The Weaponization of the FCC

A NOTE FROM THE PRODUCER

Claudia Hernández is the Producer of the Insider podcast.

ABC is suing the Federal Communications Commission, arguing that the agency is using its regulatory power to punish the network for its journalism and programming.

On a new episode of the Insider podcast, Former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel joins Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance to break down the lawsuit and what it could mean for the FCC’s power over broadcasters.

Rosenworcel: “This amounts to corporate courage. I would like to see more corporations standing up for the First Amendment. To the extent that this administration and its weaponization of the FCC is at odds with free speech, I think we should cheer on those who are willing to stand up in court and say this is unacceptable. The First Amendment [is] a cornerstone of our democracy, and we don’t want the government dictating content coverage or editorial choices. And I think that this is a company that’s saying they’re afraid that the FCC is doing just that with the way it’s approaching broadcast licenses.”

Listen to the episode and comment below with your thoughts and questions. Thank you for being a member of our community here on Substack. If you’re not yet a paying subscriber, you can now listen to a free excerpt from the show. For access to the full analysis, upgrade your subscription.

Stay Informed,

Claudia

Photo by Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images