ABC's "The View" has reportedly reduced its bookings of political guests in response to an ongoing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiry into the show's adherence to equal time rules for political candidates. The FCC initiated the investigation earlier this year following an appearance by Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. ABC maintains that "The View" qualifies as a bona fide news program, exempting it from the equal time requirement.
According to Semafor, the FCC inquiry has prompted the show to "hedge" its political guest selections. Since Talarico's appearance, "The View" has not featured any guests running in competitive midterm races. An ABC source indicated that the show typically does not book non-elected political candidates and maintains a high standard for political interviews.
Despite these adjustments, the show has seen instances of co-hosts pushing back on guests' controversial statements. Co-hosts Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sara Haines have challenged some remarks made by candidates, including questioning statements from Darializa Avila Chevalier, whom Sara Haines described as a potential antisemite. Representatives for Mamdani, who had backed socialist candidates Chevalier and Claire Valdez for Congress, were reportedly told that "The View" could not accommodate them.
In response to the FCC's scrutiny, ABC has launched an on-air campaign advocating for "The View" and eight affiliated ABC stations. This campaign includes a petition urging viewers to support the show's position that it qualifies as a bona fide news interview program. A commercial debuted during the program stating, "'The View' has welcomed your favorite guests for nearly 30 years. Now the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Tell the FCC to let the viewers decide."
Historically, "The View" has featured a predominantly liberal guest list, with hosts frequently expressing criticism of former President Donald Trump. While the show did host more Republicans in 2026, many of these were guest hosts filling in for Republican co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin during her maternity leave. The show's guests in the first seven months of 2025 included 102 left-leaning individuals and no conservatives, according to the Media Research Center.