Senator Markey Slams Republicans for Blocking Senate Resolution Condemning FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel

Watch: Senator Markey's remarks decrying Trump FCC's censorship of media organizations

Resolution Text (PDF)

Washington (September 18, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today asked unanimous consent to pass a resolution condemning Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr for his censorship of comedian Jimmy Kimmel this week. On the Senate floor, Senator Markey decried the comments from Carr on a right-wing podcast suggesting that the FCC would take action against ABC and its parent company, Disney, over a monologue this week by Kimmel on his late-night show. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) objected without any explanation.

Below are excerpts from Senator Markey's remarks.

"A comedian was silenced because a government regulator flexed his authority. This is not an isolated slip of the tongue. It is part of a broader pattern by the FCC under Carr's leadership. Over and over again, he has used his office to attack and undermine journalists, broadcasters, and news organizations that dare to speak in ways he dislikes. He has threatened media companies with investigations for their editorial choices. He has amplified partisan attacks on reporters who cover him critically. He has turned the FCC into the Federal Censorship Commission.

"The FCC was not created to dictate what late-night hosts may joke about. It was not created to punish networks for broadcasting opinions that government officials dislike. It was not created to be the speech police. And yet, Chairman Carr has pretended otherwise. He has distorted the FCC's mandate to serve his own partisan ends. Instead of acting in the public interest, he's trying to force broadcasters to act in 'Trump's interest.' He should know better. He should resign.

"The Senate must speak with one voice in rejecting such unconstitutional actions. The resolution I bring before this chamber today condemns Brendan Carr for weaponizing government power against Disney and ABC. It affirms that the FCC does not and must not have the authority to punish broadcasters for the content of their programming. I call on my colleagues-Republican and Democrat alike-to stand for the Constitution, not for censorship. To stand for freedom, not for intimidation. To stand for a free press, not a government-controlled one."

Senator Markey has aggressively pushed back on the Trump administration's efforts to attack news organizations and intimidate the media.

• Today, Senator Markey, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) today led seven of their colleagues in writing to Chairman Carr urging the FCC to cease its censorship of media organizations. The senators sent the letter following comments from Carr on a right-wing podcast suggesting that the FCC would take action against ABC and its parent company, Disney, over a monologue this week by comedian Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show.
• In July, Senator Markey wrote to Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone, demanding answers on the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," specifically requesting whether anyone in the Trump administration asked for the show to be cancelled.
• In May, as Paramount was reportedly pushing for the settlement to help facilitate approval of its merger, Senators Markey and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) wrote to Chairman Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger. After Paramount announced its settlement with Trump, Senators Markey and Luján wrote to FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, urging the FCC to hold a full Commission vote on the pending merger.
• In March, Senators Markey and Luján, along with Senator Rosen, introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the FCC from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast.
• In February, Senators Markey and Luján, along with Senator Peters, wrote to Chairman Carr and then-Commissioner Nathan Simington regarding the FCC's recent, politically motivated actions against broadcasters and public media.

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