Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Hegseth demands media sign press restrictions agreement — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that media outlets agree not to publish any material about the Defense Department—even if unclassified—unless explicitly authorized by department officials. He set a deadline of 5:00 p.m. on October 15 for outlets to sign the agreement or surrender their press badges. Every major press outlet, including Fox News Channel, refused, citing the First Amendment guarantee of press freedom.
• Pentagon imposes media credential restrictions on defense reporting — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanded that media outlets report only information authorized by Department of Defense officials or lose their press credentials. All but one far-right opinion network refused to comply. The Pentagon Press Association declared October 15, 2025 "a dark day for press freedom" and expressed concern about weakening U.S. commitment to transparency and public accountability.
• Pentagon revokes press badges for journalists refusing new reporting restrictions — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implemented new Pentagon media guidelines requiring journalists to sign restrictive policies governing information solicitation from defense employees. Reporters who declined to sign—including those from the Washington Post, CNN, the Atlantic, and the Guardian—were required to return their press badges by 5 p.m. Wednesday, ending decades of in-house Pentagon coverage. Major television networks issued a joint statement opposing the guidelines as incompatible with free press principles, but proceeded with badge surrender while pledging to continue coverage from outside the building.

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• Pentagon issues restrictive press credential policy; major news outlets refuse to sign — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a new Pentagon press policy requiring journalists to pledge they will not obtain unauthorized material and restricting access to certain areas without official accompaniment. The policy, presented in September and requiring signature by October 14 at 5pm or loss of credentials within 24 hours, was rejected by the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, the Atlantic, the Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press, NPR, HuffPost, and Breaking Defense. Hegseth responded with dismissive social media posts; Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell claimed outlets mischaracterized the policy as merely requiring acknowledgment of understanding rather than agreement.
• Major news outlets refuse to comply with Pentagon screening mandate — The Washington Post, New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, Guardian, Breaking Defense, and Newsmax issued statements refusing to comply with new rules mandated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requiring that reporting on the Pentagon and military issues be submitted for screening and approval by the Department of Defense. Only OAN has signed the mandate so far. Newsmax stated the requirements are "unnecessary and onerous."
• Major media outlets refused to sign Pentagon press policy — Major media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal, said they wouldn't sign on to a new Defense Department policy that the Pentagon Press Association warned "gags Pentagon employees and threatens retaliation against reporters who seek out information that has not been pre-approved for release." The move marks a mass exodus of Pentagon reporters, who lost their press badges when outlets refused to sign on to the policy.
• Trump endorsed Pentagon press restrictions — Trump endorsed the Pentagon's new press restrictions, saying that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace," and adding, "The press is very dishonest." Hegseth, who called the restrictions "common sense stuff," accused reporters of trying to get Defense Department employees to "break the law" by leaking information.

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• Kristi Noem released a TSA video blaming Democrats for shutdown impacts. — Kristi Noem, as head of the Department of Homeland Security, released a video to be played in U.S. airports stating that TSA's top priority is ensuring pleasant and efficient airport experiences while keeping travelers safe. However, she blamed Democrats in Congress for refusing to fund the federal government, stating that because of this "most of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay." The video uses federal resources and airport infrastructure to deliver a partisan political message blaming one party for the shutdown.
• Seattle and Portland airports refuse to air Kristi Noem video — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport announced they will not broadcast a video by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that criticizes Democrats and blames them for flight delays. The airports determined the video violates the Hatch Act by using federal resources for partisan political messaging.
• Multiple U.S. airports refused to show Homeland Security partisan video — Many U.S. airports refused to show a new video intended to play on screens near security lines that features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democratic lawmakers for the government shutdown. Some airports raised concerns that the video is a violation of the Hatch Act, which generally prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
• Multiple airports refuse to air Kristi Noem partisan political advertisement — Thirteen major U.S. airports have confirmed they will not play a partisan political PSA video by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for airport delays. The airports refusing to air the video include Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Niagara Falls International, Buffalo Niagara International, Westchester County, Phoenix International, Las Vegas International, Charlotte International, Cleveland International, LAX, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark International.
• Airports refuse to air DHS shutdown video citing Hatch Act violation — Airports around the country refused to air a video recorded by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for display at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. The video blamed Democrats for the government shutdown. Some airports noted the video violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits the use of government assets for partisan purposes.
• Kristi Noem administration spending hundreds of millions on propaganda ads — Trump loyalist Kristi Noem's administration was spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on propaganda advertisements glorifying Trump and demonizing migrants, diverting resources from family protection programs.

