Peters Calls Out FCC for Censoring Media Organizations, Attacking Americans’ First Amendment Right to Free Speech

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop its censorship of media organizations and attacks on Americans' First Amendment right to free speech and freedom of the press. The letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr comes after Carr threatened to take action against ABC and its parent company, Disney, including to revoke the network's broadcast licenses, over a monologue by comedian Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show. Peters and several of his Senate Democratic colleagues demanded answers for the FCC's conduct.

Peters and his colleagues wrote, "It is simply unacceptable for the FCC Chairman to threaten a media organization because he does not like the content of its programming - it violates the First Amendment that you claim to champion. The FCC's role in overseeing the public airwaves does not give it the power to act as a roving press censor, targeting broadcasters based on their political commentary."

"Under your leadership, the FCC appears to be discarding Congress's clear directive in the Communications Act to ensure broadcasters act in the 'public interest'-and is instead requiring them to act in 'Trump's interest.' This is precisely what government censorship looks like," the senators continued. "We urge you to immediately stop threatening media organizations due to their programming and return to the FCC's mission of ensuring all Americans have access to affordable, efficient communication services."

The senators requested answers by September 25, 2025 to the following questions:

1. How is the FCC defining the "public interest" standard to which broadcasters must adhere? To the extent that the FCC has adopted some new ideological or political neutrality test, how is the FCC defining ideological or political bias?
2. Did you, your staff, or any FCC staff have any communication with Disney or ABC about Jimmy Kimmel, his Monday monologue, or his show between Monday, September 15 and today?
3. You publicly stated that ABC and Disney could "do this the easy way or the hard way." Please detail the "easy way" and the "hard way" you were referencing in making this statement.

To read the full letter, click here.

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