FCC's Brendan Carr Goes After CNN, Wants 'Accountability' for Iran Coverage

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041682254783533301

FCC's Brendan Carr Goes After CNN, Wants 'Accountability' for Iran Coverage

"Pushing out a hoax headline in such a sensitive national security moment as this requires accountability." FCC Chair Brendan Carr says in response to CNN's Iran coverage.

www.military.com

CNN: Iran Claims Victory — FTVLive

CNN is being called out on their reporting, but…

www.ftvlive.com

Again the FCC does not regulate CNN but then again CNN's Parent company WB has to respond to the merger with Paramount. Also CNN has to respond to the probability that Bari Weiss will take over their operations in the same way CBS operates today. Its all about controlling the Pentagon press pool and White House Press Corps we mentioned on other threads.

Neither Carr nor Trump provided public evidence to support claims that CNN’s reporting was inaccurate. Military.com reached out to the FCC for further comment.

CNN defended its reporting in a statement provided to Military.com, as follows:

The statement in question was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets. We received the statement from specific official Iranian spokespeople who are known to us.

The network also pointed to on-air reporting from correspondent Matthew Chance, who said multiple statements had emerged from Iran, including a shorter, more limited statement from the foreign ministry and a more detailed document attributed to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

 

[ted chittenden]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2041682254783533301

FCC's Brendan Carr Goes After CNN, Wants 'Accountability' for Iran Coverage

"Pushing out a hoax headline in such a sensitive national security moment as this requires accountability." FCC Chair Brendan Carr says in response to CNN's Iran coverage.

www.military.com

CNN: Iran Claims Victory — FTVLive

CNN is being called out on their reporting, but…

www.ftvlive.com

Again the FCC does not regulate CNN but then again CNN's Parent company WB has to respond to the merger with Paramount. Also CNN has to respond to the probability that Bari Weiss will take over their operations in the same way CBS operates today. Its all about controlling the Pentagon press pool and White House Press Corps we mentioned on other threads.

I wonder how long it will take for the FCC or other parts of this Administration to go after Daily Kos, Democracy Now, and the Thom Hartmann program for making the same kinds of statements. Hopefully, our sitting judges, including some appointed by the President himself, will still continue to show backbone against this threat to the U.S. Constitution's first amendment.

 

[Don CT]

Be careful what you wish for. The next administration could have FOX News taken off the air.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

I wonder how long it will take for the FCC or other parts of this Administration to go after Daily Kos, Democracy Now, and the Thom Hartmann program for making the same kinds of statements. Hopefully, our sitting judges, including some appointed by the President himself, will still continue to show backbone against this threat to the U.S. Constitution's first amendment.

"Not Our Responsibility": How Young MAGA Voters Are Reacting to Trump’s War in Iran

A generation drawn to Trump’s promises to avoid new foreign wars is now confronting a widening conflict with uncertain aims—and questioning what “America First” is meant to deliver.

time.com

MAGA Media Seems to Have Hit Its Breaking Point Over Iran

“The online right wasn’t supportive and there wasn’t anything that was going to change that,” says one person familiar with the Republican influencer pipeline.

www.wired.com

But CNN had clips that showed some of Trump own allies or supporters don’t like where the country is going with the response to Iran. Not sure how the FCC or White House reponse to that. Also Chairman Carr can’t control CNN or CBS News directly as we mentioned here. Plus CNN issued their own response via reporting on how Iran ceasefire is handled.

 

[TheBigA]

CNN disputes that the headline was fraud. They say the quote was authentic:

CNN Defends Reporting On Iran Statement After Trump Claims It Was Fake

Trump demanded an investigation after the network published a report on Iran's declaration of victory.

deadline.com

Its likely the Iranians are saying one thing to our president and another thing to their people. That doesn't make either one of them fake. As long as CNN prefaced the quote by saying it was reported on Iranian TV, it's factual.

The problem here is the administration wants to control the story without actually involving the media in what they do. The pentagon still hasn't responded to the judges orders about their media rules, so a lot of the reporters are still not allowed in the pentagon. Then they complain when the media reports stories they don't like. The president refuses to answer questions from CNN because he says they're "Fake news." So they have to get their information from someone who will answer them.

Remember this is the same president who reposts lies by others, and he never apologizes for what he says or does. Reporters really never know if he really means what he says or if he's just posting his personal opinion.

Meanwhile the FCC has no role in regulating cable TV. I don't recall the previous FCC going after Fox News when they repeated lies about Dominion voting machines. Ultimately that company had to sue, and they ended up getting paid a lot of money.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Donald Trump Rails Against Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly & Candace Owens

Donald Trump laid into four media figures and podcasters who had been supporters, yet blasted the president for his decision to go to war with Iran.

deadline.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/2042339446260187421

There are people on this list we never think would be targeted by the Trump White House. One time we thought Rupert Murdoch would never be a target of Trump's rants but we were proven wrong when the Wall Street Journal and Trump were sued. Now we see Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones get targeted in the same form we saw Jimmy Kimmel, Colbert and Seth Myers did on the TV side. Only difference here is that these are pundits around Youtube and podcasts and the FCC has no jurisdiction on what somebody says on a Youtube show.

Donald Trump laid into four media figures and podcasters who had been strident supporters, yet have blasted the president for his decision to go to war with Iran and for his ceasefire agreement to try to end it.

In a 485-word Truth Social post, Trump on Thursday railed against Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones, accusing them of having “low IQs” and of operating “third rate podcasts.”

Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch and two reporters for Epstein letter story

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-name-2003-birthday-letter-epstein-wall-street-journal-reports-2025-07-18/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/18/trump-sues-wsj-rupert-murdoch-slander/85282651007/ Donald Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages in a lawsuit against the...

radiodiscussions.com

 

[Megatron]

Megyn Kelly is right surprised that Tucker Carlson has turned on Trump as I thought they were BFFs and he had access to the white house and Trump 24/7. I have no problem with the CNN report. Just like I didn't believe Trump was going to wipeout IRAN and I hope there will be a longer ceasefire & truce, I don't support this war with IRAN just glad not many Americans that are in the military have died. I'll always support our troops even not supporting the war.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

CNBC Host Grill Trump FCC Chair Over Accusations He’s Working to ‘Chill Free Speech’

“You've used your authority differently to promote coverage you want to see. Is that fair?”

www.yahoo.com

Here we go this time and interview CNBC gave when Chairman Carr appeared on one of their shows.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Democrats file articles of impeachment against Hegseth for ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’

Accusations refer to attack on Iran without congressional authorization and strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats

www.theguardian.com

Chairman Carr needs to rethink this one given that hes been repeating everything to do Pete Hegseth's bidding and was about controlling the press pool in relation to Iran. Now that this one is falling apart how does Chairman Carr respond to this. See this stuff goes beyond what the media or the FCC can control here. Yes its members of congress putting impeachment complaints on Hegseth related to Iran. Its something FCC or media cannot control on that one.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/hegseth-invokes-bible-compare-reporters-enemies-jesus-2026-04-16/

Pete Hegseth attacks 'unpatriotic' media and compares reporters to Jewish biblical group

The defense secretary has frequently attacked the media over Iran war coverage.

www.nbcnews.com

This is a continuation of Chairman Carr Needs to reconsider everything hes doing here in relation to the press as seen from the Pentagon.

Pentagon press policy ruled unconstitutional again by federal judge

The Pentagon said its revised policy addressed the court's concerns, but the judge said its "slightly different language" that had the same effect.

www.usatoday.com

 

[spiritof67]

Be careful what you wish for. The next administration could have FOX News taken off the air.

If true, I would smile the way Joe Stalin did just before sending someone off to the gulag.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Former FCC staffers agree: Brendan Carr needs to be stopped

The bipartisan group says it’s been “weaponized for partisan purposes.”

www.theverge.com

Here is more this time its about Chairman carr threat to use a "News Distortion Policy".

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Orwell was right, he just had the year wrong.

 

[TheBigA]

It's possible we could now see the FCC go after Fox News, after the latest rant by the president:

Trump Goes Ballistic on Fox News Anchor Jacqui Heinrich, Claims MAGA Republicans ‘Hate’ the Channel

Donald Trump went after Jacqui Heinrich by name on Sunday after hinting in an earlier post that she failed when interviewing "Dumacrat" Ro Khanna.

currently.att.yahoo.com

"This is why MAGA Republicans, who are actually close to 100% of the Party, hate Fox, despite the wonderful contributions made by so many of their great anchors and commentators. Hard to win Elections like this!”

