Trump Picks Brendan Carr to Chair FCC

President-elect Donald Trump announced he will appoint Brendan Carr as Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Details: Carr is currently the most senior Republican on the five-member commission. He has criticized major left-leaning news outlets and social media platforms for what he sees as favoritism toward left perspectives and censorship of right perspectives.

Key Quotes:

• Trump wrote in his announcement on Truth Social, "Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans' Freedoms, and held back our Economy. He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America's Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America."
• Shortly after the announcement, Carr posted on X, "Broadcast media have had the privilege of using a scarce and valuable public resource—our airwaves. In turn, they are required by law to operate in the public interest."

How the Media Covered It: A headline from CNN (Lean Left bias) observed that Carr "wrote the FCC chapter in 'Project 2025,'" highlighting his stances on what he considers censorship by "Big Tech." The article noted Carr's "close relationship with [Elon] Musk," pointing out that chairing the FCC would give him regulatory discretion over Starlink, Musk's satellite internet company. BBC (Center) also mentioned Carr's contribution to Project 2025, but included that it advocates "improving rural broadband." Fox News (Right) did not mention Project 2025, but, unlike CNN and BBC, brought up Carr's recent criticism of NBC for inviting Kamala Harris onto SNL days before the election; Carr alleged this violated the FCC's equal time rule.