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Grapevine Today
By the People, for the People
FCC Head Boasts of Cracking Down on 'Fake News' Media at CPAC
Brendan Carr touts Trump administration's efforts to defund and oust political opponents from media outlets
Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:13am
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FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas to brag about the Trump administration's success in punishing media outlets and journalists he described as 'fake news.' Carr claimed the administration has defunded PBS and NPR, ousted several high-profile TV personalities, and is working to reshape media ownership through mergers.
Why it matters
Carr's comments raise concerns about the politicization of the FCC and the use of government power to target and silence critical media voices. While the administration has had some success, media outlets have fought back, and legal challenges remain ongoing, underscoring the broader battle over the role of the press in a democracy.
The details
In his CPAC speech, Carr said the Trump administration has 'smashed the facade' of the 'fake news media,' citing the defunding of PBS and NPR, the departures of MSNBC's Joy Reid, NBC's Chuck Todd, and others, as well as the planned ownership changes at CBS and CNN. However, the reality is more complex - PBS and NPR continue to operate, Joy Reid's replacement show has higher ratings, and Chuck Todd's exit was more about ratings than politics. Carr and the administration also face pushback, including a court order blocking Nexstar's acquisition of TEGNA.
- Carr spoke at CPAC on Friday, March 28, 2026.
- The Trump administration's media crackdown efforts have been ongoing since 2017.
The players
Brendan Carr
The current commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), appointed by President Trump in 2017.
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States, who Carr credits with leading the charge against the 'fake news media.'
PBS
The public broadcasting service that Carr claims has been defunded by the Trump administration.
NPR
The public radio network that Carr says has also been defunded by the Trump administration.
Nexstar Media Group
The media company that is attempting to acquire TEGNA, a merger that has faced legal challenges.
What they’re saying
“When Donald Trump ran for office, he ran directly at the fake news media. So many other politicians and Americans just gave way to legacy media. They let the legacy media set the narrative. And President Trump smashed the facade.”
— Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioner
“President Trump took on the fake news media. And President Trump is winning. Look at the results so far.”
— Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioner
What’s next
The legal challenges to the Nexstar-TEGNA merger are ongoing, and the broader battle over the role of the press in a democracy is likely to continue.
The takeaway
Carr's comments at CPAC highlight the Trump administration's efforts to punish and silence media outlets and journalists seen as political opponents, raising concerns about the politicization of the FCC and the potential erosion of press freedoms.
