FCC orders early license renewal for ABC stations following Kimmel's first lady joke
The FCC has ordered The Walt Disney Company to seek early license renewal for its eight ABC-owned TV stations, a move following criticism from First Lady Melania Trump over a joke by Jimmy Kimmel. FCC Chair Brendan Carr cited public interest concerns, though critics argue the action is politically motivated and threatens free speech. Kimmel defended his joke as satire and not a call to violence, while media advocates warn the move sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom. The decision has drawn sharp backlash from Democrats and First Amendment experts who see it as government overreach.
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Television FCC orders early license renewal for ABC stations following Kimmel's first lady joke Updated April 28, 20265:46 PM ET Originally published April 28, 20264:52 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered Mandalit del Barco FCC CALLS FOR EARLY DISNEY LICENSE RENEWAL Listen · 4:03 4:03 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5802997/nx-s1-9748423" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C, on April 25, 2026.
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