The Federal Communications Commission has reportedly launched an investigation into ABC’s daytime talk show The View over a possible violation of long-standing equal time rules for political candidates, signaling a tougher approach from regulators who say the media will no longer be allowed to skirt the law under the guise of news programming.
The inquiry centers on the recent appearance of Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who joined the show on Monday. His interview came shortly after the FCC announced it would begin enforcing the statutory equal opportunities requirement for late-night and daytime talk shows, a rule designed to ensure fairness when political candidates are given airtime.
Under federal law, when a broadcast outlet provides airtime to one legally qualified candidate, it must offer comparable airtime to all other candidates in the same race, regardless of party affiliation. In this case, ABC would be required to extend similar opportunities to Republican Sen. John Cornyn as well as to another Democratic primary candidate, Ahmad Hassan.
Fox News Digital reported that Disney, ABC’s parent company, did not file equal-time paperwork with the FCC following Talarico’s appearance. That omission suggests the company views The View as a bona fide news program, which would exempt it from the equal time requirement. An FCC source, however, pushed back on that interpretation, telling the outlet that “fake news is not getting a free pass anymore.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the renewed enforcement effort, making clear that the agency intends to apply the law as written. “On my watch, we’re going to enforce this regulation,” Carr said, emphasizing that broadcasters should not assume immunity simply because a program is branded as news or commentary.
Outside analysis has raised further questions about balance on the show. Media watchdog NewsBusters reviewed airtime on The View and found that Talarico received approximately 9 minutes and 47 seconds during a single segment. His primary rival, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, appeared earlier in January and was given more than 17 minutes spread across three segments. The group also reported that through mid-2025, the program hosted 128 liberal guests for political discussions, compared to just two conservatives.
During Talarico’s appearance, co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered praise for both Democratic candidates. She told viewers that regardless of the outcome of the race, Texas would be better off, a remark that critics say underscores the program’s ideological leanings.
Not everyone at the FCC agrees with the investigation. Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat on the commission, criticized the reported probe and dismissed it as politically motivated. Speaking to The Desk, Gomez argued that the effort amounted to intimidation rather than legitimate enforcement.
“The real purpose is to weaponize the FCC’s regulatory authority to intimidate perceived critics of this Administration and chill protected speech,” Gomez said, adding that such actions are inconsistent with a free society.
The dispute highlights a growing clash between regulators pushing for equal application of the law and media outlets accustomed to operating with little oversight. As the FCC moves forward, the investigation into The View could become a test case for how strictly equal time rules will be applied in an increasingly politicized media landscape.
