ABC more cautious of booking candidates on 'The View' amid FCC pressure, Disney's First Amendment lawsuit says

Disney's First Amendment lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) alleges "The View" has had to be "more circumspect" about the content that airs on the program amid the agency's crackdown on ABC stations.

The FCC, under chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by President Donald Trump, called for early renewal review of eight ABC-owned stations' licenses in April despite their license renewals being originally scheduled between 2028 and 2031.

That came after the agency launched a probe into "The View" last February triggered by the appearance of Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico.

In the lawsuit pushing back against the FCC's crackdown on First Amendment grounds, Disney acknowledged that "The View" has had to curb its bookings.

DISNEY SUES FCC OVER 'RETALIATORY CAMPAIGN AGAINST ABC,' SEEKS TO BLOCK EARLY RENEWAL PROCEEDINGS "No candidate for public office has appeared on ‘The View’ since the Bureau’s February 2026 inquiry regarding Mr.

Talarico’s appearance on February 2, 2026," the lawsuit stated.

"Although there have been no changes in the program’s editorial standards regarding the newsworthiness of any candidate who might otherwise have been invited during this period the cumulative pressure from the FCC’s multiple actions against ABC has impacted the program’s decisions about which guests to invite." "Those escalating pressures have led Plaintiffs to be more circumspect in booking political candidates on 'The View,' and have resulted in passing on further consideration of booking several political candidates," the lawsuit continued.

"Those pressures have impacted not only potential bookings, but also the video clips that could constitute an 'appearance' on ‘The View’ under the FCC equal opportunities regulation: Plaintiffs have chosen not to air clips that it otherwise would have aired during the Hot Topics segment of 'The View' and also in the cold open of the program." ABC ACCUSES FCC OF 'RETALIATION' AS FEDERAL AGENCY THREATENS TO REVOKE DISNEY'S BROADCASTING LICENSES "The View" has only hosted a handful of political figures on the show since Talarico, including Democratic Kentucky Gov.

Andy Beshear, Sen.

Chris Murphy, D-Conn., former first lady Jill Biden and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, none of whom are seeking office in the 2026 election cycle.

In an interview with Fox News Digital , Carr called the lawsuit "meritless" and vowed that the FCC will "follow the facts and the law wherever it takes us." The FCC's year-long feud with ABC goes beyond "The View." Carr leveled a threat against Disney last September after ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel sparked outrage for his comments about the Charlie Kirk assassination.