Expressing the sense of the Senate that the comments by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, threatening to penalize ABC and Disney for the political commentary of ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel were dangerous and unconstitutional.
Summary
This Senate resolution condemns FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for allegedly threatening ABC and Disney over Jimmy Kimmel's political commentary. It asserts that Carr's actions violated the First Amendment and undermined the independence of the press. The resolution calls for Carr to retract his threats and recommit to respecting constitutional limitations on his office.
Expected Effects
If passed, the resolution would serve as a formal rebuke of Chairman Carr's actions by the Senate. While it carries no legal weight, it could influence public opinion and potentially lead to further investigations or calls for Carr's resignation. The resolution also aims to reaffirm the importance of the First Amendment and protect broadcasters from government coercion.
Potential Benefits
- Reinforces the principle of free speech and protects political commentary from government interference.
- Sends a message that government officials should not use their positions to pressure private broadcasters.
- Upholds the independence of the press and prevents a chilling effect on free expression.
- Reaffirms the importance of the First Amendment.
- Could deter future attempts to stifle political speech.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Could be seen as an overreach by the Senate into the affairs of an independent agency.
- May further polarize political discourse and exacerbate tensions between government and media.
- The resolution is largely symbolic and may not have any practical impact on Chairman Carr's behavior.
- Could set a precedent for Congress to interfere in the editorial decisions of broadcasters.
- May be viewed as a partisan attack on a government official.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution strongly aligns with the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and the press. It argues that Chairman Carr's actions violated this amendment by threatening to penalize ABC and Disney for political commentary. The resolution also implicitly references the principle of separation of powers, suggesting that the FCC should not be used to censor programming or punish broadcasters for their editorial decisions.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).