FCC Places Public Broadcasters On Discover Over ‘News Distortions’
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr placed a number of public broadcasters on notice regarding what he described as “news distortions” in media broadcasts.
“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr posted on X in response to a Truth Social post from President Trump, in which he took issue with misleading coverage of the Iran conflict.
“The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”
Under FCC regulations, broadcast licenses are granted to entities that serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. This includes providing accurate and balanced information, as distortions could undermine public trust and violate these standards.
Beyond regulatory risks, Carr highlighted the business implications of such practices. “And frankly, changing course is in their own business interests since trust in legacy media has now fallen to an all time low of just 9% and are ratings disasters.”
The FCC chief further pointed out that broadcasters benefit from taxpayer-funded airwaves. “The American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nation’s airwaves,” Carr continued. “It is very important to bring trust back into media, which has earned itself the label of fake news.”
He concluded by highlighting that President Trump was able to comfortably defeat former Vice President Kamala Harris despite overwhelmingly negative coverage from the major broadcast networks.
“When a political candidate is able to win a landslide election victory after in the face of hoaxes and distortions, there is something very wrong. It means the public has lost faith and confidence in the media. And we can’t allow that to happen,” Carr wrote. “Time for a change!”
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they… https://t.co/7bBgnsbalw
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2026
To illustrate news distortions, Carr pointed to specific examples involving coverage of international conflicts. One instance involved headlines about the war in Iran, particularly claims regarding five tanker planes at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
Reports suggested the planes were “struck” and “destroyed,” a claim President Trump thoroughly debunked in his Truth Social post. “Yet again, an intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media about the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use. In actuality, the Base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘struck’ or ‘destroyed.’ Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service,” the president wrote.
“One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly. None were destroyed, or close to that, as the Fake News said in headlines,” he added.
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