Press freedom in the United States is now at a 25-year low according to the World Press Freedom Index, which measures incidents of abuses against journalists.   

Since being designated Chair of the Federal Communications Commission by President Trump, Brendan Carr has abused the authority of his office to pressure broadcasters over their news coverage. These coercive actions have chilled free speech in the press and intimidated newsrooms into changing their editorial decisions behind closed doors. These tactics are reminiscent of those employed by Victor Orbán to destroy independent media in Hungary.

Protect Democracy and our partners are pursuing legal action to defend the First Amendment and safeguard a free and independent press.

Why does a free press matter to democracy?

A free press acts as a watchdog on institutional power. Journalists routinely expose wrongdoing, hold elected leaders accountable to their voters, counter misinformation, and provide the public with reliable information needed for civic participation and self-government.

What is “jawboning”? 

Jawboning, or “censorship by proxy,” refers to a government’s use of intimidation tactics to suppress the speech of a private individual or organization without formal legal censorship. Instead of banning speech directly, officials use threats, investigations, pressure, and accusations to influence what is said or published. For example, in a 2025 podcast appearance, Carr indicated that ABC would face increased FCC scrutiny if it did not remove late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from the air after comments Kimmel made about the motives of Charlie Kirk’s killer. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. President Trump himself also called for CBS to lose its broadcast license, writing on Truth Social that “they should pay a big price” for reporting on his handling of Ukraine and Greenland.  

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