Friend,

President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has an on-again/off-again relationship with the First Amendment: Brendan Carr defends free-speech rights when it suits his right-wing agenda but looks the other way when it comes to expression that doesn’t align with Trump’s authoritarian aims.

Carr’s mind-bending inconsistencies on free-speech rights — and bullying of many in the media — have made him a Trump favorite. His dodgy doublespeak on government censorship surely pleases a regime intent on undermining our essential constitutional freedoms.

Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Carr auditioned for his reality-show boss in hopes of getting tapped to lead the FCC: He repeatedly threatened to use his authority to silence broadcast networks that don’t toe the Trump line. He tacitly endorsed Trump’s calls for ABC to lose its broadcast license¹ over debate fact checks, threatened the parent company of CBS after its 60 Minutes² interview with Vice President Harris and went on Fox News to attack NBC after Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live.³

“The FCC traditionally avoids regulating broadcast radio and television content except in extremely narrow circumstances, such as indecency,” Free Press Co-CEO Jessica J. González wrote in an op-ed.⁴ “ ...Carr has shown that he is willing to break with [this] longstanding and bipartisan FCC precedent to punish Trump’s detractors.”

Carr has also argued that technology platforms facilitate “censorship” by fact checking Trump; in Carr’s distorted view, separating fact from fiction violates Americans’ constitutional right to be misinformed.

In the end, Carr nailed his audition. He will likely be elevated to lead the FCC soon after Trump is sworn in. Instead of ensuring that the government doesn’t restrict the speech of private individuals, he wraps himself in misleading rhetoric about the First Amendment as he pursues his — and Trump’s — desire to censor dissenting voices.

Not to be deterred, Free Press is exercising our right⁵ to call Carr out whenever he fails to honor his sworn oath to the Constitution. We’ve repeatedly raised the alarm about Carr — and more reporters are exposing his fickle relationship with the First Amendment. We’ll be sure to keep you informed as well.

Thank you,

Tim and the rest of the Free Press team

P.S. Help Free Press keep fighting to protect the First Amendment with a donation today.

1. “‘It’s a Simple Question!’ House Democrat Throws Down With FCC Commissioner on Trump’s Call to Strip ABC’s Broadcast License,” Mediaite, Sep. 19, 2024

2. “Trump FCC Pick Threatens on Fox News To Punish CBS Over Kamala Harris Interview When He Takes Over,” Mediaite, Nov. 19, 2024

3. “FCC's Carr Wrongly Claims SNL Appearance Violates the Agency's 'Equal Time' Rules,” Free Press, Nov. 3, 2024

4. “Trump’s Pick to Lead the FCC Poses a Threat to Free Speech,” The Hill, Nov. 30, 2024

5. “Trump's FCC Chairman Doesn't Know What Censorship Actually Is,” Free Press, Dec. 3, 2024