Brendan Carr, the FCC muscle behind Trump's anti-media crusade

布伦丹·卡尔,特朗普反媒体运动的幕后FCC强硬派

Post Reports

2025-09-23

19 分钟
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After the abrupt suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last week over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made following the killing of Charlie Kirk, many credited one person for getting Kimmel off the air: Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission.  Hours before the suspension was announced, Carr seemed to threaten FCC action against networks, saying “we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” and advising Disney and other media companies to “find ways to change conduct.” Carr denies playing a direct role in the Kimmel suspension, but critics say Carr has emerged as Trump’s top enforcer in the president’s war against the media.  Host Elahe Izadi talks to media reporter Scott Nover about Carr’s background, his role in the Jimmy Kimmel drama and how he may be trying to expand the power of the FCC.  Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Elana Gordon. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sam Bair. Special thanks to James Graff.  Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
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  • This is Brendan Carr talking to News Nation's Chris Cuomo late last year.

  • CAR was about to become the new head of the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission.

  • Diversity of opinion is so important in this country and it's going to be one of my top priorities is trying to smash this censorship cartel.

  • For years, CAR had been a vocal advocate against the government intervening in free speech.

  • But now, as head of the FCC,

  • Carr is leading the Trump administration's pressure campaign on media companies over what they broadcast.

  • Including most recently, the push for ABC to take late night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air.

  • Brandon Carr's title is chair of the Federal Communications Commission, but in actuality,

  • he is the guy that is really providing the muscle for Trump's anti-media agenda in the second administration.

  • Scott Nover covers media for the post.

  • And Scott says,

  • Carr's supporters view him as a welcome corrective to what they perceive as inherently liberal broadcast media.

  • But his critics, including some conservatives,

  • worry that Carr is taking the FCC into dangerous territory.

  • From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports.

  • I'm Ella Hay Izzadi.

  • It's Monday, September 22nd.

  • Today, how Brendan Carr, a previously little-known policy wonk,

  • has taken center stage as Trump's media enforcer.

  • Scott joins me to explain how Carr is possibly pushing the limits of the FCC and how media companies are responding to this pressure campaign.