FCC Opens Probe Into ABC’s ‘The View’

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is opening an investigation into ABC’s The View as part of a broader crackdown on broadcast networks accused of skirting federal equal-time requirements for political candidates.

Last month, the FCC announced it would begin enforcing the “statutory equal opportunities requirement” under the Communications Act of 1934, making clear that the rule applies not only to traditional news broadcasts but also to late-night and daytime talk shows.

A source at the FCC told Fox News Digital that Monday’s appearance by Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico on The View triggered the probe.

Talarico was among the first political candidates to appear on the program after the FCC formally announced the renewed enforcement effort.

For decades, broadcast networks have relied on a so-called “bona fide news” exemption, which allows legitimate news programming to feature candidates without granting equal airtime to their opponents. The FCC, however, now says it “has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late-night or daytime television talk show program on the air presently would qualify for the ‘bona fide’ news exemption.”

According to the FCC source, ABC’s parent company, Disney, never filed an equal-time request related to Talarico’s appearance. Such a filing would have signaled that Disney considers The View to be bona fide news programming and therefore exempt from the equal-time rule.

The equal opportunity requirement applies to all legally qualified candidates on the ballot, regardless of party. That means equal time would be owed not only to Republicans, but also to every eligible Democrat in the primary.

During his appearance, Talarico received roughly nine minutes of airtime in a single segment. By comparison, his top primary rival, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D), received approximately 17 minutes of airtime across three segments during her appearance on The View last month. Crockett’s appearance occurred before the FCC formally announced its enforcement push.

The source emphasized that ABC’s obligations would extend beyond Democrats. Republican candidates on the ballot—including incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and his primary challengers—would also be entitled to equal opportunities. The rule would even apply to lesser-known candidates, such as Ahmad Hassan, who is also running in the Democratic primary against Talarico and Crockett.

“Fake news is not getting a free pass anymore,” the source told Fox News Digital.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the policy, noting that the law he is enforcing “goes back to the 1950s.”

“On my watch, we’re going to enforce this regulation,” Carr said.

Carr clarified that networks do not necessarily have to place candidates on the exact same programs to comply. Equal time can also be satisfied through appearances on other qualifying broadcasts or by airing campaign advertisements.

The FCC’s move follows a similar dispute last year involving then-Vice President Kamala Harris, whose televised interview sparked complaints that broadcast networks were again stretching—or outright ignoring—the equal-time rule. That controversy reignited long-standing concerns among conservatives that legacy media outlets routinely act as partisan platforms while shielding themselves under loosely applied “news” exemptions.

Predictably, late-night hosts have reacted with outrage.

Jimmy Kimmel called the enforcement effort a “threat,” while Stephen Colbert accused the FCC of trying to “silence” him and his liberal colleagues.

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