FCC Chairman Puts ‘The View’ On Notice Over ‘Equal Time’ Requirement
A new social media post from the nation’s top communications regulator has intensified scrutiny surrounding one of television’s most recognizable daytime programs.
The move comes as federal officials continue reviewing whether ABC’s daytime left-wing political gabfest “The View” still qualifies for an important exemption under longstanding broadcast regulations.
The development has renewed debate over the line between news programming and political commentary, a distinction that could prove significant as federal regulators examine the case.
While no final decision has been reached, the latest public comments suggest the review remains active.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr this week shared a montage of political commentary on the show, where its co-hosts were decisively pushing Democrats and left-wing politics and policies exclusively, as the agency considers whether the program qualifies for an exemption to the FCC’s political equal time requirements.
In a post on X, Carr said Disney, the parent company of ABC, has argued to the FCC that The View should be treated as a “bona fide news program,” a designation that can exempt certain broadcasts from equal time obligations under federal law.
“Disney is arguing to the FCC that its ABC show The View is a ‘bona fide news program,'” Carr wrote.
He added that Disney has argued its editorial decisions are based on “newsworthiness” rather than partisan motivations and therefore qualify for the exemption provided under the FCC’s rules.
“Disney claims that its decisions are based on ‘newsworthiness’—rather than partisan purposes—and thus exempt from political equal time rules,” Carr wrote.
“The FCC will make its decision based on all relevant evidence and precedents,” he added.
The montage Carr posted included clips of panelists on the show discussing elections, criticizing Republican politicians, and expressing support for Democratic candidates and policies, which Carr highlighted as part of the ongoing review.
The FCC has not announced a final decision regarding the matter, and Carr’s post did not indicate when the agency expects to conclude its review.
The equal time rule generally requires broadcasters to provide legally qualified political candidates with comparable opportunities to use a broadcast station when one candidate is given airtime, although federal law includes several exemptions for bona fide news programming, news interviews, documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news events.
Whether the show qualifies for that exemption is among the issues being examined by the commission.
Despite drawing attention to the matter, Carr has also emphasized that he does not believe the FCC should function as a regulator of political speech.
Speaking on POLITICO’s “The Conversation” podcast with Dasha Burns, Carr said the commission’s responsibility is to enforce laws enacted by Congress rather than police viewpoints expressed by broadcasters.
“I don’t view the FCC as the speech police,” Carr said.
He argued, however, that broadcasters operate under a regulatory framework requiring them to serve the public interest and suggested the agency has stepped back from enforcing some aspects of that framework over the past several decades.
“I think in the media space in particular, the FCC over the last 20 or 30 years really backed away from the regulatory framework that Congress put in place,” Carr said.
“I don’t think it’s been a good thing, either in terms of our job of administering the law or the outcome that we’re seeing across the media sector,” he added.
Carr also pointed to declining public confidence in the news media, arguing that trust in journalism has fallen dramatically over time.
“Fifteen percent of people would eat gas station sushi,” Carr said. “Only 8 percent of people say they have a great deal of trust” in the media, Breitbart News reported.
The FCC has not indicated when it expects to issue a decision regarding ABC’s arguments, but the review could help clarify how federal regulators distinguish between news programming and opinion-based shows under the agency’s longstanding equal time rules.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
