Adam Schiff reportedly leads Senate Inquiry Into FCC’s Brendan Carr’s pressure behind Jimmy Kimmel suspension

Jimmy Kimmel is back on air, but the fallout is far from over. Recent events have sparked a broader fight over press freedom and political influence in broadcasting. At the center of the controversy is Senator Adam Schiff’s new effort to probe whether the FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, improperly pressured networks to suspend Kimmel’s show.

Schiff and eight senators recently fired off a letter demanding Carr produce all communications between the FCC, Disney/ABC, and its affiliates. The senators say Carr’s actions together with lawsuits and funding cuts targeting media amount to “the most blatant and coordinated attack on the free press in American history.” Meanwhile, the FCC has denied overreach, insisting it never threatened to yank licenses and that ABC partners voluntarily pulled the show.

Senate Inquiry Into Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

That letter from Schiff isn’t just rhetoric. It aims to uncover whether Carr abused his power. The senators want all internal emails, explanations of Carr’s statutory authority to fine or revoke broadcaster licenses over content, and any coordination with the White House. They want clarity on how far the FCC believes it may intervene in satirical or political commentary.

The controversy ignited after Kimmel’s Sept. 15 monologue, in which he criticized Republicans seeking to frame the shooter of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk as one of “their own.” Two days later, Carr appeared on a podcast and told broadcasters that they could “find ways to take action” against Kimmel or face “additional work” from the FCC. He warned,

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Shortly afterwards, major ABC-affiliate groups Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would preempt the Jimmy Kimmel show indefinitely. ABC, owned by Disney, officially suspended the program as well. Carr later defended the actions by praising those broadcasters for “doing the right thing.”

The decision drew criticism across the aisle. Even some Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, called Carr’s posture “absolutely inappropriate” and “dangerous,” warning of precedent for government censorship.

Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show on Sept. 23, taking aim at Carr and the broader threat to free expression. He described the FCC’s conduct as a “direct threat” and compared it to intimidation tactics. Despite Disney’s reversal, many ABC affiliates still refused to air the show.

Schiff’s letter now seeks to establish whether Carr followed process or acted on political impulse. It’s not just about Kimmel it’s a test case over how much power a regulatory agency may wield over speech.

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