Brendan Carr’s FCC is more worried about who The View interviews than foreign governments owning Paramount
News Source
•2026-09-18T11:12:41-04:00
📰 What Happened
The FCC is letting foreign state funds own a large stake in Paramount-Warner Bros. The normal limit on foreign ownership is 25%. The FCC is waiving that rule so three sovereign wealth funds can own 49.5%.
The funds are run by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. At the same time, the FCC under chairman Brendan Carr has threatened ABC. It has also tried to block stations from airing interviews with Democrats and pressured journalists. Critics call the contrast hard to explain.
🔍 The Backstory
US rules usually cap foreign ownership of broadcasters to protect media independence. In its ruling, the FCC defended the decision. Critics say it is strange to worry about who a talk show interviews while letting foreign governments own a big slice of a US media giant.
Carr has also censored late-night hosts, critics say. The Verge lists the case as part of a series about his "war on the First Amendment". The deal combines Paramount and Warner Bros into one large media company. Free-speech groups are watching closely.
🎯 Why It Matters
Who owns the news shapes which stories get told. It also affects how much foreign governments can influence what Americans see.
The FCC is letting foreign state funds own a large stake in Paramount-Warner Bros. The normal limit on foreign ownership is 25%. The FCC is waiving that rule so three sovereign wealth funds can own 49.5%.
The funds are run by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. At the same time, the FCC under chairman Brendan Carr has threatened ABC. It has also tried to block stations from airing interviews with Democrats and pressured journalists. Critics call the contrast hard to explain.
US rules usually cap foreign ownership of broadcasters to protect media independence. In its ruling, the FCC defended the decision. Critics say it is strange to worry about who a talk show interviews while letting foreign governments own a big slice of a US media giant.
Carr has also censored late-night hosts, critics say. The Verge lists the case as part of a series about his "war on the First Amendment". The deal combines Paramount and Warner Bros into one large media company. Free-speech groups are watching closely.
Who owns the news shapes which stories get told. It also affects how much foreign governments can influence what Americans see.