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• Paramount hires Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief; purchases The Free Press for $150 million — Paramount announced it would hire Bari Weiss, a former New York Times opinion columnist with no broadcast news experience, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss founded The Free Press in 2021, a publication she has used to criticize progressive movements. Paramount simultaneously purchased The Free Press for a reported $150 million. Weiss stated her commitment to "fair," "factual" journalism, but a Popular Information review found The Free Press repeatedly distorted facts to conform to a right-wing ideological agenda.
• Bari Weiss hired to run CBS News — Bari Weiss, a journalist who was forced out of the New York Times for being insufficiently progressive, was hired to lead CBS News, marking a significant shift in mainstream media leadership away from progressive editorial influence.

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• Trump attacked Fox News for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly about Republican responsibility for government shutdown — Trump posted on social media criticizing Fox News Channel for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and allowing him to point out that Republicans had shut down the government rather than extend premium tax credits for healthcare. Trump questioned why Fox News was "putting on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly to talk about, totally unabated or challenged, Healthcare" and complained that "The FAKE SPIN is so bad for Republicans that it is hard to believe that we WIN."
• Trump attacked Fox News and Pete Doocy — Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Fox News and reporter Pete Doocy for interviewing Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) about healthcare without "abated or challenged" opposition. Trump stated: "Why is Fox News and Peter Doocy putting on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly to talk about, totally unabated or challenged, Healthcare? The FAKE SPIN is so bad for Republicans that it is hard to believe that we WIN." Trump demanded Fox either "get on board, or get off board, NOW," claiming Fox benefits from Trump's ratings but spins them "in the Democrats' direction." Trump complained that Fox refuses to publish polls showing him at "65% in Popularity, a Republican RECORD."

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• Trump criticized Trump-appointed judge — Trump publicly attacked Judge Karin Immergut on Truth Social, stating "If he made that decision - Portland is burning to the ground" and "That judge ought to be ashamed of himself." Trump claimed he "wasn't served well by the people who pick judges" despite having appointed Immergut himself. Trump's statements misrepresented conditions in Portland, where protests have been confined to a single city block with no widespread destruction.
• Trump attacked Rev. Al Sharpton and called for FCC investigation of NBC — On Truth Social, Trump attacked Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and MSNBC host, claimed Comcast chair Brian Roberts is "afraid" to cancel his show because it wouldn't be "Politically Correct," and once again called on the Federal Communications Commission to "look into" NBC's broadcasting license. This represents a continued pattern of Trump using regulatory agencies to target media outlets critical of his administration.

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• Trump attacked Rev. Al Sharpton and called for FCC investigation of NBC — On Truth Social, Trump attacked Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and MSNBC host, claimed Comcast chair Brian Roberts is "afraid" to cancel his show because it wouldn't be "Politically Correct," and once again called on the Federal Communications Commission to "look into" NBC's broadcasting license. This represents a continued pattern of Trump using regulatory agencies to target media outlets critical of his administration.

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• White House restructures press pool selection, elevates MAGA-aligned outlets and influencers — The Trump administration has fundamentally altered White House press interactions by removing control of reporter selection from the White House Correspondents' Association and placing it directly under White House authority. This shift has resulted in the inclusion of MAGA-aligned outlets, influencers, and podcasters while marginalizing established news organizations. A Media Matters review found rightwing outlets received 41% of questions in briefings from January to April 2025, with outlets like One America News Network and Gateway Pundit called on more frequently than the Washington Post and Associated Press. The administration also added a "new media" seat in the briefing room, always called on first, typically occupied by administration-friendly voices.

