Eliminating the national broadcast ownership cap does not free local broadcasters from economic pressure, it just changes who's doing the squeezing. Trading a squeeze from Big Tech for a squeeze from Big Media does nothing to protect the communities this cap was designed to serve. 🧵

The FCC has no authority to police the ideological balance of the airwaves. No matter what this Commission does next, the record now makes clear that this was never a genuine search for the public interest. 🧵

Protecting free speech and defending the First Amendment is not a partisan issue. There is clear bipartisan concern with how the FCC's targeting of ABC's local stations threatens the First Amendment rights of every broadcaster in this country.

It is ridiculous to call for broadcasters to lose their license simply for making the same editorial decisions they've made under presidents of both parties, especially when the remarks were still available to anyone who wanted to watch them online.

The FCC just announced it will move forward with its unlawful effort to hand control of the public airwaves to billionaire buddies of this administration. This will destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting, and drive-up costs for American families.

Great to join @jaketapper.bsky.social. The FCC's role in protecting free speech deserves the same independence from political interference as the Fed's role in our economy. I'll keep speaking up for consumers, innovation, and free expression for as long as I'm here.

Democracy depends on a free press and the preservation of free expression through all communication technologies as much as it depends on a stable economy. The Supreme Court's decision puts at risk how Congress intended independent agencies to function in American democracy. 🧵

The "public interest" does not mean this administration's interests. Broadcasters should ignore these latest threats and stiffen their spine. Pushing back is the only thing that will stop this FCC from abusing its power to silence speech and punish independent reporting.

What Disney is facing is not a series of coincidental regulatory actions but a sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control. As I told their new CEO, the fight ahead may not be easy, but the law, the facts, and the public are on their side.

The public airwaves belong to every American, not just the billionaire buddies of this Administration. If the Paramount-WBD merger could reach up to 100% of foreign ownership, as the company claims in its own filing, that demands a rigorous review by the FCC.

The effort to challenge the licenses of ABC/Disney-owned stations is the FCC's most egregious attack on the First Amendment to date. But it will fail. This should be a lesson to media companies that no amount of capitulation to this Administration will buy them protection.

American families are worried about affordability, access, and rising costs, not whether the TV ratings system has enough warnings about gender identity. This is another example of this FCC prioritizing culture war politics over the real issues that affect consumers every day.

Enjoyed moderating a conversation at the NAB Show on the First Amendment and broadcasters' freedom of speech. What we heard was clear. It's time for broadcasters to stop turning a blind eye to this administration's campaign of censorship and control and find the courage to push back.

🚨 NEWS: A federal court issued a preliminary injunction halting the unlawful Nexstar-TEGNA merger. This is an important step toward ensuring that decisions of this magnitude are made with consumers in mind, not billion-dollar companies cutting backroom deals out of public view. 🧵

Proud to celebrate #NationalTelecommunicatorsWeek alongside Commissioner Trusty and the incredible team at the DC PSAP. These folks are the ones who answer the call when every second counts. They are the first of the first responders, and they deserve our deepest gratitude.

And Cierra Nokes is my Executive Assistant

Harsha Mudaliar is my Policy Advisor and Congressional Liaison, leading Universal Service Fund issues as well as Enforcement issues

Jonathan Uriarte is my Policy Advisor leading Wireline, Public Safety issues, and Press

Edyael Casaperalta is my Legal Advisor leading Wireless, Space, and Consumer issues

Deena Shetler is my Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor leading Media and International issues

NEWS: The Commission has determined agency staff photos must reflect the institutional maturity of the agency ⬇️

I agree with Senators Cruz and @cantwell.senate.gov. There's bipartisan agreement that the Nexstar-TEGNA merger—the largest local broadcast TV transaction in history—should've been voted by the full Commission, not approved behind closed doors to help billionaire buddies bypass the law.

Read below my dissenting statement on the FCC’s Media Bureau unlawful approval of the Nexstar-TEGNA merger ⬇️

NEWS: The FCC has approved the unlawful Nexstar-TEGNA merger behind closed doors. The consequences of this rubber stamp approval will be felt in living rooms and newsrooms across the country, resulting in fewer voices, less competition, and higher costs for consumers.

We cannot give this FCC more power than it has. Broadcasters, journalists, and the public should recognize these empty threats for what they are and fight to defend the First Amendment against any attempt to control or intimidate the press. 🧵

Nothing is more American than defending our constitutional rights against those who would erode our civil liberties. If broadcasters choose to participate in this FCC campaign, they can do so by defending their First Amendment rights and refusing government interference.

CBS is fully protected under the First Amendment to determine what interviews it airs. That makes its decision to yield to political pressure all the more disappointing. Corporate interests cannot justify retreating from airing newsworthy content.

The FCC should not be in the business of managing media consolidation as an inevitability. Its role is to ensure that competition remains real, that consumers benefit, and that local communities are not sacrificed in the name of corporate growth. #SOTN2026

Here is more information on the FCC's equal time rules ⬇️