Grand Theft America / Receipt power-2026-07-07-039

The FCC moves to strip 'The View' of its news status

The FCC moves toward ruling ABC's “The View” is not a bona fide news program—stripping its equal-time exemption; ABC formally objects, saying the proceeding threatens to “upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech.”

Verified through 2026-08-26Source: axios.comCorrections: none logged

What happened

FCC Chair Brendan Carr's agency signaled it may rule that “The View” is not a bona fide newscast, which would strip its equal-time exemption and constrain what the program can air in an election year. ABC filed a formal objection on July 6 saying the proceeding threatens to “upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech.”

Why it matters

Reclassifying a critical program out of the news exemption is a content ruling dressed as a technical one: it lets the regulator decide which shows may discuss candidates freely. The chill lands on every broadcaster deciding how hard to press the administration before November.

Receipt details

  • Phase 1
  • Silence the watchdogs
  • Punish critical news coverage

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