The Trump administration and the press: the FCC's pressure on ABC's licenses

Active · last development Oct 6, 2026: “ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction”

What this arc covers

The Trump administration's pressure on ABC's broadcast licenses: the FCC's 2025 investigation of Disney and ABC over their diversity policies, Trump's calls for networks that cover him negatively to lose their licenses, Chairman Brendan Carr's role in Jimmy Kimmel's suspension in September 2025, and the FCC's 2026 early review of the licenses held by ABC and Disney amid Trump's feud with 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.

Photo from WHEC Rochester, with ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction (Oct 6, 2026), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Mar 29, 2025 · 18 stories · 96 independent sources (counted once each) · 556 days

Part ofFederal Communications CommissionDonald TrumpBrendan CarrMelania TrumpJosh ShapiroKristen Welker

Part of The Trump administration and the press

  1. Trump's lawsuits against news outletsOct 3, 2022 – Sep 23, 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 – Oct 8, 2026
  5. the FCC's pressure on ABC's licensesThis arcMar 29, 2025 – Oct 6, 2026

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

Oct 6– 72026ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction19 articles · 19 independent sources
2 left, 2 center, 0 right
Aug 30– Sep 12026Trump 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– 202026Inside 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

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Sep 17 – 19, 2025Jimmy Kimmel suspension puts spotlight on Brendan Carr, Trump's FCC chair24 articles · 16 independent sources
  2. Jul 16 – 18, 2026Trump threatens network licenses for not carrying speech33 articles · 25 independent sources
  3. Aug 18 – 20, 2026Inside Disney and ABC's First Amendment rights as they sue FCC over early license renewal81 articles · 61 independent sources
  4. Aug 30 – Sep 1, 2026Trump says NBC’s Welker to be reported to FCC over characterization of his endorsement record46 articles · 39 independent sources
    1. Aug 30, 2026Trump calls for NBC’s Kristen Welker to face ‘rebuke or punishment’ from the FCC
    2. Aug 31, 2026Trump's attacks on NBC's Welker raise pressure on FCC
    3. Sep 1, 2026Trump creates new headache for GOP with call for FCC to crack down on NBC, Welker
  5. Oct 6 – 7, 2026ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction19 articles · 19 independent sources

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

Mar 2025Jul 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026Jun 2026Oct 2026

LeftCenterRight

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

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Mar 24, 20250125
Aug 25, 20253228
Sep 15, 202547531
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
Oct 5, 202622017

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 · 43% center · 29% right of 96 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 18 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. March 2025

    Mar 29Trump's FCC commissioner opens investigation into Walt Disney Co. and ABC for diversity policies5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 2 right

  2. August 2025

    Aug 25Trump hits ABC, NBC as ‘FAKE NEWS,’ says he’d support FCC revoking licenses9 articles · 9 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 2 right

  3. September 2025

    Sep 17– 19Jimmy Kimmel suspension puts spotlight on Brendan Carr, Trump's FCC chair24 articles · 16 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 3 right
  4. Sep 18– 19Trump suggests that broadcasters who cover him negatively should lose their licenses13 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 2 right

  5. April 2026

    Apr 28FCC to Seek Early Review of Disney’s Broadcast TV Licenses14 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
  6. 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

  7. May 2026

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

  9. 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

  10. 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
  11. Jul 16– 18Trump threatens network licenses for not carrying speech33 articles · 25 independent sources
    8 left, 3 center, 13 right
  12. Jul 16– 18FCC readies rulings against ABC's 'The View,' Disney licenses5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 5 right
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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

  16. 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
  17. 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

  18. October 2026

    Oct 6– 7ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction19 articles · 19 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right