Staff Reports
Brendan Carr, the freshly appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, is not holding back in his critique of ABC News and its CEO Bob Iger. In a pointed letter that would make any American who values truth in media nod in approval, Carr directly addressed the glaring issue of trust in national news. With a recent Gallup poll showing trust in the media has plummeted to a dismal 31 percent — a steep drop from the once-respectable 70 percent — Carr laid the blame squarely on the likes of Iger and his crew.
The catalyst for Carr’s communication with Iger? ABC News just agreed to fork over a staggering $15 million to settle Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit, not to mention an additional million for legal fees. The case revolved around host George Stephanopoulos making unfounded claims about Trump, labeling him “liable for rape” which the jury ultimately found unjustified. It seems ABC is paying dearly for its repeated missteps and then some, prompting Carr to remind Iger how the network’s behavior contributes to the growing public distrust of the media.
Carr didn’t stop at just pointing out the issues with the national narrative being peddled by Disney’s news outlet; he shifted gears to address ABC’s larger impact on local news stations. He expressed concern that ABC’s financial agreements with its affiliates are structured in a way that benefits Disney’s streaming platforms at the expense of local news. It’s a classic case of the Big Bad Wolf blowing down the local news houses while pretending to be the friendly neighbor. Local news continues to enjoy more trust from viewers compared to national outlets, and Carr’s foresight predicts that this imbalance of power could spell disaster for what little local news remains.
Trump's FCC Pick Brendan Carr Slams Disney CEO Bob Iger over ABC News: 'Americans No Longer Trust the National News Media' https://t.co/JI3xz70mME
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) December 24, 2024
The GOP mantra of free speech and accountability in the media finds an ally in Carr, who Trump has lauded as a fighter against censorship and a champion for the rights of everyday Americans. As conversations swirl intensely around media bias and freedom, Carr’s stance not only resonates with conservative audiences but also echoes the frustrations of countless individuals who feel misrepresented or outright ignored by major networks.
ABC’s track record certainly doesn’t help its case, with blatant displays of bias during the election cycle, notably during the debates where moderators appeared to favor Kamala Harris. The interruptions from David Muir and Linsey Davis aimed more at undermining Trump than fostering fair discourse. If national media had any intention of maintaining credibility, such antics did nothing but entrench the belief that reportage and integrity are not their strong suits. As Carr rightly pointed out, it’s time for the national media to step up and earn back the trust of the American populace, one accurate headline at a time.
