Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the nation’s primary broadcast industry watchdog, found himself embroiled in a significant media controversy on Wednesday.
During a recent interview on a conservative podcast, Mr. Carr voiced strong objections to remarks made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This interview was swiftly followed by ABC’s decision to indefinitely suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The move drew immediate condemnation from Democrats, while former President Trump celebrated it as “Great News for America.”
So, who exactly is Mr. Carr?
Who is Brendan Carr, and what’s his professional journey?
Hailing from Washington, D.C., the 46-year-old Mr. Carr started his career in law, advising corporate clients on regulatory affairs, particularly within the wireless sector. He joined the FCC as a staff attorney in 2012.
His ascent within both the agency and the Republican Party has been steady. He collaborated with Ajit Pai, President Trump’s initial choice for the regulator’s chairman. By mid-2017, Mr. Carr secured a Republican commissioner seat.
As a commissioner, he garnered Republican support through his outspoken critiques of news organizations, accusing them of exhibiting liberal biases.
Notably, Mr. Carr authored the FCC chapter for Project 2025, a strategic guide developed for Mr. Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. In this document, he advocated for the agency to prioritize curbing the influence of major tech companies, asserting they engaged in censorship.
His chapter began with a strong declaration: “The F.C.C. should promote freedom of speech.”
What factors led President Trump to appoint Carr as FCC Chair?
Mr. Carr was widely considered the clear frontrunner for the position, possessing extensive experience in communications regulation and a strong reputation within policy circles.
His frequent appearances on Fox News and active presence on social media consistently mirrored Mr. Trump’s escalating frustration with broadcasters during the election season. Furthermore, Mr. Carr had cultivated strong ties within prominent conservative organizations in Washington, such as the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
Prior to the election, Mr. Carr strategically aligned himself with Elon Musk, then a close ally of Mr. Trump. Through posts on X (Musk’s social media platform), Mr. Carr shared images of himself attending SpaceX launches and other initiatives led by the billionaire entrepreneur.
Upon appointing Mr. Carr to lead the FCC in January, Mr. Trump lauded him as “a warrior for Free Speech, who has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy.”
What changes has Carr implemented since assuming leadership of the FCC?
Immediately after taking the helm, Mr. Carr initiated extensive investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, actively working to dismantle them, while simultaneously rolling back regulations for broadband companies.
In January, he reopened old complaints against CBS, NBC, and ABC, alleging political bias in their broadcasts. These complaints had previously been dismissed by the FCC under former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who cited First Amendment protections.
March saw Mr. Carr launch an investigation into ABC’s diversity policies, which he pledged to examine for potential discriminatory practices. The following month, he publicly accused Comcast, NBC’s parent company, of engaging in “news distortion.”
Adding to his list of actions, a conservative group filed a complaint with the FCC in October 2024 against CBS’s “60 Minutes,” alleging the network had manipulated an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to portray her favorably. Mr. Carr then controversially connected this complaint to Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger deal with Skydance, which required FCC approval.
Shortly after Paramount settled Mr. Trump’s $16 million lawsuit against CBS in early July, Mr. Carr gave his approval to the Paramount-Skydance merger.
What mechanisms does Carr possess to penalize media outlets?
Mr. Carr’s influence stems from the FCC’s authority to issue licenses to radio and television stations, granting them permission to broadcast across public airwaves.
Although the FCC lacks the direct power to ban a news network based on its content, Mr. Carr contends that the commission can refuse to renew licenses for stations deemed not to be operating in the public interest.
The “public interest” standard is open to broad interpretation, and many telecommunications experts argue that Mr. Carr, more than any preceding FCC chair, has leveraged his authority to suppress speech he deems objectionable.
What were Carr’s exact remarks regarding Jimmy Kimmel?
In his Monday opening monologue, Mr. Kimmel commented on the killing of Mr. Kirk, stating: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
During the Wednesday podcast interview, Mr. Carr characterized Mr. Kimmel’s statements as part of a “concerted effort to lie to the American people” concerning the motives of Mr. Kirk’s killer. He warned that the FCC possessed “remedies that we can look at.”
“Frankly, when you see stuff like this — I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Mr. Carr stated to podcast host Benny Johnson. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the F.C.C. ahead.”
The FCC did not provide an immediate response to inquiries for comment.
Later that Wednesday evening, Mr. Carr appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program.
“I’m very glad to see that America’s broadcasters are standing up to serve the interests of their community,” Mr. Carr remarked. “We don’t just have this progressive foie gras coming out from New York and Hollywood.”