Senator Ted Cruz has sharply rebuked Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr for his recent remarks targeting ABC and its late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The controversy began when Kimmel was suspended after making jokes about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. Carr had suggested that broadcasters like ABC could face penalties, including revocation of their licenses, if they fail to act.
Cruz condemned Carr’s tone as dangerously authoritarian, saying it sounded like something out of Goodfellas—a glaring comparison to mafia coercion. Though Cruz expressed satisfaction with Kimmel’s suspension, he warned that granting regulatory power over content sets a risky precedent. He cautioned that such actions could be turned against conservatives under a future administration.
President Donald Trump, however, defended Carr’s stance and called him a patriot, while attacking media outlets for what he perceives as overwhelmingly negative coverage of his administration. The debate has sparked concern about free speech and the proper limits of government oversight over broadcast content.
