The View just landed in the middle of a political firestorm. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has openly questioned whether the long-running ABC talk show should still be treated as a “bona fide news program.”
Carr raised the issue during a podcast appearance this week, arguing that the show may not meet the standards needed to qualify as a legitimate news program. That distinction matters, because programs categorized as news are exempt from the FCC’s “equal time rule.”
The equal time rule requires broadcasters to offer equal airtime to political candidates. News outlets get a pass because they’re considered part of journalism, but entertainment or talk shows don’t automatically receive that protection. If The View loses its “news” label, ABC could be forced to give equal time to other political voices whenever candidates appear on the show.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Trump has been openly critical of media outlets he says are unfair to him, and The View has long been one of his favorite targets. Now, Carr’s comments signal that regulatory pressure may be added to the political attacks.
While no official action has been taken yet, Carr’s remarks mark the first time in years that the FCC has publicly singled out a daytime talk show. For The View, which has built its reputation on outspoken political debates and high-profile interviews, the label of “not real news” could change the way it operates.
ABC has not yet commented on Carr’s statements.
