Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency could soon issue guidance to broadcasters over what he called “fake polls” ahead of November’s midterms, saying President Donald Trump is “over the target” and the FCC is “looking at a lot of actions.”
Carr Signals Guidance Over ‘Fake Polls’
Speaking on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing” Sunday, Carr said broadcast television differs from cable and online platforms because stations use FCC-licensed public airwaves. Broadcasters, he said, must “operate in the public interest, not some sort of narrow partisan interest.”
Carr said “there’s a lot of interest right now in fake polls” and that the FCC “may put guidance out soon” reminding broadcasters of their obligations, particularly if polling is used “to suppress people heading into the fall.” Fox News reported the remarks Monday.
Trump Pressure On Broadcasters Keeps Escalating
The comments follow Trump’s August 30 attack on NBC News’ Kristen Welker after she said his primary endorsements had produced “mixed results.” Trump called that characterization a “purposeful inaccuracy” and wrote that Welker would be reported to the FCC “for rebuke or punishment.” NBC defended Welker.
Trump has repeatedly urged FCC action against broadcasters he accuses of bias. This year, the agency also ordered early license reviews for eight ABC-owned stations, prompting Disney to sue and allege political retaliation. Reuters reported that the FCC asked a federal court last week to dismiss that lawsuit.
FCC Rules Limit News Distortion Enforcement
However, the FCC’s own guidance says it generally does not intervene merely because broadcast journalism is inaccurate or one-sided. Its news-distortion policy requires documented evidence that a licensee or its management intentionally falsified news, reflecting First Amendment limits on government interference with editorial judgment.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez rejected Trump’s threat against Welker, writing on X that the “FCC has no authority to punish journalists this administration doesn’t like.”
“These threats to press freedom are dangerous,” Gomez added.
Carr has defended tougher scrutiny of broadcasters, arguing their licenses carry public-interest obligations.
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