Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

US Senate panel approves bill to bar government officials from pressuring networks on free speech

The measure would let citizens sue federal employees who pressure companies to suppress protected speech, and it passed 18-10 with bipartisan support.

  • On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation 18-10 to bar government officials from pressuring private companies to censor speech, allowing citizens to sue federal employees who suppress First Amendment protections.
  • Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr last year ordered early license reviews for eight Disney-owned ABC stations, prompting concerns he pressured broadcasters to stop airing Jimmy Kimmel's show following remarks about Charlie Kirk.
  • Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz cited actions by the administration of then-President Joe Biden, alleging it pressured Big Tech firms into "canceling Americans who spoke out against vaccine mandates and election fraud."
  • President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its licenses and this month demanded the FCC rebuke Comcast-owned NBC's journalist Kristen Welker over her reporting on his endorsement record.
  • Before becoming law, the measure must pass the full Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The American Civil Liberties Union stated the bill would have prevented Carr "from threatening the broadcast licenses of television stations.
Insights by Ground AI

10 Articles

Lean Right

The U.S. Senate Committee on Trade approved a bill this Wednesday prohibiting government authorities from pressuring private companies to censor demonstrations, citing Trump's government's threats against night interview programs as evidence of efforts to restrict freedom of expression. The measure would allow citizens to prosecute federal officials to press private companies to suppress demonstrations protected by the First Amendment of the U.S…

·Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Read Full Article
ReutersReuters
+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Center

US Senate panel approves bill to bar government officials from pressuring networks on free speech

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation on Wednesday to bar government officials from pressuring private ‌companies to censor speech, citing threats from the Trump administration against late-night talk shows as evidence of efforts to stifle free expression.

·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article

The U.S. Senate's Trade Committee approved by 18 votes to 10 a bill that would allow federal officials to sue for pressure on private companies to censor protected speeches. The initiative still needs to overcome the full Senate and House of Representatives, while the Jimmy Kimmel case and threats against ABC stations raise tension over freedom of expression.

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 63% of the sources are Center
63% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Reuters broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal