Disney-owned ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC

U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr speaks during a press conference, following an open meeting of the FCC, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 22, 2026. Kylie Cooper | ReutersDisney's ABC has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, calling the government agency's recent investigation into the company a "retaliatory campaign" due to the nature of its programming, which has been critical of President Donald Trump. The broadcast network filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in a district court in Washington, D.C. It comes months after the FCC launched an early renewal of a set of ABC's broadcast station licenses, citing concerns around the company's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. However, that early review process came shortly after renewed political backlash against ABC following comments made by TV host Jimmy Kimmel on his late night show, which airs on the broadcast network. ABC has also faced criticism from the government around its daytime talk show, "The View."ABC's lawsuit calls for the FCC to halt its early broadcast renewal proceedings.The FCC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. ...