Trump’s FCC pick seeks to curb Big Tech censorship. Promoting himself as a “champion for the little guy,” Nathan Simington, Trump’s nominee to lead the FCC, has pledged to “take on Big Tech and restore free speech online.” Simington, a former lawyer for the Cato Institute, has criticized Internet giants like Google and Facebook for engaging in “an unprecedented surge” of censorship. Simington is a controversial pick and faces an uphill battle. But his nomination is a sign that Trump is serious about reining in Big Tech.
Tag: FCC
FCC commissioner rips NBC over Harris’ last-minute SNL appearance: ‘Plainly designed to evade’ the rules
In a surprising turn of events, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has criticized NBC for allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to appear in a pre-recorded “Saturday Night Live” sketch on the eve of the midterm elections. Carr claims that NBC’s actions were “plainly designed to evade” federal rules prohibiting broadcasters from airing political content during certain hours on election day. This latest controversy underscores the ongoing debate over the role of media in shaping political discourse, with some arguing that strict regulations are necessary to ensure fairness while others advocate for greater freedom of expression.
How Trump could weaponize the FCC against the media in a second term
If re-elected, President Donald Trump could use the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement policies that limit the free speech rights of the media.
The FCC is an independent agency that regulates interstate and international communications. It appointed five commissioners, of which a majority are currently Republicans – which could give Trump the votes needed to push through his agenda.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the media, calling them “the enemy of the people” and accusing them of spreading “fake news.” He has also proposed changes to the FCC’s rules that would make it easier for him to censor content that he does not like.
If Trump is re-elected, he could intensify his efforts to control the media through the FCC. This could have a dramatic impact on the First Amendment rights of all Americans, as well as on the ability of the press to hold the government accountable.