ABC

ABC — broadcaster facing FCC early license review and lawsuits over Trump administration pressure on programming, as of 2026.

2026-04-272026-08-23

Politics

ABC sues FCC over Trump administration pressure on programming

The News

ABC and Disney sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to block an early review of broadcast licenses for eight Disney-owned TV stations, alleging the Trump administration is using pressure tactics to force programming changes, including refraining from booking political candidates on "The View." The FCC chair denied the agency was infringing on free speech rights or responding to Trump's dislike of content.

19 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 19 August

ABC sues FCC over Trump administration pressure on programming
ABC and Disney sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to block an early review of broadcast licenses for eight Disney-owned TV stations, alleging the Trump administration is using pressure tactics to force programming changes, including refraining from booking political candidates on "The View." The FCC chair denied the agency was infringing on free speech rights or responding to Trump's dislike of content.
19 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 18 August

Disney and ABC sue FCC over early broadcast licence renewal
Disney and ABC have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's media regulator to stop an early licence renewal process, alleging the FCC is being pressured to target the network's editorial content. The FCC says its renewal requests focus on "public interest" and notes it has been examining claims that Disney engaged in illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion discrimination for over a year.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 1 July

Trump earned over $1bn from crypto in 2025, disclosure shows
US President Donald Trump reported more than $1bn in cryptocurrency earnings in 2025, including $635m in royalties from a Trump meme coin and over $500m from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm founded by his sons and children of his special envoy. The White House denied any conflict of interest.
1 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Trump earned over $1bn from crypto in 2025, financial report shows
US President Donald Trump reported more than $1bn in cryptocurrency income for 2025, including $635m in royalties from a Trump meme coin and over $500m from World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm founded by his sons. The White House denied any conflict of interest.
1 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 24 May

Suspect killed in shooting near White House on Saturday
A 21-year-old man identified as Nasire Best, who was known to the Secret Service and had a documented history of mental health conditions, opened fire near the White House on Saturday evening and was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service agents. A bystander was wounded in the incident, but no officers were injured.
24 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 14 May

Grammy Awards 2027 to air on ABC from Los Angeles
The 2027 Grammy Awards will air live on ABC from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 7, 2027, marking the first time since 1972 that the awards have aired on the network. Nominations will be announced on November 16, 2026.
14 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

White House condemns Mark Hamill AI grave image post
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill posted an AI-generated image of President Trump in a grave on Bluesky with the caption "if only," which he later deleted and apologized for. The White House called Hamill "one sick individual" in response, claiming the rhetoric has inspired assassination attempts against the President.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 3 May

Man charged with murder of five-year-old Australian girl
A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder and two counts of sexual assault following the death of a five-year-old girl in Australia. The girl's body was discovered on Thursday after a major police search, and the case has sparked violent riots in Alice Springs.
3 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 1 May

Violence erupts after arrest in Australian girl's death case
A man was arrested in Alice Springs after a five-year-old girl's body was found, prompting violence outside a hospital where he was being treated; video shows crowds of about 400 Aboriginal people throwing projectiles at police, who used tear gas, with some calling for traditional "payback" punishment.
1 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 29 April

FCC orders early review of Disney broadcast licences
The US Federal Communications Commission has ordered an early review of Disney's television broadcast licences following President Donald Trump's call for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about Melania Trump. The FCC said it had been investigating Disney's ABC stations for possible violations and directed the company to file licence-renewal applications for all its licensed TV stations within 30 days; the stations' licences were not previously scheduled for renewal until 2028.
29 April 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 27 April

Melania Trump criticizes Jimmy Kimmel joke ahead of shooting
Melania Trump called late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's pre-dinner joke describing her as an "expectant widow" hateful and violent, urging ABC to take action against his remarks. The joke aired days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which President Trump characterized as a "call to violence" warranting Kimmel's immediate dismissal.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →