FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s fight with Disney revives GOP fissures

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s newest fight with Disney is starting to raise alarms among some members of the GOP and on K Street—though many Republicans appear ready to give him a pass. The criticism highlights the growing risk of being dragged into another free speech fight as the Federal Communications Commission chair seeks to haul in Disney’s broadcast licenses for an early renewal. While Chairman Carr’s order cited Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices as the reason for the early review, critics said the timing implies it’s retaliation for a joke Jimmy Kimmel made about first lady Melania Trump. In a skit previewing the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel said the first lady had a “glow like an expectant widow”—a remark the president denounced as a “despicable call to violence” in light of the shooting that later broke out at the dinner. Kimmel has defended his comments as a joke about the nearly 24-year age difference between the Trumps. Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose Commerce Committee oversees the FCC, left open the possibility of hauling Chairman Carr in for questioning. Sen Cruz, one of Carr’s loudest critics in the GOP, had chastised the FCC chair last fall for threatening consequences to stations airing Kimmel’s “garbage,” after the comedian made controversial comments about the killing of GOP activist Charlie Kirk.