Trump taps longtime critic of Big Tech, Brendan Carr, to chair the FCC
President-elect Donald Trump appointed Brendan Carr to serve as the next chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Both Trump and President Joe Biden previously nominated Carr to serve as an FCC commissioner. The Senate unanimously confirmed Carr three times.
In a statement, Trump praised Carr’s record.
“Commissioner Carr is a warrior for free speech, and has fought against the regulatory lawfare that has stifled Americans’ freedoms, and held back our economy,” Trump said. “He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s job creators and innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”
In the chapter, Carr outlined four main goals for the FCC: reigning in Big Tech, promoting national security, unleashing economic prosperity and ensuring FCC accountability and good governance.
Reigning in Big Tech
Carr argued that a handful of tech giants are abusing their dominant positions in the market. He advocated for imposing transparency rules on platforms like Google, Meta and YouTube, requiring them to “provide detailed disclosures about practices that would shape internet traffic—from blocking to prioritizing or discriminating against content.”
“We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans,” Carr wrote on X on Sunday, Nov. 17.
National Security and TikTok
Carr also addressed the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, specifically through the popular social media app TikTok. He argues that the app should be banned due to national security concerns, claiming that “TikTok provides Beijing with an opportunity to run a foreign influence campaign by determining the news and information that the app feeds to millions of Americans.”
Promoting Economic Growth
Carr said he believes the FCC should take a pro-growth approach, particularly to close the digital divide. He stressed the need for updated infrastructure policies to enable the U.S. to lead in 5G development. Carr advocated for the construction of new cell sites, key building blocks for 5G. He also suggested that the FCC should expedite efforts to support U.S. space leadership with technologies like Starlink and Kuiper, which could provide high-speed internet globally.
FCC Accountability and Oversight
Carr called for greater accountability in government technology and telecommunications programs. He criticized the federal government for failing to “put appropriate guardrails in place to govern the expenditure of billions in broadband funds,” leading to what he describes as “massive waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Trump and Project 2025
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025, insisting that he had no involvement in its creation. He also called for several major news networks—including CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN—to lose their FCC licenses, accusing them of biased and unfair coverage.
However, critics now argue that Trump’s selection of Carr, who wrote a chapter on the FCC for Project 2025, shows his ties to the document and his intention to govern in accordance with its goals.
“Trump picked Brendan Carr, the literal author of Project 2025’s chapter on the FCC, to be chairman of the FCC,” Journalist Ahmed Baba wrote on X. “Can’t say we didn’t warn you.”
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
Racist text messages targeting Black Americans prompt FBI response
A series of racially-charged text messages referencing slavery and targeting Black Americans have surfaced across the United States, prompting a federal response. Recipients of these messages report being informed they were “selected” to pick cotton at “the nearest plantation.”
The texts, reportedly sent from unknown numbers, began appearing shortly after the recent presidential election. Many of those targeted include students from universities such as The Ohio State University, Clemson University, University of Southern California and Missouri State University.
The FBI confirmed it is aware of these incidents, advising anyone who receives these texts to report them to local authorities. The Bureau also indicated that it has been in contact with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the matter. The Federal Communications Commission and wireless industry groups have acknowledged the issue and are working to address it.
While sending racially offensive messages is not itself illegal, law enforcement officials said that continued harassment or evidence of hate crimes could lead to legal repercussions.
Some of the anonymous numbers used in the messaging appear to be linked to the messaging platform TextNow, which provides users with untraceable “burner” numbers. In a statement, a TextNow spokesperson said that accounts associated with the texts were quickly shut down and pledged the company would cooperate with authorities.
The NAACP denounced the messages, calling them “deeply disturbing” and stating that they perpetuate a “legacy of evil that dates back to before the Jim Crow era.” The organization said they believe the texts were a product of President-elect Donald Trump’s rhetoric.
NBC complies with ‘equal time’ rule for Trump following Harris ‘SNL’ cameo
NBC has filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission after Vice President Kamala Harris’ brief appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend of Nov. 2. The network provided former President Donald Trump with airtime to ensure compliance with the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters to offer equal access to competing political candidates.
The rule dates back to the Communications Act of 1934, originally designed to ensure fairness and balanced coverage on broadcast airwaves. It requires that if a candidate is given airtime on a broadcast station, other qualified candidates must also be given equivalent opportunities.
Although there are exceptions to the rule, like appearances in news programs, interviews, or documentaries, entertainment programs can still trigger the rule.
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Harris’s appearance on “SNL” was brief, clocking in at just one minute and 30 seconds. She joined comedian Maya Rudolph in a skit where Rudolph portrayed Harris, a role she has played several times on “SNL” ahead of elections.
However, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed senior Republican, quickly raised concerns on social media, calling it “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”
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NBC responded by airing Trump’s message to viewers during the NASCAR 2024 Cup playoffs on Sunday, granting him airtime to balance Harris’ cameo.
Carr later appeared on Fox News, urging the FCC to take “every single option” into account if violations are confirmed, emphasizing the need for impartiality across the board.
The equal time rule, while still enforced on broadcast stations, does not apply to cable networks, podcasts, social media or streaming services.
With more people turning to digital platforms for news and entertainment, the rule faces challenges in keeping pace with changing media consumption habits.
Critics argue this could limit its effectiveness and relevance, raising questions about its future in a digital-dominated world.
CBS responds to allegations of deceitful editing in ’60 Minutes’ Harris interview
CBS is responding to claims that the network engaged in deceitful editing when it aired two different answers to the same question in its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. While CBS has issued a statement, calls for the release of the full transcript continue. A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner also advocated for an investigation.
Harris was asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “listening” to the Biden-Harris administration. The responses she gave in a clip aired on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and during the “60 Minutes” program differed, raising questions about how the network edited the interview.
Former President Donald Trump, CBS’ most prominent critic, called for the network to lose its license over the incident. In its statement, CBS directly addressed Trump’s claims of deceitful editing.
“Former President Donald Trump is accusing ’60 Minutes’ of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris,” CBS said in a statement. “That is false. ’60 Minutes’ gave an excerpt of our interview to ‘Face the Nation’ that used a longer section of her answer than that on ’60 Minutes.’ Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or a movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion of her answer on ’60 Minutes’ was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
CBS also noted that Trump had the opportunity to sit down with the network and that the invitation remains open. However, Trump’s campaign responded, demanding the release of the transcript for transparency.
“’60 Minutes’ just admitted to doing exactly what President Trump accused them of doing,” the Trump campaign told the New York Post. “They edited in a different response—from another part of her answer—to make Kamala Harris sound less incoherent than she really was. Their statement is not a denial; it is an admission that they did exactly what they were accused of. This is another reminder of how hopelessly biased ’60 Minutes’ is, and how correct President Trump was to decline their invitation to be subjected to their fake news hackery. Release the transcript!”
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington confirmed that a complaint has been filed with the FCC by the Center for American Rights, questioning whether CBS intentionally distorted its coverage. Simington said he believes the complaint has merit but is doubtful it will be investigated under the current FCC leadership.
“The FCC does not regulate, or really even respond to, allegations of politically unfavorable coverage or legitimate editorial discretion,” Simington told the Daily Caller. “The recent complaint regarding WCBS-TV raises a fully different set of issues regarding whether or not coverage was intentionally distorted.”
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel already dismissed Trump’s claims, stating that the FCC should not get involved. Sources told the Daily Caller that under Democratic leadership, the complaint is unlikely to advance, especially with the election just weeks away. However, they noted that if Trump is elected and appoints a Republican as FCC chair, the commission could investigate CBS’s editorial process regarding the “60 Minutes” interview.
Biden administration wants to make it easier to unsubscribe
The Biden administration has unveiled a new initiative to make it easier for Americans to unsubscribe from unwanted memberships and unwanted payment services. The “Time is Money” initiative brings together multiple government agencies to stop corporate practices that waste consumers’ time, making it easier to cancel subscriptions, get refunds, submit health care and insurance forms online, and access high-quality customer service.
Biden’s domestic policy advisor, Neera Tanden, said it shouldn’t take 45 minutes to cancel a subscription that took one click to start and people shouldn’t be forced to print out complicated forms to file an insurance claim. Tanden said consumers often give up, leaving companies holding onto their money.
Among the new initiatives are a series of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rules that will target customer service “doom loops.” The rules would require companies to offer customers a single button to reach a real person instead of having to deal with a phone tree. The CFPB is also planning a crackdown on “time-wasting chatbots.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching an inquiry into whether to expand the CFPB’s proposed customer service requirements to include phone, broadband and cable providers. The FCC is also considering a “click to cancel” rule, which would require companies to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions and memberships as it is to sign up for them.
Meanwhile, the heads of the Departments of Labor and of Health and Human Services are urging health insurance to allow consumers to file forms online.
On Tuesday, TikTok owner ByteDance sued to block the legislation, claiming it violates the U.S. Constitution. The government itself has not yet reacted but did respond to the proposed ban or forced divestment.
“If the United States persists, China will take resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
“It’s playing its cards very carefully in a geopolitical chess game,” said Doug Guthrie, a professor of global leadership and executive director of China initiatives at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Guthrie used to work for Apple in Shanghai, helping executives understand how to navigate Xi Jinping’s leadership.
“I do think that there are people at high levels of the government who are watching very carefully and thinking very carefully about how far the U.S. is pushing the negative narrative about China as a nefarious controller and spreader of false information,” Guthrie said.