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• Nexstar seeks FCC waiver for $6.2 billion Tegna acquisition — Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, a media company that owns local television affiliates. The transaction requires the FCC to waive its rule prohibiting a single company from owning broadcast stations that collectively reach more than 39% of the country. The article suggests that Nexstar's willingness to suppress Kimmel's programming may be connected to its regulatory interests before the FCC, which must approve the acquisition.

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• Sinclair demanded Kimmel make donation to Kirk family and Turning Point USA as condition for reinstatement — Sinclair Broadcast Group stated it would not consider airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" unless and until host Jimmy Kimmel makes "a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA," Kirk's right-wing political advocacy group. The demand effectively conditions Kimmel's return to air on a financial payment to a political organization, creating a direct link between editorial suppression and financial extraction.
• Sinclair conditions Kimmel's return on personal apology and donations to right-wing organization — Sinclair Broadcasting stated it would not consider airing Kimmel's show until the host personally apologized and made donations to both the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, a right-wing organizing group founded by Charlie Kirk. The article notes that David Smith, Sinclair's executive director, donated $250,000 to Turning Point USA the previous year, raising questions about the company's financial and ideological alignment with the organization whose support it demanded from Kimmel.

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• Sinclair Broadcast Group forced Jimmy Kimmel off air and produced propaganda special on Charlie Kirk — Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns dozens of ABC affiliates, pressured ABC to suspend production of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after Kimmel criticized the exploitation of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Sinclair then produced a "special report" that depicted Kirk as a prophetic religious figure while omitting his documented far-right views, including opposition to the Civil Rights Act, support for public executions, and antisemitic statements blaming "Jewish donors" for national problems. The special was initially scheduled to air during Kimmel's timeslot but was pulled minutes before broadcast and published only on YouTube.
• Sinclair special omitted Charlie Kirk's extremist statements and depicted him as prophetic religious figure — Sinclair's National News Desk produced a memorial special that systematically omitted Kirk's documented extremist positions—including calling the Civil Rights Act a "huge mistake," supporting public executions, and blaming "Jewish donors" for national problems—while depicting him primarily as a prophetic religious figure and comparing him to Reverend Billy Graham. The program framed Kirk's death as having "fueled a revival of faith across America" and included interviews suggesting his legacy would inspire a new generation of Christian activism.

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• Disney resumes Jimmy Kimmel Live production; Sinclair and Nexstar continue pre-emption — Disney announced it would resume production of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" beginning Tuesday, less than a week after suspending the program. However, TV station owners Sinclair and Nexstar announced they would continue to pre-empt the program on their affiliate stations. Nexstar is currently seeking to buy Tegna, another local TV operator, in a deal that would require the Trump FCC to change rules limiting the percentage of households a single company's stations can reach.
• Trump threatens ABC over Jimmy Kimmel — Ahead of the return of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," Trump falsely called Kimmel "yet another arm" of the Democratic National Committee, which he baselessly claims "would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution." He threatened to "test ABC out on this," noting that while the network settled for $16 million with him in his last lawsuit, "this one sounds even more lucrative."
• ABC affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair refuse to broadcast Kimmel's show; FCC chair encouraged action — After ABC resumed Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show following a suspension related to comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination, 66 ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair declined to air the program. Nexstar cited commitment to "respectful, constructive dialogue"; Sinclair said discussions with ABC were ongoing but previously demanded Kimmel apologize and donate to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had publicly encouraged affiliate owners to "take action" against Kimmel and "pre-empt" programming counter to local community values.
• FCC Chairman Carr encourages broadcast affiliates to suppress Kimmel programming — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly encouraged affiliate owners to "take action" against Jimmy Kimmel and "pre-empt" programming that runs counter to the values of "their local communities." This statement preceded Nexstar and Sinclair's decisions to withhold Kimmel's show from their 66 combined affiliates. The timing and language suggest regulatory pressure on private broadcasters to suppress content based on political speech.
• Sinclair and Nexstar media companies decline to air Jimmy Kimmel on ABC affiliates — Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Company have refused to air Jimmy Kimmel content on their affiliated ABC stations. The decision represents a media censorship action affecting broadcast distribution. Advocates are calling local stations to demand compliance with First Amendment principles and free speech standards. The underlying cause relates to Kimmel's on-air commentary, which triggered the networks' editorial decision to withhold programming.
• Sinclair and Nexstar Media Companies Refuse to Air Kimmel — Sinclair and Nexstar media companies have decided not to air Jimmy Kimmel's show on their ABC affiliates. This decision has sparked calls for advocacy to demand that local stations respect the First Amendment and support free speech. The refusal to air the show is seen as part of a broader issue concerning media control and censorship, prompting public action to address these concerns.

