Watchdog to FCC: Reject ABC Broadcast License Renewals (Connecting the Dots: ABC, The Walt Disney Company, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) & The Carnegie/Soros Network)
Newsmax.com
By
Brian Freeman | Tuesday, 30 June 2026 11:17 AM EDT
https://www.newsmax.com/us/fcc-abc-broadcast-renewal/2026/06/30/id/1261319/
A
conservative media watchdog is urging the Federal
Communications Commission to
deny the renewal of several ABC
broadcast licenses, arguing the network has failed to serve the public interest
by engaging in partisan news coverage and misinformation, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.
The
Media Research Center (MRC) filed a petition with the FCC this week opposing
the renewal of eight Disney-owned broadcast licenses — including ABC-owned
television stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The filing comes as
the FCC is conducting an early review of the licenses after Chairman Brendan
Carr accelerated the renewal process last year.
"We
finally have an FCC willing to hold Disney and ABC accountable," MRC
President David Bozell said in a statement. "Broadcast licenses are a
privilege, not an entitlement. In exchange for free use of the public airwaves,
broadcasters agree to serve the public interest."
Bozell
added that "if ABC wants to operate like a partisan cable network, it
should give up the benefits reserved for broadcast licensees. No one is above
the law, and ABC should not have its broadcast licenses renewed."
The FCC
said the review is part of its statutory responsibility.
"Broadcast
licenses are not sacred cows," an FCC spokesperson said.
"When
a broadcaster files an application to renew their FCC licenses, Congress has
tasked the FCC with determining whether the broadcaster has served the public
interest. That is exactly what the FCC will do here," the spokesperson
explained.
ABC has
criticized the early license review, calling it an effort to suppress protected
speech, the Post reported.
The
network has said the accelerated review serves "no legitimate
purpose" and amounts to "an effort to suppress speech under the guise
of bureaucratic process."
ABC has
also launched a public campaign encouraging viewers to support renewal of its
broadcast licenses while separately asking the FCC to recognize "The
View" as a news interview program amid another agency investigation
involving the daytime talk show.
In its
filing, the MRC alleges ABC demonstrated systematic political bias during the
2024 presidential campaign by providing predominantly positive coverage of
then-Vice President Kamala Harris while portraying President Donald Trump
negatively.
The
organization also alleges that ABC programs, including "Jimmy Kimmel
Live!" and "The View," favored Democrat politicians and
commentators while limiting appearances by Republicans.
The
petition further accuses ABC of minimizing or failing to adequately cover
stories involving Hunter Biden's laptop and allegations surrounding former
President Joe Biden's use of an autopen while also alleging the network
downplayed or excused instances of political violence.
Among
the examples cited, the MRC pointed to comments made by late-night host Jimmy
Kimmel following the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, as well
as ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos' on-air statement that Trump had been found
liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.
ABC
later agreed to pay $16 million to settle Trump's defamation lawsuit stemming
from those remarks. A New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and
defaming Carroll but not for rape under New York law.
The
filing also cites ABC's coverage of actor Jussie Smollett, alleging the network
devoted extensive airtime to Smollett's claims of being the victim of a hate
crime but provided comparatively little coverage after authorities concluded
the attack had been staged.
The
FCC's review of ABC's licenses began amid broader tensions between the network
and the Trump administration. Carr initiated the process a year ahead of
schedule, citing ABC's alleged lack of cooperation with an FCC investigation
into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The
license renewal proceedings remain pending before the commission.
Connecting
the Dots:
Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) regulates U.S. outlets
for broadcast.
Newton N. Minow was
the chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a senior
counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, the president of the Crown
Family Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and
an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Michelle Obama was
a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP and an advocate for the ONE
Campaign.
Barack Obama was
an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
R. Eden Martin was
counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and is the president of the Commercial
Club of Chicago.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute
(think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for
Muslim Advancement.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen
Institute (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Michael D. Eisner is
a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was a chairman
& CEO for the Walt Disney Company.
James S.
Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and
a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Lester Crown was
a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is a VP at
the Crown Family Foundation and a member of the Commercial Club
of Chicago.
A. Steven Crown is
a VP for the Crown Family Foundation and a member of the Commercial
Club of Chicago.
Valerie B. Jarrett is
a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Vernon E.
Jordan Jr’s great niece and was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama
administration.
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a
senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and
an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a lobby firm for the Walt
Disney Company.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Cyrus F.
Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
Sheryl K.
Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think
tank), and a director at the Walt Disney Company.
John S. Chen was
a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a director
at the Walt Disney Company and a special adviser for Silver
Lake.
Silver
Lake Kraftwerk Fund is a fund for Silver Lake.
Soros Fund
Management is a partner with the Silver Lake Kraftwerk Fund.
