FCC Has 'Our Head on the Guillotine,' Disney Tells Federal Judge |
FCC
FCC Has 'Our Head on the Guillotine,' Disney Tells Federal Judge
Disney asked a federal court to end the FCC's investigation of its ABC broadcast licenses, which it has called "pretextual" and "retaliatory."
Joe Lancaster | 10.7.2026 2:30 PM
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(Illustration: Lev Radin/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom/Midjourney)
In his second term, President Donald Trump has shown no compunction about using the powers of government against people he doesn't like. Aside from politically motivated prosecutions, the president has also threatened broadcasters with reprisal.
In particular, Trump has singled out ABC, saying repeatedly that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should revoke its broadcast licenses for airing content he doesn't agree with.
Earlier this year, the FCC announced it was calling in eight of ABC's broadcast licenses for early review—specifically, all of the licenses owned by Disney, ABC's parent company.
Disney sued, asking the court to bar the FCC from continuing its "pretextual" investigation. This week, appearing before Judge Loren AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the company made a desperate plea for relief.
"Over the last two years, there's been escalating threats against ABC," said Disney's attorney, Beth Wilkinson. The president, she added, "has control over vast regulatory powers that he's willing to use against those he does not like, he has put in place a chairman at the FCC who understands his marching orders and is not shy about saying so. These are blatant violations of the U.S.........