Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission chairman and the nation’s top broadcasting watchdog, found himself at the center of a significant media firestorm this Wednesday.
During a recent right-wing podcast, Mr. Carr publicly criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks concerning the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Following this, ABC promptly removed the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” show from its schedule indefinitely. This move sparked immediate backlash from Democrats, who condemned the FCC’s perceived pressure, while former President Trump lauded the show’s suspension as “Great News for America.”
Here’s a closer look at Mr. Carr and his background.
Brendan Carr’s Journey to the FCC Chair
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., 46-year-old Brendan Carr started his professional life as an attorney, primarily working with corporate clients in the wireless sector on regulatory issues. In 2012, he transitioned into public service, joining the FCC as a staff attorney.
His ascent within the agency and the Republican Party has been steady. He previously collaborated with Ajit Pai, who was President Trump’s initial choice for the FCC’s top regulatory position. By mid-2017, Carr himself secured a Republican appointment to the commission.
During his tenure as commissioner, he gained recognition among Republicans for his outspoken critiques of news organizations, frequently accusing them of harboring liberal biases.
Carr also authored the FCC chapter for Project 2025, a strategic outline created for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. In this document, he advocated for the agency to prioritize regulating major technology companies, claiming they engaged in censorship.
His chapter notably began with a declaration: “The F.C.C. should promote freedom of speech.”
Trump’s Choice: Why Carr Became FCC Chairman
Carr was, in many respects, the clear frontrunner for the position. He possessed extensive experience in communications regulation, surpassing most other potential candidates, and held a recognized presence within policy circles.
Through regular appearances on Fox News and a steady stream of social media posts, Carr consistently mirrored Trump’s increasing frustration with broadcasters during the election period. Furthermore, he cultivated strong ties with influential conservative organizations in Washington, including the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
Prior to the election, Carr strategically aligned himself with Elon Musk, who was then a close associate of Trump. On X, Musk’s social media platform, Carr frequently shared images of himself attending SpaceX launches and other ventures associated with the billionaire entrepreneur.
Upon appointing Carr to lead the FCC in January, Trump declared, “Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy.”
Carr’s Actions as FCC Chairman
Immediately upon assuming leadership, Carr initiated investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, actively working towards their dismantling. He simultaneously moved to significantly reduce regulations on broadband companies.
In January, he reactivated previously dismissed complaints against CBS, NBC, and ABC, which alleged political bias in their broadcasts. These complaints had been set aside by the FCC under former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who deemed them violations of the First Amendment.
March saw Carr launch an investigation into ABC’s diversity policies, which he vowed to examine for any discriminatory practices. The following month, in April, he leveled accusations of “news distortion” against Comcast, the parent company of NBC.
In October 2024, a conservative organization filed a complaint with the FCC against CBS’s “60 Minutes,” claiming the network had manipulated an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to present her in a favorable light. Carr subsequently connected this complaint to Paramount’s $8 billion merger agreement with Skydance, a deal that was awaiting FCC approval.
In early July, Paramount resolved a lawsuit initiated by former President Trump against CBS, settling for $16 million. Just weeks after this settlement, Carr granted approval for the Paramount-Skydance merger.
The FCC’s Power: How Carr Can Influence Media Outlets
Carr’s authority largely stems from the FCC’s power to issue licenses to radio and television stations, granting them permission to broadcast over public airwaves.
Although the FCC is legally restricted from directly prohibiting a news network based on its content, Carr has asserted that he can refuse to renew licenses if he deems a station is not operating in the public interest.
The “public interest” standard is open to broad interpretation, and many telecommunications experts contend that Carr has utilized his position more aggressively than any previous FCC chair to suppress speech he considers objectionable.
Carr’s Remarks on Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension
In his Monday opening monologue, Jimmy Kimmel discussed the killing of Charlie 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, Carr characterized Kimmel’s comments as part of a “concerted effort to lie to the American people” regarding the motivations of Kirk’s killer. He explicitly stated that the FCC would explore “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,” Carr warned Benny Johnson, the podcast host. “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 immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.