Trending Now - Disney Stands Firm Against Fcc's Political Pressure, Says Commissioner
WHO:
Deadline - Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, and Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro are involved in the situation.
Variety - Anna Gomez is identified as the only Democrat among the FCC's three current commissioners.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - The FCC initiated an early review of the broadcast licenses for ABC stations owned by Disney, including KABC-TV in Los Angeles, which were not set to expire for two to five years.
Los Angeles Times - The FCC demanded that Disney's Houston television station explain why "The View" should be exempt from providing equal airtime for political candidates.
Los Angeles Times - Disney filed a petition challenging the FCC's inquiry on "The View," which began in February when Texas Democrat James Talerico appeared on the show.
Los Angeles Times - Anna Gomez stated that Disney agreed to pay Trump $15 million in late 2024 to settle a defamation lawsuit related to erroneous statements made by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Variety - Anna Gomez stated that the FCC's actions are part of a "sustained campaign of censorship and control" against Disney and ABC.
Fox News - Gomez claimed that the Trump administration is launching a "censorship" campaign against Disney.
Deadline - Anna Gomez accused the FCC, led by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, of engaging in a "coordinated campaign of censorship and control" against ABC.
Variety - Gomez stated that Disney is "choosing courage over capitulation" in response to the Trump administration's actions against the company and ABC.
Deadline - Gomez warned D’Amaro that the FCC has been engaged in a "coordinated campaign of censorship and control" against ABC.
Variety - Gomez characterized the actions of the Trump administration as efforts to "punish and intimidate" Disney and ABC through the "weaponization of the FCC's authority."
WHEN:
Variety - Gomez made her comments in a letter dated May 11.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - Gomez claimed that the Trump administration's goal is to prompt TV networks to self-censor and tone down their news coverage about Trump to avoid conflicts with the president and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
Variety - The motivation behind the FCC's actions is described as an effort by the Trump administration to "punish and intimidate" Disney and ABC.
Deadline - The investigations against ABC are cited as part of the FCC's actions against the network.
Variety - The motivation behind the FCC's actions is described as a campaign by the Trump administration to exert control over Disney and its programming.
HOW:
Deadline - The FCC's actions are described as a "process" that serves as punishment against ABC.
Variety - The term "weaponization" is used to describe how the FCC's authority is being utilized against Disney and ABC.
(UPDATED May 12, 2026 06:03 UTC)
The FCC has launched an early review of the broadcast licenses for ABC stations owned by Disney, including KABC-TV in Los Angeles, even though these licenses weren't set to expire for another two to five years. Additionally, the FCC is demanding that Disney's Houston television station justify why "The View" should be exempt from providing equal airtime for political candidates, a matter that has sparked controversy since Texas Democrat James Talerico appeared on the show in February. In a related development, Anna Gomez revealed that Disney agreed to pay Trump $15 million in late 2024 to settle a defamation lawsuit stemming from erroneous statements made by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, with claims that the Trump administration aims to influence TV networks to self-censor their coverage.
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(UPDATED May 11, 2026 23:19 UTC)
Anna Gomez has accused the FCC of engaging in a "sustained campaign of censorship and control" aimed at Disney and ABC. She further claimed that the Trump administration is orchestrating a "censorship" campaign specifically targeting Disney. These statements were made during a segment aired at 19:30 UTC on both Variety and Fox News.
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(UPDATED May 11, 2026 19:30 UTC)
Anna Gomez has accused the FCC, led by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, of running a "coordinated campaign of censorship and control" against ABC. In her statement, Gomez emphasized that Disney is "choosing courage over capitulation" in light of the Trump administration's actions against the company and ABC. The motivation behind the FCC's actions is characterized as an attempt by the Trump administration to "punish and intimidate" Disney and ABC.
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(UPDATED May 11, 2026 17:42 UTC)
Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the FCC, has raised concerns in a letter dated May 11, warning Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro about what she describes as a "coordinated campaign of censorship and control" against ABC. Gomez characterized the actions of the Trump administration as attempts to "punish and intimidate" Disney and ABC through the "weaponization of the FCC's authority." She emphasized that the investigations against ABC are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to exert control over Disney and its programming.