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• FCC chair pressures ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel over Kirk comments — Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr pressured ABC to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's killing. The action drew criticism from some Republicans concerned about government interference in free speech and media editorial decisions. Democratic senators, including Chuck Schumer, called the pressure "government censorship" and demanded Carr's resignation, accusing him of "corrupt abuse of power" and threatening congressional subpoena power.
• FCC Chairman Carr threatened retaliation against ABC over Jimmy Kimmel — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to retaliate against ABC for its handling of comedian Jimmy Kimmel's employment. The threat was characterized as an attempt to pressure the network regarding speech the administration disfavored. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly criticized Carr's threat as "unbelievably dangerous," comparing it to extortion and warning that government should not decide which speech to permit or threaten broadcasters with removal from the air.
• FCC chair threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel comments — FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned ABC that the agency may take regulatory action against the broadcaster, including "the possibility of fines or license revocation," over comments Jimmy Kimmel made on his late-night show about Trump and the response to Charlie Kirk's death. The threat came after Kimmel's monologue criticized the politicization of Kirk's assassination.
• FCC threatens to revoke ABC broadcast licenses over Kimmel's criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC stations after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel criticized the Trump administration's response to Charlie Kirk's death. In response to the regulatory threat, ABC indefinitely pulled Kimmel's show off the air. The action represents regulatory retaliation against media criticism of the administration.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC broadcast license revocation — Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened that ABC must suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show or lose its broadcast license. The threat was made in response to Kimmel's on-air comments about MAGA Republicans' search for someone to blame. Carr later denied involvement in the suspension after public backlash.

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• MSNBC fires political analyst Matthew Dowd over Charlie Kirk commentary — Matthew Dowd, a senior political analyst at MSNBC, was fired by the network following on-air commentary suggesting that Charlie Kirk's own rhetoric may have contributed to his shooting death in Utah. Dowd stated that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions." MSNBC publicly condemned his analysis as "inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable." Dowd later told Katie Couric that MSNBC acknowledged his remarks were being misconstrued but dismissed him anyway, saying "the decision's been made."

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• Karen Attiah fired from Washington Post over social media posts — The Washington Post fired columnist Karen Attiah, allegedly over social media posts "about white men in response to the killing of Charlie Kirk." The Post's termination letter called her actions "unacceptable" and "gross misconduct," accusing her of "potentially endanger[ing] the physical safety" of colleagues. Attiah stated the posts were about "speaking out against political violence, racial double standards, and America's apathy toward guns." The Post Guild called her firing "unjust."
• Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah files grievance over termination — Karen Attiah, a Washington Post columnist who was fired last week over social media posts in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, filed a grievance arguing her posts were within the company's labor agreement and social media policy. Attiah also sent a letter to the Post's head of human resources in an effort to recover damages from her termination.

