Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has been in the news a lot lately because of his role in the extended suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC. The network’s choice came just a few hours after Carr openly criticized the comedian’s statements about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel claimed last week on his show that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.” Carr, a well-known admirer of Donald Trump, said that Kimmel was deceiving to viewers on purpose by suggesting that the suspected assassin was a Trump supporter. Carr said in an interview on the Benny Johnson podcast that Disney, the parent company of ABC, had to do something or else the FCC will take more action. He called the problem “very serious.”
Brendan Carr: A Career in Politics and Communications as a Conservative
Brendan Carr is a 46-year-old lawyer who has been an FCC commissioner since 2017. In November 2024, President Donald Trump made him Chairman. He was the agency’s chief counsel before becoming chairman. The Senate approved him three times, once under Trump and once under Biden.
Carr has worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP and as a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He graduated from both Georgetown University and The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.
Carr was best known for his efforts helping blue-collar communications workers and pushing for 5G infrastructure. Now, however, he is at the center of a political fight over media and free speech. As chairman, he has started investigations into ABC, CBS, and NBC because he thinks their news shows are politically biased. He has also been tied to “Project 2025,” a conservative plan for changing the federal government if Trump wins a second term. He wrote a chapter about the FCC for this plan.
Carr has said in public that broadcasters with FCC licenses have a “duty to operate in the public interest,” and he would try to keep them accountable. Donald Trump commended Carr’s approach on Thursday, adding, “I think Brendan Carr is great.” He loves his country and is tough.