Disney Sues FCC Over Retaliatory License Crackdown Against ABC

Disney has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, claiming the agency is launching a retaliatory campaign against ABC. The suit argues that "The View" now feels forced to be more circumspect about its content due to a crackdown led by Chairman Brendan Carr. Under President Donald Trump's appointment, Carr pushed for an early renewal review of eight ABC stations in April. Those licenses were originally set to last until 2031 at the earliest, with most stretching into 2031 or beyond. This sudden move follows a probe launched in February regarding "The View" after Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the show.

In the legal filing, Disney admits that the pressure has changed how they handle bookings. No candidate for public office has been invited to "The View" since the Bureau questioned Talarico's appearance on February 2, 2026. The company states its editorial standards regarding newsworthiness have not actually changed, yet the cumulative weight of FCC actions impacts which guests get a seat at the table. Those escalating pressures led Disney to pass on several political candidates who were once under consideration. The effect reaches beyond just guest lists. Plaintiffs chose not to air video clips that would otherwise have shown up in the Hot Topics segment or the cold open because those clips could count as an appearance under FCC equal opportunities rules.

Since Talarico, "The View" has hosted a very few political figures. Among them are Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, former first lady Jill Biden, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. None of these individuals are running for office in the 2026 election cycle. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Carr dismissed the lawsuit as meritless and promised the FCC will follow the facts and the law wherever it leads.

The conflict between ABC and the FCC goes deeper than "The View." Carr threatened Disney in September after Jimmy Kimmel sparked outrage by commenting on the Charlie Kirk assassination. That incident was compounded when Kimmel joked about first lady Melania Trump being an expectant widow, which fueled calls for his firing. The FCC cited a DEI probe as the reason for its actions, but Disney insists Kimmel is a key motivating factor behind Carr's call for early license reviews.

"The pressure exerted by the Administration's mounting campaign of retaliation against ABC has been deeply felt throughout the company," Disney wrote in its filing. They argue the strategy is calculated to operate in terrorem on the rest of the industry. ABC serves as the visible target, but the message hits every broadcaster in the country. The ultimate cost falls on the press as a whole. Each day the case drags on, ABC suffers continued First Amendment harm. The FCC's demand for early renewal applications suggests an intent to either deny the requests or force Plaintiffs into months of litigation and regulatory uncertainty that could last years.

Either way, the agency succeeds at continuing to punish Plaintiffs. That is the sharp reality facing a host of broadcasters under fire.

KFSN-TV in Fresno; KABC-TV in Los Angeles; KGO-TV in San Francisco; WLS-TV in Chicago; WABC-TV in New York; WTVD in Durham, N.C.; WPVI-TV in Philadelphia; and KTRK-TV in Houston are the Disney-owned stations in question. These outlets face a common storm regardless of their specific local circumstances.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.