ABC sues over Brendan Carr's review of its Disney broadcast licenses

ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to block a review that could lead to the revocation of the company's Disney-held broadcast licenses, claiming it's retaliation for coverage President Donald Trump objects to. The lawsuit filed in a Washington, D.C., federal court claims FCC Chair Brendan Carr's early review of the company's eight largest licenses is in response to critical comments late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel made about the president, the company's role in hosting what Trump deemed a biased 2024 presidential debate and its decision not to air last month's White House speech. In an attempt to draw a line between Trump's objections and Carr's actions, the lawsuit compiles a timeline of the president's social media posts and public comments urging the FCC to take action, and Carr's apparent agreement to do so. The lawsuit asks a judge to block the FCC's review, saying it violates ABC's and Disney's free speech rights. "Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts," the lawsuit reads. The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit is the latest episode in a monthslong dispute between ABC and the FCC. Trump most recently called for ABC and NBC to lose their broadcasting licenses for not airing the president's live Oval Office address in July about election security. After the speech, Carr claimed broadcasters were required to air such speeches as part of their obligations to provide content that's in the public interest. "I think any time a broadcaster is not operating in the public interest, that raises significant concerns," Carr said. Carr has also taken an interest in "The View," ABC's popular daytime talk show that Trump has repeatedly criticized for bias against him. The FCC is conducting a proceeding to determine whether the show should be forced to give comparable airtime to rival politicians when setting up interviews, a decision that could remove an exemption allowed for programs considered "bona fide news." The FCC initiated its review of Disney's ABC licenses in April, a decision that came years before the licenses are set to expire and a day after Trump called on ABC to fire Kimmel over a joke saying Melania Trump had a "glow like an expectant widow." Kimmel's comments aired days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Carr has pushed back against claims that his actions are politically motivated, saying on a POLITICO podcast, "I don't view the FCC as the speech police." That has not stopped some members of the GOP from criticizing Carr's actions. A handful of lawmakers called for caution when Kimmel was first removed from the air last September, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has floated using his Commerce Committee gavel to review Carr's actions.