'No Basis' to Revoke License Over Kimmel, FCC Commissioner Gomez Says

First Amendment & FCC Authority - The core issue revolves around potential violations of the First Amendment, particularly concerning freedom of speech and freedom of the press [3] - The FCC's authority is limited in regulating content, primarily focusing on protecting children and ensuring programming standards, not retaliating against broadcasters for legal content [6] - Revoking a station's license is an extremely rare and serious action, requiring a very high standard [13] - The FCC does not have the constitutional right nor the ability to take action against broadcasters because of their content [5] Corporate Capitulation & Political Pressure - Concerns exist that the administration is using levers of power to pressure broadcasters and news media to alter their reporting and content [2][3] - Corporate capitulation to this pressure is seen as a fraying of the foundation of democracy [3] - The administration may weaponize transactions and demand changes in how broadcasters report to favor the administration [21] Complaints & Legal Actions - A partisan legal group has been filing numerous complaints against media companies, including those against 60 Minutes and Saturday Night Live [18] - Disney previously paid $50 million to settle a defamation lawsuit related to comments made by one of its hosts [19] Media Regulation & Bias - The approval of the Paramount Skydance deal included installing a "truth arbiter" to field complaints about media bias, which is considered a chilling effect on freedom of the press [20] - Jimmy Kimmel's show is considered satire, not news, and therefore does not meet the standard for news distortion [15][16]