Last fall, we called on Disney and ABC News to stand up for its journalists, and to resist government pressure to silence voices critical of the Trump administration. This came after Disney pulled talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off the air briefly under threats from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Today, we write to commend Disney and ABC for the strong stand they are now taking in support of freedom of speech.

ABC rightfully argues that the Trump administration is violating its free speech rights and creating a “chilling effect” on First Amendment-protected speech through its regulatory action targeting The View. In its filing with the FCC, ABC argues the FCC has questioned talk shows critical of the president but not those conservative radio talk shows that have featured content supportive of the administration - making plain that this is political retaliation, not regulatory enforcement.

As ABC's filing notes, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Americans need more access to political news, not less.

A free press is not a partisan issue — it is the foundation of our democracy. We stand with ABC in this fight and call on the FCC to drop its politically motivated inquiry.

Signatories below: