Carr threatens to strip broadcasters of FCC licenses over Iran coverage

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has warned broadcasters that they risk losing their licenses if they continue to provide what he deems inaccurate coverage of the Iran war. Carr echoed President Donald Trump's criticism of a Wall Street Journal report detailing damage to U.S. Air Force planes in Saudi Arabia, calling the report intentionally misleading. Carr stated that broadcasters must operate in the public interest and that failing to do so, by spreading hoaxes and distortions, could lead to license revocation. He suggested that correcting their course would also be in the broadcasters' own business interests, citing low public trust in legacy media and the billions of dollars in subsidies provided to broadcasters through free access to airwaves. Carr, a Trump appointee, has a history of engaging with media coverage, including past disputes with ABC and CBS. This warning comes during a sensitive period as the U.S. war with Iran progresses. The Trump administration, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth leading the charge, has been critical of media outlets' reporting on the war, particularly concerning U.S. casualties, while emphasizing military successes.