Tim Karr
@timkarr.bsky.social
A crash-scene investigation at the crossroads of new media & public policy. Against media concentration; for robust local journalism & digital democracy. Still attempting to master the cold take.
www.freepress.net - This Free Press is not for sale.
www.freepress.net - This Free Press is not for sale.
Some recent writing on this:
The Trump administration inquiry "is a fishing expedition in a desert. There’s nothing to catch.”
pressingissues.org/trumps-censo...
The Trump administration inquiry "is a fishing expedition in a desert. There’s nothing to catch.”
pressingissues.org/trumps-censo...
Trump’s Censorship Czar Goes Further Adrift
FCC Chairman Carr’s attempt to bully the BBC is a ‘fishing expedition in the desert’
pressingissues.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Some recent writing on this:
The Trump administration inquiry "is a fishing expedition in a desert. There’s nothing to catch.”
pressingissues.org/trumps-censo...
The Trump administration inquiry "is a fishing expedition in a desert. There’s nothing to catch.”
pressingissues.org/trumps-censo...
Right - this is more of a Carr attempt at a bankshot — to get to the actual targets of this investigation: PBS and NPR, whom he alleges may have aired the BBC documentary in question.
November 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Right - this is more of a Carr attempt at a bankshot — to get to the actual targets of this investigation: PBS and NPR, whom he alleges may have aired the BBC documentary in question.
They see it as a necessary bribe in order to get the Trump administration's (and FCC and FTC) blessing of proposed mergers and acquisitions.
In the eyes of media owners, the financial windfall from any such deals far outweigh their obligation to stand in defense of their First Amendment rights.
In the eyes of media owners, the financial windfall from any such deals far outweigh their obligation to stand in defense of their First Amendment rights.
November 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
They see it as a necessary bribe in order to get the Trump administration's (and FCC and FTC) blessing of proposed mergers and acquisitions.
In the eyes of media owners, the financial windfall from any such deals far outweigh their obligation to stand in defense of their First Amendment rights.
In the eyes of media owners, the financial windfall from any such deals far outweigh their obligation to stand in defense of their First Amendment rights.
We checked - it wasn't. Easily verifiable, but Carr doesn't seem to care. Of course, he has no authority over the BBC (they aren't licensed broadcasters in the U.S.), but the facts never stopped him from trying to manipulate the media's message.
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 PM
We checked - it wasn't. Easily verifiable, but Carr doesn't seem to care. Of course, he has no authority over the BBC (they aren't licensed broadcasters in the U.S.), but the facts never stopped him from trying to manipulate the media's message.
This letter isn't on the FCC website at the moment but appears to have been leaked (by Carr himself no doubt) to the far-right website Breitbart.
November 19, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This letter isn't on the FCC website at the moment but appears to have been leaked (by Carr himself no doubt) to the far-right website Breitbart.
... Failing that, Carr must step down. "Your constitutional transgression cannot be adequately remedied simply with an apology. You should resign immediately," more than 40 pro-democracy and press freedom groups wrote in September.
It's long overdue.
//ends
www.citizen.org/article/fcc-...
It's long overdue.
//ends
www.citizen.org/article/fcc-...
November 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
... Failing that, Carr must step down. "Your constitutional transgression cannot be adequately remedied simply with an apology. You should resign immediately," more than 40 pro-democracy and press freedom groups wrote in September.
It's long overdue.
//ends
www.citizen.org/article/fcc-...
It's long overdue.
//ends
www.citizen.org/article/fcc-...
... Carr will go before a Senate oversight hearing on Dec. 17.
Free Press's Gonzalez has urged the committee to "insist that Carr retake his oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution" — including the pledge "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Free Press's Gonzalez has urged the committee to "insist that Carr retake his oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution" — including the pledge "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
November 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
... Carr will go before a Senate oversight hearing on Dec. 17.
Free Press's Gonzalez has urged the committee to "insist that Carr retake his oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution" — including the pledge "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Free Press's Gonzalez has urged the committee to "insist that Carr retake his oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution" — including the pledge "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States."
... Public opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to Carr's manipulations of a free press.
The courts and Congress need to step up, too.
The courts and Congress need to step up, too.
November 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
... Public opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to Carr's manipulations of a free press.
The courts and Congress need to step up, too.
The courts and Congress need to step up, too.
... But he shouldn't let Carr off so easily.
"Bullies like Carr and Trump won’t stop trying to silence dissenting voices in the media unless more people stand up to them, in both courts of law & public opinion," says @jgo4justice.bsky.social ...
"Bullies like Carr and Trump won’t stop trying to silence dissenting voices in the media unless more people stand up to them, in both courts of law & public opinion," says @jgo4justice.bsky.social ...
FCC's Carr Makes Familiar Moves to Censor NBC’s Seth Meyers
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr continues to abuse his powers to silence dissenting voices in the media.
www.freepress.net
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
... But he shouldn't let Carr off so easily.
"Bullies like Carr and Trump won’t stop trying to silence dissenting voices in the media unless more people stand up to them, in both courts of law & public opinion," says @jgo4justice.bsky.social ...
"Bullies like Carr and Trump won’t stop trying to silence dissenting voices in the media unless more people stand up to them, in both courts of law & public opinion," says @jgo4justice.bsky.social ...
... And Edelman claims without sufficient challenge that this illusory bias motivates Carr's actions.
November 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM
... And Edelman claims without sufficient challenge that this illusory bias motivates Carr's actions.