FCC orders early license renewals for ABC stations
The FCC has initiated early reviews of licenses for Disney-owned ABC stations. This decision follows public criticism from Trump directed at ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. (sources: npr, cnn, wsj, nbcnews, politico)

The FCC has ordered early license renewals for ABC stations owned by Disney. This action comes after criticism from Trump regarding the network's programming.
- The FCC is reviewing licenses for Disney-owned ABC stations ahead of their scheduled renewal.
- The review follows public comments from Trump about Jimmy Kimmel's show.
- Kimmel has responded to the situation, indicating that his program will continue.
Why it matters
The FCC's decision may impact the relationship between media outlets and political figures, highlighting the influence of public criticism on regulatory processes.
↓ Why this is on ModernAction
3 bills on this issue are moving right now — and the most active one is Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025.
HR1880 · 119th Congress
Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025
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What HR1880 actually does
This story is about the FCC ordering early license renewals for ABC stations after criticism from Trump. This bill would prohibit the FCC from revoking licenses or taking regulatory action against broadcasters on the basis of viewpoints they or affiliates broadcast.
If passed, it would:
- Ban FCC revocations tied to broadcasters' viewpoints • Block FCC conditions on transactions based on broadcast viewpoints.
2 other bills moving on this issue
Take action on any of them individually.
This story is about the FCC ordering early reviews of licenses for ABC stations after public criticism of the broadcaster. This bill would prohibit the FCC from revoking licenses or imposing conditions based on viewpoints broadcast by an individual or their affiliates, blocking actions tied to speech.
If passed, it would
- Ban FCC revocations based on broadcast viewpoints • Prevent approval conditions tied to an entity's speech.
This story is about the FCC ordering early reviews of licenses for ABC stations after public criticism of the broadcaster. The bill would put the Senate on record condemning threats to penalize a broadcaster over political commentary and increase pressure for oversight and restraint.
If passed, it would
- Record Senate condemnation of threats to penalize broadcasters • Increase pressure for oversight without changing FCC law.
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