Free Speech

Senators Press FCC Chair for First Time Since Kimmel Controversy

Senators confront Carr on broadcast influence, consolidation, and FCC independence

Jericho Casper

Jericho Casper

— 4 min read
Senators Press FCC Chair for First Time Since Kimmel Controversy
Screenshot of Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., during a heated exchange with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr at the Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing held Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2025 – A Senate oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission veered into unexpected territory Wednesday when FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Republican Commissioner Olivia Trusty denied the agency’s status as an independent regulatory body.

Their remarks, which contradict nearly a century of precedent, came as senators accused Carr of abusing his position to intimidate broadcasters and chill speech in his first year as chairman. 

“The FCC is not an independent agency because –,” Carr said, before being cut off by Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., for repeatedly speaking over senators. Minutes after the Senate Commerce Committee concluded, the word “independent” had been stripped from the FCC’s website.

Post tagged in
Free Speech Senate Commerce Committee Brendan Carr Olivia Trusty Ben Ray Luján Anna Gomez Amy Klobuchar Edward Markey Ted Cruz Maria Cantwell Communications Act ABC Comcast Fox Disney Jimmy Kimmel Nexstar TEGNA FCC

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