The Trump administration and the press: the FCC's early review of ABC's licenses

Gone quiet · last story Aug 30

What this arc covers

The FCC's 2026 early review of broadcast licenses held by ABC and its parent Disney: Chairman Brendan Carr's move amid Trump's feud with Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC's dispute with 'The View', ABC's accusations of retaliation for its coverage, and ABC and Disney's lawsuit against the FCC.

Federal Communications Commission

Earliest story we hold Apr 28, 2026 · 13 stories · 79 independent sources (counted once each) · 124 days

Part ofFederal Communications CommissionDonald TrumpBrendan CarrMelania Trump

Part of The Trump administration and the press

  1. Trump's lawsuits against news outletsOct 31, 2024 – Aug 22, 2026
  2. The end of federal money for NPR and PBSJan 30, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026
  3. Hegseth's Pentagon press restrictionsFeb 1, 2025 – Sep 4, 2026
  4. The White House's control of press accessFeb 11, 2025 – Sep 26, 2026
  5. the FCC's early review of ABC's licensesThis arcApr 28 – Aug 30, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Aug 30– Sep 1Trump says NBC’s Welker to be reported to FCC over characterization of his endorsement record46 articles · 39 independent sources
4 left, 10 center, 10 right
Aug 18– 20Inside Disney and ABC's First Amendment rights as they sue FCC over early license renewal81 articles · 61 independent sources
7 left, 18 center, 10 right
Jul 30ABC fires back at FCC, alleging a campaign of “clearcut ... retaliation” on behalf of Trump7 articles · 7 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 3 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Apr 28 – 29FCC chairman launches early review of ABC's licenses to broadcast amid Trump-Kimmel feud15 articles · 14 independent sources
  2. Jul 7 – 8ABC fights back against FCC regulators in dispute over 'The View'17 articles · 14 independent sources
  3. Jul 16 – 18Trump threatens network licenses for not carrying speech33 articles · 25 independent sources
  4. Aug 18 – 20Inside Disney and ABC's First Amendment rights as they sue FCC over early license renewal81 articles · 61 independent sources
  5. Aug 30 – Sep 1Trump says NBC’s Welker to be reported to FCC over characterization of his endorsement record46 articles · 39 independent sources
    1. Aug 30Trump calls for NBC’s Kristen Welker to face ‘rebuke or punishment’ from the FCC
    2. Aug 31Trump's attacks on NBC's Welker raise pressure on FCC
    3. Sep 1Trump creates new headache for GOP with call for FCC to crack down on NBC, Welker

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Apr 27May 25Jun 15Jul 13Aug 3Aug 31

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Apr 27, 202648422
May 4, 202624217
May 11, 20260127
Jun 22, 20261023
Jul 6, 202642317
Jul 13, 2026831635
Jul 20, 20260047
Jul 27, 202632310
Aug 17, 20267181074
Aug 24, 202625523
Aug 31, 202627518

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

28% left · 42% center · 30% right of 79 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 13 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. April 2026

    Apr 28FCC to Seek Early Review of Disney’s Broadcast TV Licenses14 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
  2. Apr 28– 29FCC chairman launches early review of ABC's licenses to broadcast amid Trump-Kimmel feud15 articles · 14 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 2 right

  3. May 2026

    May 8ABC accuses Trump administration of violating free speech rights18 articles · 13 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 2 right
  4. May 11Democratic FCC commissioner tells Disney it is the target of a ‘censorship’ campaign7 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 2 right

  5. June 2026

    Jun 22Trump FCC’s beef with ‘The View’ prompts ABC to launch on-air campaign for viewer support5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 2 right

  6. July 2026

    Jul 7– 8ABC fights back against FCC regulators in dispute over 'The View'17 articles · 14 independent sources
    4 left, 2 center, 3 right
  7. Jul 16– 18Trump threatens network licenses for not carrying speech33 articles · 25 independent sources
    8 left, 3 center, 13 right
  8. Jul 16– 18FCC readies rulings against ABC's 'The View,' Disney licenses5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right
  9. Jul 22– 23Brendan Carr Says ABC's Refusal To Air a Trump Speech Could Affect Renewal of Its Broadcast Licenses8 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  10. Jul 25– 30ABC argues that early license review by FCC is ‘retaliation’ for network’s coverage7 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 1 right
  11. Jul 30ABC fires back at FCC, alleging a campaign of “clearcut ... retaliation” on behalf of Trump7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 3 right

  12. August 2026

    Aug 18– 20Inside Disney and ABC's First Amendment rights as they sue FCC over early license renewal81 articles · 61 independent sources
    7 left, 18 center, 10 right
  13. Aug 30– Sep 1Trump says NBC’s Welker to be reported to FCC over characterization of his endorsement record46 articles · 39 independent sources
    4 left, 10 center, 10 right