Politics

FCC Democrat Urges Broadcasters to Counter Trump‑Era Pressures Ahead of Midterms

By Al Jazeera Staff

Democratic FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission, urged broadcasters to strengthen their response to pressure from the Trump administration ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. In a four‑page letter to National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) CEO and President Curtis LeGeyt, Gomez warned that the volume of the industry’s response had not yet matched the scale of the challenges faced by members.

Gomez cited a recent claim by Trump‑appointed FCC commissioner Brenden Carr, who said that administration‑aligned channels could violate regulatory obligations by airing “entirely fake polls” before the elections. Carr posted on X that many journalists and broadcasters were airing such polls without basic journalistic ethics or informing the public that the polls lacked a scientific or accurate basis.

Al Jazeera asked the FCC for clarification on which journalists and broadcasters were alleged to have aired fake polls, but the agency did not respond. Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, criticized Carr’s remarks, calling him “the least qualified person in the country to lecture the press about journalistic ethics” and noting that his attacks on the press typically followed unfavorable reporting.

Carr’s social media post also warned broadcasters to avoid “News Distortions” or “Broadcast Hoaxes,” claiming that the administration was running a coordinated effort to reshape the media into a sanctioned messenger and that the FCC had become a key instrument. He suggested that broadcasters airing polling that did not align with the administration’s preferred narrative could face an FCC investigation.

Gomez explained that the FCC’s authority to act on news distortion is limited. Proof must show that a broadcaster knowingly airs false information about a crime or catastrophe that directly causes immediate and substantial harm to public safety or property. She added that reporting the results of a poll the administration dislikes does not meet those standards.

The letter was sent on Thursday and highlights the FCC’s stance on the administration’s claims and the need for broadcasters to maintain editorial independence as the midterm elections approach.