ABC and Disney have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), claiming that the agency is retaliating against them due to their news coverage and programming. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the commission, spoke about the significance of this legal move in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition.
Gomez praised Disney’s decision to stand firm, highlighting the lawsuit’s importance in safeguarding the First Amendment. She stated, “Disney has found its courage, and it is pushing back. This is good. It’s good for the First Amendment. It’s good for the public, and it’s good for broadcasters in general.”
The FCC is currently led by Chairman Brendan Carr, who insists the commission is adhering to its obligation to ensure broadcasters operate in the public interest. Carr mentioned to NPR’s David Folkenflik that ABC and Disney’s actions were premature, as the decision to renew the licenses of eight ABC-owned stations had not been finalized.
Gomez disagreed with Carr’s stance, arguing that the public interest standard was being misused to censor content deemed unfavorable. She defended her position against claims of partisanship, citing concerns from past Republican FCC leaders and current Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Kennedy about the agency’s impact on First Amendment rights.
“Protecting the First Amendment is not a partisan issue,” Gomez emphasized. “There is bipartisan support for respecting the First Amendment.”
To hear the full interview, click the play button in the embedded player above.
Editor’s note: Disney is a financial supporter of NPR.