Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr indicated that the agency may soon issue guidance to broadcast television networks regarding the airing of "fake polls" in the lead-up to the midterm elections. Carr's remarks follow criticism from former President Donald Trump directed at NBC News over its coverage.
Speaking on "The Sunday Briefing," Carr emphasized that broadcast television operates under different federal requirements due to its reliance on FCC licenses. "The one thing that President Trump gets, fundamentally, is that broadcast TV is completely different than other forms of distribution, including cable," Carr stated. He further asserted that many broadcasters "get billions of dollars in taxpayer, effectively, subsidized distribution" and, in exchange, are expected to "operate in the public interest, not some sort of narrow partisan interest."
Carr's comments come in the context of Trump's public criticism of NBC News's Kristen Welker on August 30, who, during a segment on a local NBC affiliate, discussed Trump's influence on the midterms and his record of endorsements. Trump, responding on Truth Social, accused Welker of purposeful inaccuracy and stated she would be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment. NBC News defended Welker, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital, "Kristen is one of the best in the business and we stand by her."
Carr highlighted that there has been considerable focus on reminding broadcasters of their obligations concerning what he described as "fake polls." He warned that such polls could be used to suppress voter turnout during the upcoming midterm elections. "And so the FCC may put guidance out soon to remind broadcasters about their obligations with respect to not airing fake polls, particularly if they're done to suppress people heading into the fall," Carr added.
In contrast, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly stated on X, formerly Twitter, that "the FCC has no authority to punish journalists this administration doesn’t like." She characterized such threats to press freedom as dangerous and undermining to democracy.