ABC has formally responded to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) inquiry into whether its talk show "The View" qualifies for an exemption from federal equal-time rules. In its Tuesday filing, the network pushed back against the FCC's probe, asserting that the commission is threatening First Amendment rights by attempting to dictate which broadcast programs constitute legitimate news.
The dispute was triggered by an interview on "The View" in February with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has contended that the show is not a "bona fide" news program and therefore should not receive an exemption from the rule requiring broadcasters to offer equal airtime to competing political candidates. ABC countered that the FCC is positioning itself "as an editor's chair," deciding the validity of news programs and potentially forcing them to feature guests they have not selected.
ABC highlighted that over 76,000 public comments were submitted to the FCC regarding the review, with the majority supporting the network's position. The network also suggested that the FCC's review is politically motivated, targeting daytime and late-night shows perceived as critical of the Trump administration while overlooking conservative talk radio.
"What has changed is not the program but the political climate around it," ABC stated in its filing, urging the FCC to reaffirm its 2002 finding that "The View" is a legitimate news program. The FCC, however, has previously indicated it has not seen evidence that daytime or late-night talk shows currently qualify for the "bona fide" news interview exemption.
This FCC review follows an expedited review launched in April concerning ABC's broadcast licenses and its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The recent filing also comes in the wake of an incident where "The View" co-host Sara Haines described Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier as an "antisemite" on air, after which an aide to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly complained to ABC executives.
Mamdani had reportedly sought to have Chevalier and another democratic socialist congressional candidate appear on "The View," but the appearance did not materialize. "The View" has continued to feature elected officials, including Vice President JD Vance, while reportedly avoiding candidates in contested races.
With the public comment period now closed, the FCC is expected to issue a determination on whether "The View" will retain its exemption from the equal-time rule. The Post has sought comment from the FCC regarding the matter.