Disney and ABC sue FCC over Trump administration's attempt to regulate content
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Disney sues FCC over its attempt to rein in content, challenge its ABC licenses Disney and ABC on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to censor journalists by urging the agency to conduct an early review of ABC’s broadcasting licenses. The lawsuit alleges the administration waged a “retaliatory campaign” on ABC and encouraged the FCC to use its regulatory power to…
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Washington ExaminerThe federal lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia, seeks to halt the FCC from “taking or threatening to take any action” against Disney and ABC broadcast television stations regarding the early license renewal applications.
NBC NewsThe Walt Disney Company, ABC and a number of its stations on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission, seeking to stop an early license renewal process that they say is an attack by the Trump administration.
The Guardian USAfter being forced to apply early to renew its license to broadcast on the eight local television stations it owns, ABC has sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that it is being retaliated against for content-based reasons.
New York TimesABC Sues Trump Administration Over F.C.C. Threat to Its TV Licenses The network asked a court to stop the agency from taking steps that could force ABC stations off the air and accused the F.C.C. of violating its First Amendment rights.
ReutersDisney, ABC sue US regulator over threats to broadcast licenses - Reuters Disney, ABC sue US regulator over threats to broadcast licenses Reuters
Associated PressABC had accused the agency of a brazen attempt to chill its constitutionally protected free speech — and by extension, that of every media outlet in the country. The network’s July comments came in its latest filing to the agency, expressing its formal opposition to the FCC’s early review, launched in April, of eight ABC local broadcast licenses well before they expire.
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In April, the FCC ordered Disney’s eight owned-and-operated television stations to file their broadcast license renewals ahead of schedule. That order came amid a probe into ABC’s “The View” program, as well as a long-running investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices at Disney.
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Washington ExaminerThe commission, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, issued the order years ahead of the normal schedule for license renewals. The commission has been investigating Disney’s alleged use of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while simultaneously probing ABC’s morning talk show The View over a separate matter.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired. When the FCC launched its early review of ABC’s licenses in April, it came amid a fight with Kimmel over a joke that offended Trump. The agency cited diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the company. Messages were sent seeking comment to the FCC and ABC.
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NBC NewsThe move from the FCC also came after the White House and President Donald Trump himself assailed ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about the first lady Melania Trump.
Washington ExaminerCarr ramped up his scrutiny of ABC after President Donald Trump criticized late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel for making a joke about the first lady in relation to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting in late April.
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01 Washington Examiner “Until the day before that order issued, the Commission had not called for a renewal application ahead of schedule in more than half a century,” they continued. “Nor had it ever demanded simultaneous early renewal applications from a group of stations commonly owned with a single broadcast network—much less stations with the record of public service and award-winning journalism like these Stations.”
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02 NBC News The lawsuit specifically cites Trump’s own social media posts, including one in which he complained that late-night TV hosts “are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump” and asked if broadcast licenses should “be terminated?”
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03 ABC News ABC News' Mike Dobuski discusses the latest on who is suing the president and prediction markets expert Robin Hanson shares more on the intersection of politics and prediction markets. August 17, 2026
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04 Associated Press The suit comes after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr recently defended the agency’s actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to “operate in the public interest” and the FCC is merely trying to restore that standard.
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05 The Guardian US The network filed the lawsuit on Tuesday while it waits to hear whether the Brendan Carr-led FCC approves its renewal requests, or, more likely, holds a hearing on their merits.
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