Disney's ABC challenges FCC, escalating fight over free speech
Key takeaways
- Walt Disney Co.’s ABC is forcefully resisting Federal Communications Commission efforts to soften the network’s programming, accusing the federal agency of an overreach that violates 1st Amendment freedoms.
- Last week, the FCC took the unusual step of calling in the licenses of eight Disney-owned television stations for early review.
- The FCC separately has taken aim at ABC’s daytime discussion show, “The View,” which delves deeply into politics.
ABC’s West Coast offices in Burbank. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times) By Meg James Staff Writer Follow May 8, 2026 11:09 AM PT 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Walt Disney Co.’s ABC is forcefully resisting Federal Communications Commission efforts to soften the network’s programming, accusing the federal agency of an overreach that violates 1st Amendment freedoms.
Last week, the FCC took the unusual step of calling in the licenses of eight Disney-owned television stations for early review. The move — widely interpreted as an effort to chill the network’s speech — came a day after President Trump demanded that ABC fire late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about First Lady Melania Trump.