News Summary

• Brendan Carr has re-imagined the role as a bully pulpit to pressure media companies.
• He has also used the commission's power to approve mergers as a cudgel.
• Carr drew immediate criticism for pressuring Disney and local broadcasters to drop late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel's show after comments the comedian made about murdered right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
• The FCC does not have the authority or the constitutional right to punish broadcasters for speech the government dislikes, a Democratic commissioner says.