Jonathan Soros was the deputy chairman for
the Soros Fund Management, the vice chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a
director at the New America Foundation.
George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father and was the
chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New
America Foundation and the International Rescue Committee.
Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kati Marton is
a director at the New America Foundation, an overseer for the International
Rescue Committee and was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News.
ABC News is a
subsidiary of ABC Inc.
ABC Inc. is a
majority owner of ESPN.
Robert A. Iger was
a president & COO for ABC Inc., is married to Willow
Bay, and the chairman & CEO for the Walt Disney Company.
ABC Inc. is a
subsidiary of ABC.
Walt Disney
Company is a subsidiary of ABC Inc.
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a lobby firm for the Walt
Disney Company.
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution
(think tank) and Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Sheryl K.
Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think
tank), and a director at the Walt Disney Company.
Cyrus F.
Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
R. Eden Martin is
the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was counsel
at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama was
a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Barack Obama was
an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
Newton N. Minow was
a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, the chairman for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), the president of the Crown Family
Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an
honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Cameron F. Kerry is
a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), John F.
Kerry’s brother and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.
Mark D. Schneider is
a partner at Sidley Austin LLP and was an associate general counsel
for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Reed E. Hundt was
the chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is
a director at the United Negro College Fund.
Linda Johnson
Rice is a director at the United Negro College Fund, a
member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and a friend of Valerie
B. Jarrett.
Valerie B. Jarrett is a
friend of Linda Johnson Rice, Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s
great niece, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was the
senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration.
James T. Heimbach was
a special assistant to the president for legislative affairs for the Barack
Obama administration and a legislative affairs director for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) regulates U.S. outlets
for broadcast.
Thomas E. Wheeler is
the chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a
member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, was a
fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, and a
fundraiser for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign.
Chuck Hagel was
a co-chairman for the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, the
chairman for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank)
and is the secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense for
the Barack Obama administration.
Judith A. Miscik is
a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and was a
director at the International Rescue Committee.
Kati Marton is
an overseer for the International Rescue Committee and was the Bonn
bureau chief for the ABC News.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International
Rescue Committee.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Colin L. Powell was
an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, an honorary
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and Michael
K. Powell’s father.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council
of the United States (think tank), the Aspen Institute
(think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim
Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen
Institute (think tank).
Michael K. Powell is
a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), Colin L. Powell’s son
and was the chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Julius
Genachowski is a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute (think
tank), was Barack Obama’s law school friend and the
chairman for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Michael D. Eisner is
a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and was a chairman
& CEO for the Walt Disney Company.
James S.
Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and
a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Lester Crown was
a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is a VP at
the Crown Family Foundation and a member of the Commercial Club
of Chicago.
A. Steven Crown is
a VP for the Crown Family Foundation and a member of the Commercial
Club of Chicago.
Valerie B. Jarrett is
a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Vernon E.
Jordan Jr’s great niece and was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama
administration.
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a
senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and
an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a lobby firm for the Walt
Disney Company.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Cyrus F.
Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
Sheryl K.
Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think
tank), and a director at the Walt Disney Company.
John S. Chen was
a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a director
at the Walt Disney Company and a special adviser for Silver
Lake.
Silver
Lake Kraftwerk Fund is a fund for Silver Lake.
Soros Fund
Management is a partner with the Silver Lake Kraftwerk Fund.
Jonathan Soros was the deputy chairman for
the Soros Fund Management, the vice chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a
director at the New America Foundation.
George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father
and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New
America Foundation and the International Rescue Committee.
Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kati Marton is
a director at the New America Foundation, an overseer for the International
Rescue Committee and was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News.
ABC News is a
subsidiary of ABC Inc.
Robert A. Iger was
a president & COO for ABC Inc., is married to Willow
Bay, and the chairman & CEO for the Walt Disney Company.
ABC Inc. is a
subsidiary of ABC.
Walt Disney
Company is a subsidiary of ABC Inc.
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a lobby firm for the Walt
Disney Company.
Kathleen Q.
Abernathy was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
Feld, LLP and the commissioner for the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC).
Amy L. Nathan was
an attorney at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and the
senior counsel, strategic planning & policy analysis for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and Valerie B. Jarrett’s great
uncle.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
Cyrus F.
Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of
Chicago.
Valerie B. Jarrett is
a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Vernon E.
Jordan Jr’s great niece and was the senior adviser for the Barack Obama
administration.
R. Eden Martin is
the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was counsel
at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama was
a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Barack Obama was
an intern at Sidley Austin LLP and the president for the Barack
Obama administration.
