FCC Chair is Openly Cheering the Weakening of the Press

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

In a speech, he ticked through defunded outlets, ousted journalists and looming ownership changes -- then said the president is 'winning'

Posted by retort at 09:18 AM | 55 COMMENTS | permalink

"How disturbing that the head of the FCC is pushing for a certain type of content that resembles, quite frankly, state TV. And that he wants those who might say something he or the government disagrees with to be punished," writes senior media writer Tom Jones. www.poynter.org/commentary/2 ...

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-- The Poynter Institute (@poynterinstitute.bsky.social) Mar 19, 2026 at 8:50 AM

Comments

hmm
-FCC cheers defund of state media
-gay institute accuses FCC of creating state media
liberal logic

#1 | Posted by john_savage2 at 2026-03-31 10:20 AM

One of the clearest characteristics of Trump/MAGA is encouraging and abetting the demise of the United States.

Trump and his friends are making arrangements to survive and thrive, if they can get past the Epstein Files, which could still result in enraged citizens simply lynching them.

MAGA thinks it's immune, too. Which is the most god-damned funny thing I know.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2026-03-31 10:42 AM

When your role models are guys like Hitler, Goebbels, Putin and Orban, this sort of thing makes perfect sense.

#3 | Posted by morris at 2026-03-31 02:51 PM

But it's not fascism!!! /s

#4 | Posted by hamburglar at 2026-03-31 08:22 PM

The news media has nobody to blame but themselves for their cratered credibility.

#5 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-03-31 11:36 PM

... In a speech, he ticked through defunded outlets, ousted journalists and looming ownership changes -- then said the president is 'winning' ...

The issue, as I see it, is that the general population wants to be ~entertained~ when they view "news" media.

That's why more people have been getting their "news" from social media of late.

They want to be entertained, so they watch the social media channels that tell them what they want to hear.

Meanwhile, the news media that reports the facts seem to be losing their audience.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-31 11:55 PM

They want to be entertained...

Or they want someone to tell them that their worldview is correct.

#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-03-31 11:58 PM

The news media has nobody to blame but themselves for their cratered credibility.

#5 | Posted by BellRinger

STFU you stupid piece of ----.

Better yet, go play in traffic.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-01 01:08 AM

Or they want someone to tell them that their worldview is correct.

#7 | Posted by REDIAL

Or they're such pathetic cuck sacks of s*&^ like pedoringer they'd rather give flippant, known bulls*&^ answers than admit they were so f*&^ing stupid they voted for Trump again and acknowledge that exactly what they were told would happen is happening.

#9 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-01 01:11 AM

" STFU you stupid piece of ----."

Do you need a tissue?

#10 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-01 01:27 AM

From AI:

" Trust in U.S. news media has seen a steep, decades-long decline from over 70% in the 1970s to a record low of 28% by late 2025"

100% self inflicted. The news media wasn't killed, it committed suicide.

#11 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-01 01:32 AM

The news media wasn't killed

It was replaced by people asking AI.

#12 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-04-01 01:41 AM

@#11 ... Trust in U.S. news media has seen a steep, decades-long decline from over 70% in the 1970s to a record low of 28% by late 2025 ...

Seems to correlate to the rise of social media.

Thanks for proving my point.

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 02:09 AM

Do you need a tissue?

#10 | Posted by BellRinger

No, I need you to realize you're a f*&^ing idiot who should just be content sitting on their worthless a&& and SingTFU because you are an idiot who is clearly incapable of judging character or reality.

#14 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-01 02:39 AM

#14. I'm able to judge the lack of character of far too many in the legacy media and see how they destroyed their own credibility.

#15 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-01 03:14 AM

@#15 ... I'm able to judge the lack of character ...

So, self-nomination and determination of what others should view?

So funny.

What else yer got?

#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-04-01 03:18 AM

Patricide Jeff's child-raping idol filled his administration with flunkies from Faux Newz.

#17 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-01 03:31 AM

I'm able to judge the lack of character of far too many in the legacy media and see how they destroyed their own credibility.

#15 | Posted by BellRinger

Ever extend that lazer-like gaze to yourself?

#18 | Posted by Zed at 2026-04-01 07:21 AM

Patricide Jeff's child-raping idol filled his administration with flunkies from Faux Newz.

#17 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-01 03:31 AM | Reply

"child raping idol"? I know Biden was taking "inappropriate" showers with his daughter, according to her, but did she say he raped her?

#19 | Posted by fishpaw at 2026-04-01 02:14 PM

#19 | POSTED BY FISHPUD

The daughter-boning------------------- tag-teamed 13 year olds with his bff Epstein.

www.politico.com

#20 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-04-01 02:32 PM

Bellringer, a judge of character, lmfao

#21 | Posted by hamburglar at 2026-04-01 08:37 PM

"The news media has nobody to blame but themselves for their cratered credibility."

Oh, come now.

They couldn't have cratered without sycophants, water-carriers, and outright liars, willing to, you know, tell folks it was the voting machines.

Congratulations...You Built That! Take a Bow!

Be Proud, Boy!

#22 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-01 09:31 PM

"The news media has nobody to blame but themselves for their cratered credibility."

What's not credible about the American news media, that sued and won for their right to lie?

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-01 09:45 PM

" 22 | POSTED BY DANFORTH AT 2026-04-01 09:31 PM | FLAG: "

What????

#24 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 12:52 PM

"What????"

Stop pretending your lies aren't part of the mix.

When you casually lie, that undermines everything. The question, "What "news" outlet is lying to you?" is begged.

When it turns out the source was your backside...all "news" outlets suffer.

We all represent facts we learned elsewhere. Well...at least most of us. When the "facts" are false, it's on the poster.

#25 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-02 01:13 PM

"The media" are not a monolith. Or at least they weren't until recently when right wingers began buying up every damn thing.

The main point here is that neither the FCC nor any other arm of the government should be able to dictate what the media say about them. Trump (and by extension, Carr) think they're special and should be insulated from criticism. Questions and criticisms are exactly the media's role, and they always has been. The media are there to put a check on government corruption, excess, tyranny, misuse of power ... whatever word you want to use here.

Every time Trump says to a reporter asking a question about his actions, "you're a terrible reporter," he is attempting to abuse his authority to intimidate the reporter and invalidate the very reason the media exist. He cares not one whit for the first amendment. He knows exactly what he's doing, because he has always been a bully and a thin-skinned putz. There is nothing more un-American than bullying reporters.

#26 | Posted by cbob at 2026-04-02 05:33 PM

*they always have been

#27 | Posted by cbob at 2026-04-02 05:33 PM

" #25 | POSTED BY DANFORTH AT 2026-04-02 01:13 PM | FLAG: |"

You still aren't making sense. None of your lame attempts to somehow make this about me personally (you have a fixation with trying to do that) has any bearing on the fact that the credibility of the news media is in the toilet.

#28 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 08:12 PM

The reputation of the news media is in the toilet because of the rise of right-wing radio and television, and then social media, each of which attracted millions of fans by pandering to the weak and the stupid by constantly telling them the world was on fire. People like Bellringer fell for it - and still do.

#29 | Posted by cbob at 2026-04-02 08:39 PM

Don't whine about me. Look at the polling numbers. You are just like the news media - cannot introspect which means the lack of credibility issues never get addressed.

#30 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 08:54 PM

" ... the credibility of the news media is in the toilet."

Is that why you lie so guilelessly? They do it, so it's OK if you do it too?!?

#31 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-02 08:54 PM

Are you drunk or high, or something? You aren't making any sense. I get that you live to bite my ankles but you are being nonsensical.

#32 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:02 PM

" ... the credibility of the news media is in the toilet.""

Which one of the following headlines from news media belong in the toilet?

1. Pam Bondi Fired as Attorney General | NY Times

2. Doctors, nurses arrested in SoCal health care fraud investigation | ABC7

3. Justice Department says law requiring president to turn over records at end of administration is unconstitutional | CBS News

4. Why Trump's 2 to 3 week' timeline for the Iran war's end sounds familiar | Politico

5. Live updates: UN Security Council to vote on proposal authorizing naval action in Strait of Hormuz | CNN

Well, bell boi?

Which one of the following headlines from news media belong in the toilet?

#33 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-02 09:17 PM

You're being more nonsensical than Danforth, and that is really saying something.

#34 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:19 PM

#34 | Hello ...

" ... the credibility of the news media is in the toilet.""

Which one of the following headlines from news media belong in the toilet?

