Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr He will appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday to discuss his push for broadcasters to take ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel off the air.

Carr will appear along with two other FCC commissioners, Olivia Trusty and Anna M. Gomez. In September, Carr issued a veiled threat to ABC and Disney, suggesting he would take action over the late-night host’s controversial comments about the alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who arranged the hearing last month, criticized Kahl’s comments at the time, saying he sounded like an organized crime boss.

FCC Chairman Threats ABC, Disney After Kimmel Suggests Charlie Kirk Assassin Is ‘MAGA’

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told The Wall Street Journal in a new interview that he will not shy away from punishing media broadcasters that engage in inappropriate behavior. (John MacDonald/Getty Images)

After Kirk’s assassination, Kimmel reached a “new low” by accusing conservatives of trying to impose left-wing ideology on the suspect, 22-year-old Taylor Robinson, though prosecutors reiterated those connections in the indictment.

“Our emotions hit new lows over the weekend as the ‘Let’s Great Again’ gang desperately tried to pin this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as one of their own and did whatever they could to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

The next day, Carr went on “The Benny Show” and called Kimmel’s comments “some of the most disgusting behavior” and hinted at some potential “pathways” the FCC could take.

“Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said at the time. “Frankly, these companies can find ways to change behavior, take action against Kimmel, or, you know, the FCC will do more in the future.”

Jimmy Kimmel chokes up as he explains Kirk’s comments, says he ‘never’ intended to stage mock assassination

Jimmy Kimmel, host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” during the show on September 23, 2025. (Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images)

exist Cruz’s Podcastwho called Carr’s comments “extremely dangerous.”

“I think it’s extremely dangerous for the government to allow itself to decide what speeches we like and what speeches we don’t like, and if we don’t like what you say, we threaten to take you off the air,” Cruz said on his podcast.

Kimmel was suspended briefly for making comments suggesting Kirk’s killer was a MAGA supporter; he returned to the network the following week and signed with Disney until 2027.

Kimmel blasts FCC’s Brendan Carr to return to ABC’s Late Show

Kimmel criticized Carr in his first episode since his brief benching, saying federal communications commission boss Awkward.

Kahl has gained a reputation for cooperating with the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against media companies, launching investigations into ABC News, CBS News and NBC News, as well as NPR, PBS and some local stations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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