James T. Heimbach was
a special assistant to the president for legislative affairs for the Barack
Obama administration, and a legislative affairs director for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
Mark D. Schneider is
a partner at Sidley Austin LLP and was an associate general counsel
for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Newton N. Minow was
a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, the chairman for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), the president of the Crown Family
Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an
honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Sheryl K.
Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think
tank), and a director at the Walt Disney Company.
John S. Chen was
a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a director
at the Walt Disney Company and a special adviser for Silver
Lake.
Silver
Lake Kraftwerk Fund is a fund for Silver Lake.
Soros Fund
Management is a partner with the Silver Lake Kraftwerk Fund.
Jonathan Soros was the deputy chairman for
the Soros Fund Management, the vice chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society, is George Soros’s son and a
director at the New America Foundation.
George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father and was the
chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the New
America Foundation and the International Rescue Committee.
Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the New America Foundation and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Kati Marton is
a director at the New America Foundation, an overseer for the International
Rescue Committee and was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News.
ABC News is a
subsidiary of ABC Inc.
Robert A. Iger was
a president & COO for ABC Inc., is married to Willow
Bay and the chairman & CEO for the Walt Disney Company.
ABC Inc. is a
subsidiary of ABC.
Walt Disney
Company is a subsidiary of ABC Inc.
Willow Bay was
a news correspondent for ABC and is married to Robert
A. Iger.
Kati Marton was
the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News and is an overseer for
the International Rescue Committee.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International
Rescue Committee and the Brookings Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society.
International
Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.
Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Lawrence H. Summers is a director at the ONE Campaign and
was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Sheryl K.
Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign and was a
trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala is a director at the ONE Campaign and
was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Helene D. Gayle is
a director at the ONE Campaign and a trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
Sheryl K.
Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign, a director at
the Walt Disney Company and was a trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
Carnegie
Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society
for Muslim Advancement.
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society.
John S. Chen was
a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a
director at the Walt Disney Company.
Vernon E. Jordan
Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle and a
senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.
Akin,
Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was a lobby firm for the Walt
Disney Company.
Kathleen Q.
Abernathy was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
Feld, LLP and the commissioner for the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC).
Amy L. Nathan was
an attorney at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP and the
senior counsel, strategic planning & policy analysis for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
FCC
Chairman Joins Obama to Control Internet (Past
Research on the FCC)
Wednesday,
January 14, 2015
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/01/fcc-chairman-joins-obama-to-control.html
The
Valerie Jarrett Power Matrix - Background research (Past
Research on Valerie Jarrett)
Friday,
December 27, 2013
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-valerie-jarrett-power-matrix.html
Dershowitz
to Newsmax: CNN Case Hinders Free Speech (Connecting the Dots: Harvard Law
School, The Harvard Law Review, The Supreme Court, The Phi Beta Kappa Society,
The Bohemian Club, The Belizean Grove, CNN & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Carnegie Corporation of New York)
Tuesday,
June 30, 2026
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/06/dershowitz-to-newsmax-cnn-case-hinders.html
Abbas:
2017 Will Be ‘The Year of the Palestinian State’ (Past
Research on the Crown Family Foundation)
Sunday,
January 1, 2017
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/01/abbas-2017-will-be-year-of-palestinian.html
The
Ghost Armada (Connecting the Dots: United Against Nuclear Iran, Antony Blinken,
Iran, The Center for Strategic and International Studies, The View, Kamala
Harris, Hunter Biden & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the New America Foundation)
Thursday,
June 19, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-ghost-armada-connecting-dots-united.html
Hours
After John Kerry Demands Green Transition Accelerated – His Emissions Closet
Swings Wide Open (Connecting the Dots: Cameron Kerry, John Kerry, Teresa Heinz
Kerry, Soros, the Climate Reality Project, the Brookings Institution (think
tank), the EPA and onto the FDA, Pfizer & Johnson & Johnson. It’s the
Network That Never Ends. One Project (Climate Change) Just bleeds into the Next
(Covid Project)) (Past Research on Cameron Kerry)
Thursday,
July 21, 2022
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/07/hours-after-john-kerry-demands-green.html
Disney
Crowd Sizes ‘Shockingly Low’ Amid Backlash (Connecting the Dots: Bob Iger, Walt
Disney Company, ABC & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on ABC & Willow Bay)
Tuesday,
July 11, 2023
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2023/07/disney-crowd-sizes-shockingly-low-amid.html
Dr.
Morton Halperin – J Street Education Fund (Connecting the Dots: J Street,
Morton Halperin, The Open Society Foundations, Newsmax’s Mark Halperin, Rhonda
(Randi) Weingarten, The ONE Campaign, MSNBC, ACLU, The Carnegie & Soros
Funding) (Past Research on the ONE Campaign)
Tuesday,
June 17, 2025
