter over an interview he conducted with a pro-Palestinian academic
Several CBS insiders came out to defend their colleague, including Shari Redstone, the chairman of CBS’s parent company Paramount.
Ms Redstone said that it was a “mistake” for Mr Dokoupil to be rebuked for the interview, describing it as a “model” of “civil discourse.”
Following his appointment, Mr Carr said broadcast media networks “have had the privilege of using a scarce and valuable public resource—our airwaves.”
Writing on X, he added: “In turn, they are required by law to operate in the public interest. When the transition is complete, the FCC will enforce this public interest obligation.”
Mr Carr, was first nominated for a position as commission by Mr Trump in 2017 and he has been confirmed in the Senate on three occasions.
Mr Carr wrote a chapter for the Heritage Foundation’s controversial “Project 2025” agenda on his vision for the agency, which included proposals to reign in Big Tech.
Elon Musk celebrated Mr Carr’s appointment, responding to his post on X by writing “based”, a slang term meaning approval.
Mr Carr is an ally of Musk’s. In his Project 2025 plan he suggested the agency should expand rural broadband access by using technology including Musk’s SpaceX Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
He also criticised the FCC for revoking $885million grant for in rural broadband subsidies for Starlink, claiming it was “regulatory lawfare against one of the left’s top targets”
Writing on X, Mr Carr also vowed to end the FCC’s “promotion of DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion”.
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