ABC’s ‘The View’ Being Investigated By The Feds For ‘Equal Opportunities’ Violation
The Federal Communications Commission’s reported investigation into ABC’s The View marks a notable escalation in the long-running debate over how political content on entertainment programs should be regulated, particularly during an election cycle.
According to Fox News Digital, the inquiry centers on the appearance of Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico on the daytime talk show earlier this week and whether that appearance violated the FCC’s equal time, or “equal opportunities,” requirement for political candidates.
The timing is significant. Talarico’s interview was among the first candidate appearances on a talk show following the FCC’s announcement last month that it intended to more aggressively enforce the statutory equal opportunities rule for late-night and daytime programming.
Under federal law, when a broadcast station allows a legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it must afford comparable airtime to all other candidates in that race, regardless of party affiliation. Certain programs classified as bona fide news shows are exempt, but that designation has long been a gray area for politically oriented talk shows.
In this case, Fox News Digital reported that Disney, ABC’s parent company, did not file equal-time paperwork with the FCC after Talarico’s appearance. That omission suggests ABC considers The View a bona fide news program and therefore exempt from the rule. An FCC source quoted by the outlet indicated the commission is not inclined to accept that interpretation without scrutiny, framing the investigation as part of a broader effort to ensure compliance. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly defended the enforcement push, stating that the regulation would be enforced under his leadership.
If the FCC determines the rule applies, ABC could be required to provide comparable airtime to other candidates in the Texas Senate race, including Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic primary challenger Ahmad Hassan. Media watchdog NewsBusters analyzed the episode and reported that Talarico received nearly ten minutes of uninterrupted airtime in a single segment.
The same analysis noted that Rep. Jasmine Crockett, another Democrat in the race, previously received more than seventeen minutes across multiple segments during a January appearance. NewsBusters also pointed to a broader imbalance, claiming that through mid-2025, The View hosted 128 liberal guests for political discussions compared to just two conservatives.
The on-air tone of Talarico’s appearance has also drawn attention. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered praise for both Democratic candidates, remarking that Texas would be better off regardless of which one prevailed. Critics argue such commentary underscores why the equal time issue matters, while defenders contend it reflects the show’s editorial character.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the commission’s sole Democrat, rejected the premise of the investigation, describing it as an attempt to intimidate critics and chill protected speech.