Ted Cruz questions FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Jimmy Kimmel suspension in Senate hearing

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Ted Cruz questioned Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday, December 17, over his role in the temporary suspension of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, framing the episode as a test of government overreach and First Amendment protections.

The ABC late-night show was briefly taken off the air in September after Kimmel made remarks about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with allegedly murdering Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

The suspension drew praise from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, while critics accused the network of capitulating to political pressure.

Brendan Carr faces renewed scrutiny from Ted Cruz

Appearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, Carr faced renewed scrutiny from Cruz, the panel’s chairman, who argued that the FCC’s “public interest” standard has historically been weaponized against conservatives.

“I think you would agree that the FCC’s public interest standard has been weaponized against conservatives in the past,” Cruz said, asking Carr whether that practice was wrong.

Carr agreed, saying that there were instances where the agency “broke from precedent” in a “weaponized way.”

Brendan Carr criticizes Democrats' media pressure

Ted Cruz went on to describe Kimmel as “angry, overtly partisan, and profoundly unfunny,” calling the comedian’s remarks about Charlie Kirk “tasteless.” 

He stressed that ABC had every right to discipline or fire Kimmel, but that government coercion was unconstitutional.

“What government cannot do is force private entities to take actions that the government cannot take directly,” Cruz said. “Government officials threatening adverse consequences for disfavored content is an unconstitutional coercion that chills free speech.”

When Cruz asked whether the FCC’s public interest standard should explicitly protect robust First Amendment rights, Carr agreed but quickly pivoted to criticizing Democrats.

He cited past efforts by Democratic lawmakers to pressure cable companies to drop conservative networks such as Fox News, OAN and Newsmax, and accused the Biden administration of weaponizing regulatory processes.

Moments later, Cruz abruptly ended the line of questioning. “All right, let’s shift to Spectrum,” he said, moving on without follow-up.

Amy Klobuchar challenges Brendan Carr on Trump’s rhetoric

Sen Amy Klobuchar later pressed Carr on whether similar scrutiny should apply to President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric on social media.

She referenced Trump’s recent Truth Social post attacking filmmaker Rob Reiner after Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

Reading from the post, Klobuchar asked whether it was appropriate for a president to make such comments and whether Carr would have threatened regulatory action had a broadcaster aired similar remarks.

“Democrats on this dais are accusing me of engaging in censorship, and now you’re trying to encourage me to police speech on the internet,” he replied. 

Debate over limits of regulation

Klobuchar called Trump’s remarks “cruel” and said that they undermined public trust, accusing Carr of selectively threatening broadcast outlets while sparing Fox News.

Carr responded that tech platforms and cable outlets are not subject to the same rules as broadcasters.

“There’s no public interest obligation, there is no license,” he said, pointing out to the FCC’s limited authority over online platforms and cable networks.