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• FCC chair signals regulatory scrutiny of ABC talk shows — FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggested the commission might investigate whether ABC talk shows including The View "qualify as bona fide news programs" and therefore remain exempt from equal-opportunity rules. Carr's comments came after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show following his critical remarks about Charlie Kirk, raising concerns that regulatory threats influenced the network's decision to remove the comedian.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatens broadcast licenses over Kimmel content — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of local television stations that continued to air Jimmy Kimmel's show, pressuring them to drop the program. Carr made the threat while simultaneously signaling openness to rule changes that would allow Nexstar Media Group to acquire Tegna, a merger that would violate existing FCC ownership caps. The coordinated pressure on Nexstar CEO Perry Sook—who would become a billionaire from the deal—created a quid pro quo dynamic linking regulatory approval to media censorship.
• FCC Chair Carr approves Skydance-Paramount merger with Trump donor ombudsman condition — FCC Chair Brendan Carr approved Skydance Media's $8 billion merger with Paramount with a condition that a Trump donor be installed as an ombudsman at CBS News. The approval tied regulatory action to the placement of a political loyalist in a news oversight position.
• FCC Chair Carr claims credit for defunding NPR and PBS and removing liberal hosts — FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that "NPR has been defunded. PBS has been defunded. Colbert is retiring. Joy Reid is out at MSNBC. Terry Moran is gone from ABC and is now admitting that they are biased. CBS has now made some commitments to us that they are going to return to more fact-based journalism." Carr presented these outcomes as accomplishments resulting from his regulatory actions.
• FCC Chair Carr launches investigation of NPR and PBS — FCC Chair Brendan Carr launched an ongoing investigation of NPR and PBS over sponsorship practices. This action is part of a broader pattern in which Carr has criticized nearly every major media company, demanded answers from YouTube parent Alphabet over alleged discrimination against faith-based programming, and threatened to block mergers of companies engaged in DEI practices.
• Sinclair Media demands Kimmel apology and donation to Charlie Kirk organization — Sinclair Broadcast Group, a right-leaning media company that owns local television stations, demanded that Jimmy Kimmel apologize and make a donation to Charlie Kirk's organization. Sinclair also seeks FCC approval to increase ownership caps for television stations, creating a similar quid pro quo dynamic as with Nexstar.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's commentary on Charlie Kirk assassination — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC and its local affiliates with regulatory action after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made statements about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Carr stated the FCC had "remedies" available and told the network to "change conduct" regarding Kimmel or face "additional work for the FCC ahead." ABC, concerned about retaliation, cancelled Kimmel's show in response to the threat.

