Brendan Carr, the powerful chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — the nation’s leading broadcast industry watchdog — found himself at the heart of a swirling media controversy this Wednesday.
The controversy erupted after Carr appeared on a right-wing podcast, where he openly criticized remarks made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Almost immediately following Carr’s comments, ABC made the decision to remove ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ from the air indefinitely. This swift action drew immediate condemnation from Democrats, who viewed it as undue pressure from the FCC. In stark contrast, former President Trump lauded Kimmel’s suspension as ‘Great News for America.’
So, who exactly is Brendan Carr, and what drives his actions?
Who is Brendan Carr, really?
A 46-year-old native of Washington, D.C., Carr launched his career as a corporate lawyer, specializing in regulatory issues, particularly within the wireless sector. His journey with the FCC began in 2012 as a staff attorney.
From there, he steadily climbed the organizational ladder within the agency and garnered significant influence within the Republican Party. He collaborated closely with Ajit Pai, who was President Trump’s initial choice to lead the regulatory body. By mid-2017, Carr secured a Republican appointment to the commission.
During his tenure as commissioner, Carr quickly gained prominence among Republicans for his outspoken critiques of news organizations, frequently accusing them of harboring liberal biases.
Notably, Carr authored the FCC section of Project 2025, a comprehensive strategy document prepared for Trump’s 2024 campaign. In this influential text, he advocated for the agency to aggressively curtail the power of major tech companies, citing concerns over alleged censorship.
His chapter began with a clear statement: ‘The F.C.C. should promote freedom of speech.’
Why did Trump appoint Carr to lead the FCC?
Carr’s appointment was, in many respects, a logical move. He possessed extensive experience in communications regulation, surpassing most other contenders, and held a prominent reputation within policy circles.
During the election period, Carr frequently appeared on Fox News and maintained an active social media presence, mirroring Trump’s escalating frustration with broadcasters. He also cultivated strong ties with influential conservative groups in Washington, such as the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.
Prior to the election, Carr strategically aligned himself with Elon Musk, who at the time was a close associate of Trump. Carr frequently shared images on X, Musk’s social media platform, showcasing his attendance at SpaceX launches and other high-profile business ventures led by the billionaire.
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.’
What changes has Carr implemented since assuming leadership of the FCC?
Since taking the helm, Carr wasted no time in initiating investigations into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, actively working to dismantle them. Concurrently, he significantly reduced regulations impacting broadband companies.
In January, Carr controversially reinstated complaints against major broadcasters like CBS, NBC, and ABC, alleging political bias. These complaints had previously been dismissed by the FCC under former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who argued they infringed upon First Amendment rights.
March saw Carr launch an investigation into ABC’s diversity policies, vowing to scrutinize them for any discriminatory practices. A month later, he publicly accused Comcast, the parent company of NBC, of engaging in ‘news distortion.’
In October 2024, a conservative group lodged a complaint with the FCC against CBS’s ’60 Minutes,’ alleging the network manipulated an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to present her favorably. Carr then strategically connected this complaint to Paramount’s substantial $8 billion merger deal with Skydance, which was awaiting FCC approval.
Following this, in early July, Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit filed by Trump against CBS. Mere weeks after the settlement, Carr granted approval for the Paramount-Skydance merger.
What tools does Carr wield to influence or penalize media outlets?
Carr’s significant power largely stems from the FCC’s authority to issue licenses to radio and television stations, granting them permission to broadcast over public airwaves.
While the FCC is explicitly prohibited from directly banning a news network based on its content, Carr has controversially asserted his ability to deny or revoke licenses if he determines they are not serving the ‘public interest.’
The concept of ‘public interest’ is open to broad interpretation, and numerous telecom experts contend that Carr has utilized his position more aggressively than any previous FCC chair to suppress speech he deems objectionable.
Beyond licensing, the FCC is also responsible for approving major mergers in the telecom and media sectors, meticulously examining them for potential anti-competition issues. These reviews are critical due to the transfer of public airwave licenses and other regulated telecommunication services involved in such deals.
What exactly did Carr say about Jimmy Kimmel that sparked this?
During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel addressed Kirk’s killing with sharp criticism: ‘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.’
In response during his Wednesday podcast interview, Carr characterized Kimmel’s comments as part of a ‘concerted effort to lie to the American people’ concerning the motives of Kirk’s killer. He then explicitly stated that the FCC had ‘remedies that we can look at.’
Carr warned Benny Johnson, the podcast host, ‘Frankly, when you see stuff like this — I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. 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 has not yet responded to requests for comment on Carr’s statements.
Later that Wednesday evening, Carr made an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program.
On air, Carr expressed his satisfaction: ‘I’m very glad to see that America’s broadcasters are standing up to serve the interests of their community. We don’t just have this progressive foie gras coming out from New York and Hollywood.’