FCC Democrat Urges Response to Trump’s Media Pressure
Source reports published 23 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 24 Oct 2026, 3:53 am AEST
Anna Gomez urged the National Association of Broadcasters to increase its response to pressure from the Trump administration regarding news networks and broadcast television stations ahead of the midterm elections.
What happened
- Anna Gomez, a Democratic member of the FCC, stated that the volume of response from the National Association of Broadcasters did not match the scale of pressure being applied by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
- Brendan Carr, an FCC appointee, asserted that administration channels could violate regulatory obligations by airing ‘entirely fake polls’ before the midterm elections.
- Carr advised broadcasters to avoid ‘News Distortions or running Broadcast Hoaxes’.
- Rep. Stephanie Bice called for an FCC investigation into news outlets that reported on fabricated surveys by Wedgewood Polls, which admitted the data was fabricated as a ‘social experiment’.
- Gomez highlighted a high barrier for actionable proof of news distortion, requiring ‘knowingly airs false information about a crime or catastrophe’ with direct harm to public safety or property.
- The FCC does not have authority unless there is clear evidence.
Original reporting
- Al Jazeera: FCC Democrat warns broadcasters to resist Trump’s media pressure tactics
2026-10-23T00:00:00+00:00 - Washington Examiner: GOP lawmaker calls for FCC inquiry into outlets that reported on fabricated Wedgewood polling
2026-10-23T17:53:51+00:00