Trump FCC investigatesThe View, reportedly says “fake news” will be punished

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reportedly probing ABC's daytime talk show, The View, a move that has drawn criticism from FCC Democrat Anna Gomez. In a statement released on Friday night, Gomez characterized this investigation as a form of government intimidation aimed at suppressing dissent against the Trump administration. "Let’s be clear on what this is. This is government intimidation, not a legitimate investigation," Gomez asserted. She expressed skepticism about the FCC's intentions, suggesting that previous investigations led to no significant findings or actions. According to her, the real aim appears to be to use the FCC's regulatory power to intimidate critics and stifle free speech. Although the FCC has not formally announced the investigation, there have been indications that such a move was forthcoming. This follows pressure exerted by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on ABC to suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel. In September, Carr mentioned that it would be worthwhile for the FCC to examine whether The View and other programs were in violation of the agency’s equal-time rule. In January, the Carr-led FCC issued warnings to various talk shows, indicating they might lose their bona fide news exemption under the equal-time rule. Fox News reported that the FCC's investigation into The View was initiated amid a broader crackdown on equal time for political candidates. Sources within the FCC revealed to Fox that the investigation was sparked by an interview that The View conducted with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. The FCC source was quoted stating that “fake news is not getting a free pass anymore.” Furthermore, ABC may be required to provide equal airtime for Republican candidates, including incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn and other primary challengers. The investigation has gained further traction as President Trump shared a link to the Fox News report on his Truth Social account. Reuters also confirmed that the FCC has opened a probe to assess whether The View violated equal time regulations following the appearance of Talarico on the show.