First Amendment FCC Brendan Carr media regulation Disney White House Correspondents' Dinner Jimmy Kimmel ABC Melania Trump Ted Cruz

Republican Senator Ted Cruz has accused Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr of overstepping his authority after the regulator demanded that Disney file for an early license renewal of ABC’s eight local broadcast stations.

“It is not government’s job to censor speech, and I do not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police,” Cruz told Punchbowl News following Carr’s request for the renewal within 30 days.

FCC’s Action Tied to Kimmel Controversy

The FCC’s demand comes amid renewed scrutiny of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who faced criticism from the Trump administration for jokes made about First Lady Melania Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner. The incident followed an assassination attempt against the president.

Cruz and Carr’s History of Disputes

This is not the first time Cruz has clashed with Carr over the FCC’s actions. Last year, Kimmel was temporarily pulled off the air after Carr threatened to “do this the easy way or the hard way” in response to comments Kimmel made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Cruz condemned Carr’s remarks at the time, calling them “dangerous as hell.”

“That’s right out of Goodfellas. That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it,’” he said.

Cruz’s latest criticism underscores ongoing tensions between lawmakers and the FCC over issues of free speech and regulatory authority.

Source: The Wrap
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