‘Fake News’: FCC Chair Warns Broadcasters To ‘Operate In The Public Interest’ Or Risk Loss Of License; FCC Warns Broadcasters over Iran War Coverage
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned media outlets Saturday that they may lose their broadcast licenses if they insist on running “fake news” content.
Carr wrote in an X post he was giving broadcasters who were “running hoaxes and news distortions ‐ also known as the fake news” the chance to “correct course before their license renewals come up.” His warning came in response to a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump slamming “the Fake News Media” for what he called an “intentionally misleading headline” about U.S. Air Force planes reportedly hit by an Iranian missile strike.
“The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman wrote in his post. “And frankly, changing course is in their own business interests since trust in legacy media has now fallen to an all time low of just 9% and are ratings disasters.”
The FCC chief was likely citing a Gallup survey released in September 2020 which showed that only nine percent of U.S. adults had “a great deal” of trust in mass media to report “the news fully, accurately and fairly.”
“The American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nation’s airwaves,” Carr continued. “It is very important to bring trust back into media, which has earned itself the label of fake news.”
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they… https://t.co/7bBgnsbalw
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2026
(Read more from “‘Fake News’: FCC Chair Warns Broadcasters To ‘Operate In The Public Interest’ Or Risk Loss Of License” HERE)
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FCC warns broadcasters over Iran War coverage
By Salon. As the war between the United States and Iran enters its third week, a new front in the conflict is emerging at home: a battle over how the war is covered by the media.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr warned broadcasters this week that news outlets must accurately report on the war or risk regulatory scrutiny tied to their broadcast licenses. The remarks came after Donald Trump accused major media organizations of misleading the public about the administration’s military campaign against Iran.
Carr said broadcasters operate under a legal obligation to serve the “public interest” and suggested that networks spreading what he characterized as inaccurate reporting about the war could face consequences when their licenses come up for renewal.
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they… https://t.co/7bBgnsbalw
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2026
The warning followed a series of posts by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, where the president told supporters that coverage of the war was “wrong” and urged Americans not to believe reports circulating in the press. Trump has repeatedly accused news outlets of distorting details about the scope and effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Press freedom advocates and media analysts quickly raised concerns that the comments could signal government pressure on news organizations during wartime. (Read more from “FCC warns broadcasters over Iran War coverage” HEREc)
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
