Why FCC Chair Brendan Carr Is a Dangerous Moron
From On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media
May 21, 2026 · 1h 7m
About this episode
Kara discusses FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's campaign against media companies and its implications for free speech with her guests.
Kara is joined by FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, Knight First Amendment Institute executive director Jameel Jaffer, and The Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel to discuss FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s escalating campaign against media companies, broadcasters and speech President Trump dislikes. They discuss Carr’s threats against ABC/Disney, his attempts to revive old rules around “equal time” and “news distortion,” and the Trump administration's broader push to control federal agencies. They also explain how Carr's actions create a chilling effect on free speech, and why media companies must fight back. Plus: Why Nilay says Carr's actions towards broadcasters are a "test balloon" for future internet regulation. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Kara Swisher
Guests: Anna Gomez, Jameel Jaffer, Nilay Patel
Topics covered
- FCC
- free speech
- media regulation
- Brendan Carr
- Trump administration
- broadcasting
- equal time rules
Keywords
- FCC
- Brendan Carr
- free speech
- media companies
- broadcasting
- Trump administration
- equal time
- news distortion
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: FCC, ABC/Disney, Trump administration, Knight First Amendment Institute, The Verge
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