FCC Chair Renews Threats Against Broadcasters Over 'Fake News'

Carr cites Trump's criticism of media coverage of U.S.-Iran conflict as justification for potential license revocations.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:11pm

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U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has renewed his criticism and threats against broadcasters over their content, this time using President Donald Trump's accusations of 'terrible reporting' on the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran as justification. Carr warned that broadcasters who air 'fake news' must 'correct course before their license renewals come up' or risk losing their licenses.

Why it matters

Carr's comments represent an escalation of the FCC's efforts to police the content of broadcast media, raising concerns about government overreach and the potential chilling effect on press freedom. The FCC's ability to revoke broadcast licenses has long been a source of controversy, with critics arguing it could be used to target outlets that publish unfavorable coverage of the administration.

The details

In a series of posts on X, Carr shared a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post accusing the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and 'other lowlife 'papers' and media' of 'terrible reporting' on the U.S.-Iran conflict. Carr wrote that 'broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,' and that the 'public has lost faith and confidence in the media' due to 'hoaxes and distortions' during the 2024 presidential campaign.

  • On March 14, 2026, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr renewed his criticism and threats against broadcasters over their content.

The players

Brendan Carr

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, who has repeatedly threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcasters over their news coverage.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who has frequently accused news media outlets of lying and called for removing the licenses of broadcast outlets he views as unfair.

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What they’re saying

“Broadcasters who air 'fake news' must 'correct course before their license renewals come up,'”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman (X)

“the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and 'other lowlife 'papers' and media' of 'terrible reporting' on the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

What’s next

The FCC will likely continue to scrutinize the content of broadcast media, and Carr's comments suggest that broadcasters could face potential license revocation if they do not align their coverage with the administration's preferences.

The takeaway

Carr's threats against broadcasters over their news coverage represent a concerning escalation of the FCC's efforts to police the media, raising serious questions about the agency's commitment to press freedom and its willingness to use its regulatory power to target outlets that publish unfavorable reporting.