Sen. Kennedy Warns FCC on TV Scrutiny, Citing 1st Amendment Risks
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Aug 5
Sen. Kennedy Warns FCC on TV Scrutiny, Citing 1st Amendment Risks
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 5
Summary
John Kennedy said Wednesday that the FCC "scares" him right now, warning Brendan Carr’s scrutiny of broadcast television is edging into First Amendment territory.
At a Senate Judiciary hearing, Kennedy pressed FCC general counsel Adam Candeub on what business the agency has policing networks that criticize political figures and who gets to define the "public interest."
The criticism marks a sharper turn from Kennedy, who four months ago downplayed Carr’s early renewal review of eight Disney-owned ABC station licenses but now told officials to "be careful."
Carr’s broader campaign has included inquiries into alleged broadcast bias, attacks on Jimmy Kimmel and signals that ABC licenses could be revoked, though he says the FCC is not acting as "the speech police."
Kennedy joins a widening bipartisan chorus — including Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Jamie Raskin — suggesting Carr’s media crackdown is becoming a larger constitutional and political liability for the FCC.