"FCC chair Brendan Carr on Saturday threatened to revoke broadcast licenses if war coverage did not "operate in the public interest." His comments came shortly after the president criticized the press on Truth Social for its coverage, alleging the media "actually want us to lose the War.""
"Carr's threats can be seen as an attempt to spook broadcasters that need FCC approval for broader deals. While the FCC has the authority to revoke local broadcast licenses when they come up for renewal in 2028, it's likely those efforts would face serious challenges in court."
"The Pentagon in recent days has started to tighten its grip over the independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes after asserting that the paper was too focused on "woke distractions," according to NPR. A reporter from The Atlantic last week said they, along with other print photographers, were denied access to a Pentagon press briefing."
The administration has escalated pressure on news outlets covering the Iran war through multiple tactics. FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcast licenses if coverage does not serve the public interest, following presidential criticism of media coverage on Truth Social. The Pentagon has intensified control over war messaging by restricting Stars and Stripes editorial independence, denying photographers access to briefings, and reprimanding reporters for specific coverage. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff objected to images from previous briefings and called out CNN for reporting on administration underestimation of Iran's capabilities. While FCC license revocation faces legal challenges, these threats aim to intimidate broadcasters dependent on regulatory approval.
Read at Axios
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