Disney’s ABC has accused the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of violating its free speech rights.

First Amendment Right

According to the New York Times, ABC said in the 52-page filing that regulators had a “chilling effect” on free speech by trying to punish political content they disagreed with. It’s the most aggressive defense from any television network against President Trump’s administration.

The filing comes from one ABC station in Houston, Texas and involves a minor dispute over the talk show “The View.” While this doesn’t seem like a big deal to most, one of the most experienced Supreme Court litigators in the country, Paul D. Clement, signed it.

In particular, it comes in response to action the FCC took earlier in 2026, questioning whether or not “The View” fell under old federal rules requiring entertainment programs on broadcast television to grant equal airtime to political candidates for the same office. The filing shows the intensity of the FCC’s efforts against ABC. This includes extensive requests for documents and information about its operations and editorial approach.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggests that the talk show should not qualify for exemptions of the equal time rules. This exemption has been extended to many talk shows over the years, and he thinks too many talk shows improperly assume that they qualify—including ABC.

According to ABC’s filing, the FCC ordered KTRK-TV to file a formal request asking whether “The View” qualified for the exemption explained above. The agency suggested that if the show was not exempt, then KTRK should have registered formal paperwork required under the equal time rules in February when “The View” booked James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas.

ABC said the request was an overreach because “The View” had already received its own news exemption from the agency in 2002. The company said the exemption had never been challenged in the 24 years since and considered it to remain in effect.

The FCC indicated they would review Disney’s licenses two years early immediately after President Donald Trump demanded they fire Jimmy Kimmel. Since then, multiple U.S. Senators are demanding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rescind their order requiring Disney to file early license renewals for ABC stations.

Read the full report.

Source: The New York Times

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