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ABC Defends “The View” as News, Cites 77K Comments

7/8/2026

Summary

ABC Defends View

ABC filed FCC comments on Tuesday defending “The View” as a news program and citing the 2002 FCC ruling that classified it as news.
The filing noted over 77,000 comments, a majority backing the show and free-speech protections, and accused the Trump administration and FCC chair Brendan Carr of chilling speech by reopening the case.
The FCC opened a public comment period and said ABC must meet its public-interest obligations.

Summary

FCC Expands Rules

FCC Media Bureau issued a January advisory questioning the exemption that treats talk shows as news, expanding equal-time rules to late-night programming.
Since Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared in February, The View has avoided featuring any political candidate, citing equal-time concerns, and has added Republican guests for 2026.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation and Black groups warned that ending exemption could threaten Black audiences and chill journalism.

Summary

ABC Protests Renewal

ABC filed a broadcast-license renewal under protest after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered it in a DEI probe.
The FCC, which demanded renewals for ABC’s stations, set deadlines of June 29 for petitions, July 29 for opposition, and August 5 for replies.
The Center for American Rights reported The View had 126 non-political and 12 political guests in five months of 2026, nine Democrats and three Republicans, including Sarah Isgur of “Never Trump” group.

Summary

ABC Challenges FCC

FCC issued an early-renewal order on May 28, 2026, the first such demand in five decades.
The order required simultaneous renewal filings from ABC’s eight network-owned stations.
ABC’s legal team, led by former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, called the order an “extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion.”
ABC aired promos on those stations, featuring Barbara Walters, urging viewers to tell the FCC they want to keep The View.

History

Historical Context

1996 saw President Bill Clinton sign the April 9 Line Item Veto Act and the April 24 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, marking a wave of federal reforms. That shift underpins today’s FCC review of ABC’s “The View” by Chairman Brendan Carr and counsel Paul Clement, as the agency applies the era’s competition-focused rules. In August 1996 unemployment fell to 5.1%.

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ABC Defends View

ABC filed FCC comments on Tuesday defending “The View” as a news program and citing the 2002 FCC ruling that classified it as news.
The filing noted over 77,000 comments, a majority backing the show and free-speech protections, and accused the Trump administration and FCC chair Brendan Carr of chilling speech by reopening the case.
The FCC opened a public comment period and said ABC must meet its public-interest obligations.

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