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

It's possible we could now see the FCC go after Fox News, after the latest rant by the president:

Trump Goes Ballistic on Fox News Anchor Jacqui Heinrich, Claims MAGA Republicans ‘Hate’ the Channel

Donald Trump went after Jacqui Heinrich by name on Sunday after hinting in an earlier post that she failed when interviewing "Dumacrat" Ro Khanna.

currently.att.yahoo.com

What does the Trump administration mean when he rants about "Fox News" its because sometimes there's are other divisions within Fox that also do news content like local Fox O&O's and Live Now On Fox that air stuff that don't sound like his pundits.

But in this case its The Sunday Briefing on Fox News and there's a segment that the host interviewed a congressman who happens to be a democrat that the president is offended about. But as always as we mentioned in other places if Fox Inc only had Fox News and nothing else they would have gone bankrupt for being too dependent on one niche audience.

 

[ted chittenden]

'Effort to Stifle and Intimidate': Trump DOJ Subpoenas News Outlets Over Iran War Coverage | Common Dreams

"The government’s subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal and our reporters represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering," said the newspaper's publisher.

www.commondreams.org

Apparently the current U.S. President doesn't think the FCC is working fast enough to dethrone Iran war reporters and critics so he's asked the DOJ to step in. Thus far, at least at the lower court levels, he's (mostly) losing these battles so we'll see.

 

[TheBigA]

From the above article:

The previous month, Trump floated “charges for treason” against journalists he accused of circulating “false information” about the Iran war.

There is nothing illegal about publishing false information. The president himself has been caught giving out false information. Same with the pentagon. The pentagon came up with media rules found to be unconstitutional. Then it complains about the news coverage. If they want better reporting, they should be more accommodating. That's what previous administrations have done. The government is trying to control the story, and unfortunately that is unconstitutional.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

The crazy part is that Wall Street Journal is targeted in this DOJ Subpoena related to Iran. One would think Wall Street Journal would have been protected more under the Trump administration given that the Murdochs also own Fox News Channel. But thats been proven to be more in theory and not in practice under Trump Administration.

The Wall Street Journal Says It Received Subpoenas For Reporters’ Records As Part Of Trump DOJ Leak Investigation

The Journal confirmed that it received subpoenas over reporting on the war in Iran.

deadline.com

UPDATED with Acting Attorney General comments: The Wall Street Journal received grand jury subpoenas for reporters’ records as part of a Justice Department leak investigation, as the outlet said that they would oppose the effort.

The Journal reported Monday evening that the subpoenas, dated March 4, came after President Donald Trump complained about leaks tied to the war in Iran. The subpoenas were tied to a February 23 article that reported on the concerns that Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and others had about the risks of the Iran war. A spokesperson for Dow Jones, the publisher of the Journal, said in a statement, “The government’s subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal and our reporters represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering. We will vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting.”

 

[TheBigA]

Keep in mind that the president was investigated for taking classified documents from the white house. There is a full report on that investigation that was sealed. Reporters are asking an appeals court to unseal the investigation, so we can know if our president was guilty of taking classified documents.

Knight Institute Asks Federal Appeals Court to Order the Release of Special Counsel’s Report in Trump Classified Documents Case

knightcolumbia.org

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Advocates condemn Trump administration's Wall Street Journal subpoenas

The newspaper called the Trump administration's actions "an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering" and vowed to "vigorously oppose" it.

www.usatoday.com

Here is more fallout from this new one and yes press freedom is at play here.

Press advocacy and civil liberties groups are criticizing President Donald Trump's administration following a report by the Wall Street Journal that said the news outlet received subpoenas related to its coverage of the ongoing war in Iran.

The newspaper reported May 11 that Trump privately expressed concern about leaks related to the war to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, citing unnamed “administration officials familiar with the matter.” One official said a sticky note with the word “treason” was placed atop a stack of articles that concerned the administration, according to the news organization.

The story said the newspaper "received grand jury subpoenas dated March 4 for records of Journal reporters." It said they related to a February article that reported top Pentagon officials warned Trump about the risks of going to war against Iran in the days before the president launched "Operation Epic Fury."