The man chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, has sent a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger.
This letter, reported by CNN’s Brian Stelter, criticized ABC News, a network owned by Disney, for what Carr called a growing loss of public trust in national media.
Carr’s letter started by saying, “Dear Mr. Iger, Americans no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.” He blamed national media outlets, including ABC News, for their role in creating this distrust.
Carr brought up a recent defamation lawsuit against ABC News, where the network agreed to pay $15 million in damages and $1 million in legal fees.
The case was about a comment made by George Stephanopoulos, a well-known ABC anchor, who said Trump had been found liable for “rape” in a civil case. However, the actual ruling was about sexual abuse, not rape.
In his letter, Carr also referred to polling data showing that people trust local news more than national news. He emphasized that local news outlets need financial support to continue producing content that directly serves their communities.
He argued that local broadcasters play a critical role in providing accurate and reliable news, which helps build trust. Carr praised local news organizations for being more dependable than large national media companies like ABC News.
Brian Stelter, a media reporter, observed that Carr is positioning himself as a supporter of local media while taking a stand against big corporate-owned news outlets.
Historically, the FCC has not been involved in controlling what news organizations broadcast. However, Stelter hinted that Carr might be trying to change that by taking a more active role in media oversight.
This letter is just the latest event in Trump’s long-running conflict with the media. Trump has often criticized national news outlets, calling them “fake news” and “the enemy of the people.
Recently, he has filed lawsuits against several media organizations. One of these lawsuits targeted CBS News over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump also filed a lawsuit against pollster Ann Selzer and her firm, along with The Des Moines Register and its parent company, Gannett. The lawsuit came after Selzer released a poll suggesting Harris was leading Trump by three points in Iowa. However, Trump ended up winning the state by 13 points.
Carr’s letter adds to the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the media, highlighting a broader divide between national news organizations and local broadcasters.
It also shows Carr’s focus on supporting local journalism, which he believes is more trustworthy and essential for communities. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal battles with the media continue, reflecting his efforts to challenge and criticize news outlets he believes are unfair to him.
