By A.J. Katz, TheWrap.com, 11-10-26
Danielle Thumann Severs, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Federal Communications Commission, faced pointed questions at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Nov. 10 over Chairman Brendan Carr’s actions involving ABC and Jimmy Kimmel, pledging to protect broadcasters’ free speech rights while declining to criticize her longtime boss.
The hearing revisited the controversy surrounding ABC’s September 2025 suspension of Kimmel, which came hours after Carr warned broadcasters of potential regulatory consequences over the late-night host’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) cited the subsequent ABC licensing dispute with the FCC and asked Severs whether she would commit to making decisions based on the law and the record rather than using the FCC’s authority to “pressure or punish a broadcaster for protected speech.”
“Yes,” Severs replied. » Read More