Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks to FBI Director Kash Patel as he appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his first oversight hearing, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, known for his strong conservative stance, condemned the statements from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who suggested ABC and other broadcasters might face fines or even lose their licenses over content aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Cruz said that while he agreed some of Kimmel’s remarks were false and improper, it is wrong for government agencies to use their power to punish speech in broadcast media.
Cruz said he likes Brendan Carr personally and acknowledged that Kimmel’s monologue—about the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death—contained misleading claims. He said he was “thrilled” that the show was suspended, but warned that Carr’s threats cross a dangerous line. Cruz used a metaphor from the movie Goodfellas, saying what Carr is doing is “right out of Goodfellas”—like a mafia boss entering a bar and implying damage could come if things don’t go the way he wants.
He expressed concern that this approach could backfire on conservatives. Cruz warned that while a Republican administration may support such actions now, a future administration led by Democrats could use the same tools to silence conservative voices. He said that government should not be putting itself in the business of saying what media are allowed to broadcast, or threatening to pull their licences if they don’t follow what officials want.
Cruz noted that instead of regulatory pressure, legal paths like defamation lawsuits are more proper routes when media makes false statements. He emphasized that free speech protections are essential, even for speech that some may find offensive or wrong, to avoid setting precedent where speech can be selectively punished.
President Donald Trump disagreed with Cruz’s framing, saying Carr is a patriot and that networks critical of him often cross lines or misuse their platforms. Trump defended the FCC Chair’s stance, citing concerns about biased reporting in media coverage and what he sees as unfair attacks.
Other Republicans, however, are watching closely. Cruz’s stance is unusual among his party, many of whom backed Carr’s warnings or have remained silent. Civil rights groups and free‐speech advocates have also expressed alarm, seeing Carr’s comments as troubling for media independence.
Cruz chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the FCC, putting him in a key role in this dispute. Though he criticized Kimmel’s content, Cruz made it clear that he believes governmental threats of revoking broadcast licences over speech are constitutionally risky.
