On April 28, 2026, the Trump administration's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) challenged the broadcast licenses of ABC, a network owned by The Walt Disney Company. The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, issued a hearing designation order to examine whether ABC's parent company, Disney, violated FCC rules regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The order specifically targets ABC's owned-and-operated stations, including WABC in New York.
That same evening, during the April 28 episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on ABC, host Jimmy Kimmel addressed the news. According to a transcript from the show, Kimmel said, 'The show goes on,' and joked about the situation, saying, 'I don't know what they're going to do, but I'm not going to let them stop me from doing my job.' He did not provide further details about the FCC challenge.
The FCC's action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to scrutinize media companies over alleged political bias and DEI policies. The hearing designation order requires ABC to demonstrate compliance with FCC regulations, which could potentially lead to license revocation if violations are found. ABC has not yet publicly responded to the order.
Kimmel's response reflects a pattern of the comedian using his platform to address political controversies. The show continues to air as scheduled, with no immediate changes to its programming. The FCC's challenge is expected to proceed through administrative hearings in the coming months.