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• Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely after satirical commentary on Charlie Kirk. — ABC/Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night program indefinitely following his on-air satire targeting those exploiting Charlie Kirk's name. The article frames this as corporate censorship of protected speech and satire, arguing that removal of the show signals corporate control over which critiques are permitted on broadcast platforms. No official statement from Disney or ABC is quoted; the suspension is presented as a response to pressure from powerful interests.
• ABC cancels Jimmy Kimmel Live following Trump pressure and FCC complaints — ABC, owned by Disney, indefinitely suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission and Nexstar, the country's largest owner of local ABC stations. The cancellation came after Kimmel's monologue criticized characterizations of a person who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than a MAGA supporter. Trump celebrated the cancellation on his social network, calling it "Great News for America."
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressures ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live over on-air comments — FCC Chair Brendan Carr condemned late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's on-air comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing as "truly sick" and suggested ABC and Disney could face regulatory consequences for violating public-interest obligations under federal broadcasting rules. ABC suspended Kimmel Live indefinitely on Wednesday. House Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, issued a joint statement accusing Carr of "corrupt abuse of power" and demanding his resignation, characterizing the suspension as government-coerced censorship and threatening congressional investigations and subpoenas.
• ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night television show — ABC pulled comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show off the air following his on-air commentary Monday about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel's monologue criticized efforts by "the MAGA gang" to characterize Kirk's killer as anything other than one of them and to score political points from the death. The suspension came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened broadcast licensees with fines and license revocation, and after Nexstar (the largest ABC affiliate operator) announced it would cease airing the program. Kimmel's show attracts top ratings in the 18-49 demographic and has over twenty million YouTube subscribers.
• ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show — ABC suspended production of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show on September 18, 2025, allegedly in response to his on-air comments about MAGA Republicans. The suspension followed threats from FCC chair Brendan Carr that ABC would lose its broadcast license if it did not suspend the show. After intense public backlash, ABC announced on September 22, 2025, that the show would return to air on Tuesday.
• ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel's Show — ABC suspended the television show of comedian Jimmy Kimmel following his comments about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension was influenced by remarks from FCC chair Brendan Carr, who suggested that broadcasters could face consequences for airing Kimmel's show. The largest operator of ABC affiliates, Nexstar, announced it would stop airing Kimmel's show, leading to ABC's decision to suspend it. This action has sparked significant backlash regarding free speech and artistic expression.
• Nexstar Stops Airing Kimmel's Show — Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates, announced it would cease airing Jimmy Kimmel's show, which contributed to ABC's decision to suspend the program. This move came amid pressure from FCC chair Brendan Carr regarding Kimmel's comments.
• ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely — ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show after the comedian suggested "many in Maga land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk." The suspension followed FCC Chair Brendan Carr's condemnation of Kimmel's remarks as "truly sick" and suggestions of regulatory consequences, and came after affiliate operator Nexstar called the comments "offensive and insensitive." The decision prompted widespread protests, boycott calls against Disney, and criticism from industry figures and Democratic lawmakers.
• FCC chair Brendan Carr threatens ABC over Jimmy Kimmel commentary — FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over comedian Jimmy Kimmel's comments regarding reaction to the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. The network suspended Kimmel's show in response. Democrats accused the Trump administration of censoring a prominent dissenter. Congressman Ro Khanna made a failed attempt to subpoena Carr at a congressional hearing to address the threat.
• FCC chair signals regulatory scrutiny of ABC talk shows — FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggested the commission might investigate whether ABC talk shows including The View "qualify as bona fide news programs" and therefore remain exempt from equal-opportunity rules. Carr's comments came after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show following his critical remarks about Charlie Kirk, raising concerns that regulatory threats influenced the network's decision to remove the comedian.
• Trump threatens to revoke TV network licenses over "negative" coverage — President Trump suggested on Air Force One that TV networks covering him negatively could face government punishment, claiming networks are "97% against me" and stating their licenses "should be taken away." Trump falsely claimed major networks require government licensing (the FCC does not license networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, or Fox). Trump also celebrated ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show, calling the comedian "not a talented person" with "bad ratings."
• ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel's show following administration pressure — ABC suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel's television show after the Trump administration applied pressure to the network. The suspension occurred in the context of the administration's broader effort to divide the country into political friends and enemies and to use government power against perceived opponents.
• ABC suspends late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from air — ABC suspended late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel from his program. The suspension followed pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who had threatened to revoke broadcast licenses of stations airing Kimmel's show. Multiple sources and commentators characterized the action as government censorship targeting a critic of the Trump administration. The suspension prompted widespread commentary from comedians, journalists, and political figures about threats to press freedom and First Amendment protections.

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• FCC Chair Carr agrees to testify before Senate Commerce Committee regarding Kimmel suspension pressure — Brendan Carr, Trump-appointed FCC chair, agreed to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee following Disney's temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's talk show. On September 17, Carr appeared on a conservative podcast and stated "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," pressuring broadcasters to stop airing Kimmel's show over comments about conservative pundit Charlie Kirk. Major carriers Nexstar and Sinclair subsequently pulled the show, forcing ABC's hand. ABC suspended the show indefinitely but brought it back a week later after subscriber cancellations. The hearing date has not been set but is expected after November.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC with license revocation if network did not remove Jimmy Kimmel from air — FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued a direct threat to ABC, stating "We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way" and warning of "additional work for the FCC ahead" if the network did not take action against Jimmy Kimmel. The threat came hours before ABC announced cancellation of Kimmel's show. Senior ABC and Disney executives convened emergency meetings; multiple execs felt Kimmel had not crossed a line, but the threat of Trump administration retaliation drove the decision.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened broadcast licensees with fines or license revocation over Jimmy Kimmel's show — On a right-wing podcast, FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that Jimmy Kimmel's on-air commentary about Charlie Kirk's murder constituted a "concerted effort to try to lie to the American people" and warned that the FCC had "remedies" available. Carr told licensed broadcasters they could face fines or license revocation if they continued airing Kimmel's program. He explicitly stated: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Following these threats, Nexstar (the largest ABC affiliate operator, which requires FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger) announced it would stop airing Kimmel's show, and ABC subsequently suspended the program.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr Threatens Action Against Kimmel — Brendan Carr, chair of the FCC, stated on a podcast that Jimmy Kimmel's comments were part of a "concerted effort to try to lie to the American people" and warned of potential remedies against broadcasters who air Kimmel's show. He indicated that the FCC could take actions against licensed broadcasters if they do not address Kimmel's conduct.

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• Nexstar Media Group announced it would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel's show from its stations — Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates, announced it would cease broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel's program from its stations. This decision came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened broadcast licensees with fines or license revocation over Kimmel's commentary. Nexstar requires FCC approval for a pending $6.2 billion merger, creating a direct regulatory leverage point for the agency's threats.
• Nexstar canceled Kimmel from their stations — Nexstar, a major broadcast company, announced it would not carry Jimmy Kimmel's show on its stations. Nexstar is currently awaiting FCC approval for a major acquisition of Tegna, which requires both FCC permission and a change to existing FCC regulations on station ownership limits.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will air tribute to Charlie Kirk in Kimmel's time slot and demanded apology and donation — Sinclair Broadcast Group, which controls a large percentage of local TV stations in America and is owned by Trump supporter David Smith, announced it will air a one-hour tribute to Charlie Kirk on Friday on all ABC-affiliated stations in Kimmel's 11:30 PM time slot. Sinclair called upon Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA.

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• Los Angeles Times editor reframes column to be more supportive of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — An opinion contributor at the Los Angeles Times accused editors of reframing a column he wrote criticizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his confirmation hearings to be more supportive of Kennedy. Owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, a doctor and medical inventor, posted that Kennedy was the country's "best chance" to fix healthcare and encouraged senators to confirm him. Soon-Shiong also told the editorial board to "take a break" from writing about Trump and implemented an AI "bias meter" on some op-eds.

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• CBS News hires Trump loyalist Kenneth Weinstein as ombudsman to review news coverage — CBS News appointed Kenneth R. Weinstein, former president of the Hudson Institute and a Trump supporter with no news experience, as ombudsman to evaluate complaints of bias at the network. Weinstein will report to Jeff Shell, president of Paramount (CBS's parent company). The appointment was made as part of Paramount's efforts to secure Trump administration approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance. Weinstein has a documented record of praising Trump's policies and criticizing Trump's political opponents in public statements dating back to 2018.

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• Paramount considers acquiring Bari Weiss's The Free Press and hiring Weiss for editorial role — Paramount is reportedly considering purchasing Bari Weiss's right-leaning publication The Free Press and positioning Weiss for a CBS News role tasked with "guiding the editorial direction of the division." The Free Press frequently publishes pieces criticizing progressive causes including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This move is part of Paramount's broader effort to align its editorial direction with Trump administration preferences.

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• CBS News changes "Face the Nation" editing policy after Trump administration pressure — CBS News announced it will change the editing policy for its program "Face the Nation" to air only live or unedited interviews, following criticism from the Trump administration. The change came after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem targeted the program, claiming an interview she gave was deceptively edited. Noem objected to CBS cutting a segment in which she made unsubstantiated claims about a deportee; the claims were denied by the subject and were not part of criminal charges against him.

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• FCC Chair Brendan Carr argued for constraining national media outlets — FCC Chair Brendan Carr argued on Fox that media organizations "need to operate in the public interest" and that the FCC is working to determine how it can "constrain the power of these national programmers" like ABC, CBS, and NBC. When asked whether "fair coverage" means coverage more favorable to Trump, Carr did not directly deny the implication.
• Trump sued Wall Street Journal parent company for $10 billion over Epstein birthday letter story — Trump sued the Wall Street Journal's parent company Dow Jones and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion after the Journal published a story by Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo reporting that Trump contributed a bawdy birthday letter to an album Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell compiled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday in 2003. The lawsuit was characterized as written primarily to rile up Trump's base, and the Wall Street Journal stood firm on the accuracy of its reporting while defendants moved to dismiss.

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• Trump called for revocation of broadcast licenses for critical networks — Trump posted statements on social media calling for the revocation of broadcast licenses for NBC and ABC, claiming they are "political pawns for the Democrat Party" and have become "outrageous." He cited NBC's viewership decline and criticized their programming and management, demanding they be "held accountable."