Senator Ted Cruz has likened remarks by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr about revoking ABC’s broadcasting licences to “mafioso” behaviour reminiscent of the film Goodfellas. The controversy stems from ABC host Jimmy Kimmel’s critical commentary, which Carr claimed could justify suspending the network’s right to operate.
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Speaking on his Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast, the Texas Republican welcomed Kimmel’s suspension but highlighted the “first amendment implications” of Carr’s stance. Cruz, a Harvard-educated lawyer and former clerk to the late chief justice William Rehnquist, described the FCC chair’s comments as “unbelievably dangerous”, warning that any government attempt to control speech could ultimately harm conservatives if political power shifted.
Cruz argued that Carr’s threat to pull ABC off air was tantamount to intimidation. “That’s straight out of Goodfellas,” he said. “It’s like a mafioso entering a bar and saying, ‘Nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.’” While Cruz reiterated his disapproval of Kimmel’s remarks, he insisted that allowing the state to police media content would set a damaging precedent.
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At the White House, Donald Trump rejected Cruz’s position, praising Carr as a “patriot” who opposed “illegal” use of the airwaves. The former president also repeated his frequent complaint that networks such as ABC, NBC and CBS provide overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, citing figures from conservative media watchdog NewsBusters. His comments reflect an ongoing debate in the US over press freedom, political bias and the potential misuse of regulatory authority.
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