Trump Opposes Lifting Broadcast Ownership Cap, Contradicting His FCC Chair
President Donald Trump publicly opposed lifting the national ownership cap that limits any broadcaster from reaching more than 39% of U.S. households, contradicting his FCC ally Brendan Carr. Carr and the National Association of Broadcasters have long pushed for deregulation to allow local stations to consolidate and better compete with Big Tech. Trump, however, warned on Truth Social that lifting the cap would benefit “Radical Left Networks” like ABC and NBC, which he called extensions of the Democratic Party. Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, a Trump ally, also opposes the change, warning it could silence conservative voices. Read More (Axios Rating)
Senators Urge FTC and SEC to Investigate Scam Ads on Facebook and Instagram
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have called on federal regulators to investigate Meta over billions in revenue from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram. Citing internal documents obtained by Reuters, they allege Meta earned around $16 billion from illicit ads in 2024 alone, with $3.5 billion coming from “higher risk” scams every six months. The senators criticized Meta for reducing safety staff and failing to enforce anti-fraud rules, citing fake government-related ads and AI-generated deepfakes. Meta rejected the claims as exaggerated, noting a 58% decline in user scam reports over 18 months. Read More (The Guardian Rating)
Sinclair Moves Forward With Full Takeover Bid for Scripps Amid FCC Uncertainty
Despite political uncertainty around FCC broadcast ownership rules, Sinclair has submitted a formal bid to acquire the remaining shares of E.W. Scripps that it does not already own. The proposal, worth $7 per share, comes as Sinclair increased its stake to 9.9%. The move is surprising given President Trump’s recent opposition to lifting the ownership cap. Sinclair CEO Christopher Ripley said the merger would strengthen local journalism and create long-term value. The company may be betting on eventual deregulation or planning strategic divestitures to gain regulatory approval. The FCC is currently reviewing the rules in question. Read More (Axios Rating)
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