1. Pam Bondi Fired as Attorney General | NY Times

2. Doctors, nurses arrested in SoCal health care fraud investigation | ABC7

3. Justice Department says law requiring president to turn over records at end of administration is unconstitutional | CBS News

4. Why Trump's 2 to 3 week' timeline for the Iran war's end sounds familiar | Politico

5. Live updates: UN Security Council to vote on proposal authorizing naval action in Strait of Hormuz | CNN

Well, bell boi?

Which one of the following headlines from news media belong in the toilet?

#35 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-02 09:21 PM

Take it up with polling. In the 70's trust 8n news media was over 70%. As of 2025 it sits at 28%.

That is 100% self-inflicted and none of your lame deflections are going to change that.

#36 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:34 PM

IMHO the media is in the toilet because they love war. Little stenographers for W's Iraq adventure.

#37 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-04-02 09:34 PM

You know, the thing bellringer was for 110%.

#38 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-04-02 09:35 PM

That's part of it, Alexandrite.

#39 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:35 PM

#37

The Iraq war was a huge mistake that caused a lot of damage to this county. And while Iraq and the world is better off now than with Hussein, it doesn't justify how it transpired.

#40 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:36 PM

you voted for that crap. Bite me.

#41 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-04-02 09:39 PM

37
The Iraq war was a huge mistake that caused a lot of damage to this county. And while Iraq and the world is better off now than with Hussein, it doesn't justify how it transpired.

Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 09:36 PM | Reply

You supported it bigly. In fact you supported it to such a degree that you called anyone that protested it was un American. So spare us the faux contrition.

#42 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-04-02 09:51 PM

You guys lie like rugs.

#43 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 10:00 PM

---- you. jeff.

#44 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-04-02 10:01 PM

You didn't vote for W?

Yeah, okay.

#45 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-04-02 10:01 PM

Go screw yourself, Alexandrite.

#46 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-02 10:02 PM

#42 Ms. Laura. Always remember...

Your presence here and the memories you carry with you are a source of treasure here on the DR

Thank you.

Wherever is Your Heart I Call Home

www.youtube.com</a>" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>

Wherever is your heart I call home
Wherever is your heart I call home
Though your feet may take you far from me, I know
Wherever is your heart I call home

#47 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-02 10:09 PM

Thank You A friend. I greatly appreciate it.

#48 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-04-02 10:12 PM

#48
www.youtube.com</a>" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>

#49 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-02 10:14 PM

"You still aren't making sense."

Try pretending you have responsibility.

#50 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-04-02 10:38 PM

That is 100% self-inflicted and none of your lame deflections are going to change that.
#36 | Posted by BellRinger

It's 100% self inflicted that Rupert Murdoch ruined trust in the news media?
Okay.
The problem is, you don't actually believe that.

You keep intimating it's somehow The Left's fault that the news media isn't trusted.

When it's quite clearly entities like Fox News, who went to court to defend their Right To Lie, that demonstrates which media shouldn't be trusted to tell the truth. Or Rush Limbaugh, who shared Barack The Magic Negro from coast to coast.

So yeah. It's self inflicted. Just like Charlie Kirk, and Charlie Kirk's assassination, were emblematic of right-wing lies, and the violence the right wing media encourages.

But you aren't able to have that conversation.

Just like you don't have anything to say about Trump's FCC attacking national figures and broadcasters.

#51 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-04-02 11:21 PM

The government official ahead of regulating media outlets is using that office to go after media that doesn't toe the line and usually hyperventilating pedoringer is talking about media polling numbers.

What a f*&^ing moron.

#52 | Posted by jpw at 2026-04-02 11:29 PM

we had this conversation a month or so ago

The reason media trust is low is several fold

Primarily the actions of right wing propaganda machines incessant attack on truth, also media consolidation, also monetization of "news", also rise of social media. Those are the primary reasons.

Even jeff the known liar was able to admit that Fox was a big cause of the loss in trust.

The thread ended before the logical follow up question could be asked

Given the popularity of Fox News, shouldn't their lies and decades long war on truth be a primary reason for the loss of trust in the media?

#53 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-04-02 11:35 PM

I love how stupid you all think the public is. Trust in the media is at historic lows because they have become increasingly untrustworthy. I5 really is that simple. Everything else is a rationalization to try and distract from the obvious truth.

#54 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-04-03 12:13 AM

I love how stupid you all think the public is.
#54 | POSTED BY BULLBRINGER

You don't do much to help change that perception.

#55 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-03 12:16 AM

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