FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency may issue guidance warning broadcast networks against airing "fake polls" ahead of the midterm elections. The announcement follows demands from President Donald Trump to punish NBC News anchor Kristen Welker for characterizing his primary endorsement results as mixed. While Carr defended Trump's focus on broadcast obligations, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly rejected the push, warning that targeting journalists threatens press freedom.
FCC guidance on broadcast polling
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced on September 6, 2026, that the agency may soon issue guidance to remind broadcast television networks of their obligations regarding the airing of fake polls.
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency is examining fake polls ahead of the midterm elections, warning they could be used to suppress voter turnout.
Trump criticism of NBC anchor
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr declined to answer direct questions on whether the agency plans to formally rebuke or punish NBC News host Kristen Welker.
- ▪President Donald Trump threatened to report NBC News host Kristen Welker to the Federal Communications Commission for stating that his primary endorsements had rendered "mixed results."
- ▪President Donald Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission and Chairman Brendan Carr to address what he termed "FAKE POLLS" and to punish NBC News host Kristen Welker.
- ▪NBC News issued a statement defending "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker, stating that she is one of the best in the business and that the network stands by her.
Broadcast licensing obligations
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr argued that broadcast television stations operate under federal licenses and must serve the public interest rather than narrow partisan interests.
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr stated that broadcast networks receive billions of dollars in taxpayer-subsidized distribution in exchange for operating in the public interest.
Fake polling incidents
- ▪A fabricated poll created by Rahil Prakash falsely showed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass leading opponent Nithya Raman by 12 percentage points, which the Bass campaign then promoted.
- ▪In August 2026, a 21-year-old college graduate named Rahil Prakash created a fake polling firm and published fabricated election polls that were subsequently aired by some news outlets.
Press freedom concerns
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Anna Gomez warned that threats to press freedom are dangerous, undermine democracy, and have no place in the administration.
- ▪Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly rejected the proposal to penalize journalists, stating the agency has no authority to punish reporters whom the administration dislikes.
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