FCC Chair Brendan Carr has suggested that ABC’s daytime talk show The View could come under review for compliance with federal broadcasting rules.
In an interview on Scott Jennings’ podcast, Carr questioned whether the show qualifies as a bona fide news program, which would exempt it from the FCC’s equal-time requirements for political candidates. He noted that while late-night talk shows are typically considered bona fide news, daytime programs that mix commentary and entertainment may not automatically fall under the same category.
“You could potentially make the case that it’s a news program, but I’m not certain,” he said, noting that reviewing such shows is a “worthwhile” effort to ensure compliance with federal guidelines.
The FCC’s equal-time rule requires broadcast stations to provide equal access to political candidates, though exemptions exist for bona fide news programs, interviews, and documentaries. Carr said his concern is whether shows like The View, with their blend of interviews, discussion, and entertainment, still meet that exemption.
His comments come on the heels of his criticism of ABC for suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program.
Kimmel’s false statements about the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination led the FCC chair to question whether broadcast networks are applying rules consistently.
Carr noted that while late-night shows are typically treated as news programs, daytime talk shows may fall into a regulatory gray area.
Research by the Media Research Center points to a partisan imbalance on The View. In the first half of 2025, the show featured 63 liberal guests — including nine Democratic politicians — but did not host any right-leaning political figures, the organization found.
An entertainment lawyer told Fox News that Carr’s concern is making sure programs claiming news status don’t favor one political viewpoint, rather than policing entertainment content itself.