He doesn’t expect China’s next move to be rash but strategic. He said he’s skeptical of China getting into micro-level tit for tat.
“What I think is there’s a much bigger chess game that’s going on,” Guthrie said. “And yes, sometimes signals are going to be sent out saying, ‘We can control the ways in which iPhones are sold and are popular.’”
Apple took a hit in China — and its stock price — when China banned government officials from bringing iPhones to work last year. The move didn’t just limit Apple’s appeal to government officials, it sent a chilling message to Chinese consumers.
The biggest beneficiary might be Chinese smartphone-maker Huawei, whose market share in the country soared during the same time. Guthrie said Apple is collateral damage in a technological cold war between the U.S. and China, where both countries play the national security card.
China’s iPhone ban came to light several months after the U.S. banned the sale of tech from China’s Huawei and ZTE. The Federal Communications Commission said it was to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications. Later, the U.S. Department of Commerce banned American companies from selling advanced AI chips to China.
“The idea that we can blame China for controlling information or watching information or acting in an authoritarian way and then we make these decisions that are tied directly to Huawei or directly to ByteDance and sort of act in our own authoritarian way, I think we lose stature, not just in China, but in the world,” Guthrie said.
Guthrie said America’s latest chess move with TikTok goes a step beyond China’s usual playbook.
For years, some American companies have bent over backward to continue doing business under Xi’s authoritarian rule, caving to demands on data control and censorship. Others, like Yahoo and LinkedIn, opted to leave, citing a challenging business environment, while China’s “Great Firewall” blocks internet users from accessing the likes of Google and Facebook.
“It’s absolutely the case that the Chinese government has put a stake in the sand and said you cannot cross over this line, and if you do, you’re not allowed to be here,” Guthrie said.
But he said, in pressuring divestment, the U.S. is making a demand of a Chinese company that China has not done to American companies.
For its part, Guthrie said he doubts ByteDance would cave to America’s demands. Given the two TikTok options — sell or be banned — he said ByteDance is likelier to choose the latter.
“They’d rather it not happen and I think there will be a negotiated outcome, but I am very skeptical of the idea that ByteDance will just bow to the United States government and sell Tiktok,” Guthrie said. “I just don’t think it’s going to happen.”
In its lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance said the Chinese government would not allow it to divest its recommendation algorithm, which makes TikTok so valuable.
FCC fines major wireless carriers nearly $200M for sharing data
The Federal Communications Commission fined major wireless carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon nearly $200 million for illegally sharing customer location data without consent. A 2020 investigation revealed that the carriers had been distributing users’ geolocation details to third parties, including to prisons. T-Mobile and Sprint merged after the investigation began.
Today, we fined the nation’s largest wireless carriers for illegally sharing access to customers’ location information without consent & without taking reasonable measures to protect that information against unauthorized disclosure. https://t.co/bv65Fr6Dbl
Despite promising to end these practices in 2018, the FCC said the companies took more than a year to actually stop them.
The carriers sold “real-time location information to data aggregators, allowing this highly sensitive data to wind up in the hands of bail-bond companies, bounty hunters, and other shady actors,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.
In a statement, AT&T argued that the order is unjustified and lacks legal and factual basis. The company claimed it was unfairly blamed for another company’s violations and that its efforts to rectify the issue were overlooked.
T-Mobile stated that it stopped sharing data with location-based services through third-party aggregators over five years ago. The carrier emphasized its commitment to protecting customer data but called the FCC’s decision incorrect and the fine excessive.
A Verizon spokesperson expressed the company’s dedication to customer privacy, noting that they terminated the offending party, ended the program, and took steps to prevent similar incidents.
The FCC stated that carriers are required to keep customer data private unless they have explicitly obtained user consent.
The carriers have expressed intentions to appeal, disputing the FCC’s findings and the legality of the fines.
911 emergency outages resolved in four states
Emergency 911 services were restored Wednesday night, April 17, in South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas following a major outage that left call centers unreachable for many residents. The cause has not been identified but Homeland Security has noted the increasing risks of cyberattacks on digital 911 systems.
In Del Rio, Texas, the issue was traced to a major cellular carrier. Services in Las Vegas and other affected areas have resumed, and all missed emergency calls have been returned.
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety announced a statewide 911 service interruption has been resolved.
“Our emergency system is fully operational and ready to respond promptly to any situation,” the department stated on Facebook. “Your safety is our top priority and we are here to ensure help is just a call away whenever you need it.”
In Las Vegas, a two-hour 911 outage affected both landline and mobile calls before service was restored around 9 p.m., the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced on social media. During the outage, dispatchers returned calls to residents attempting to reach 911 from mobile phones.
Reuters reports that the Transportation Department’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not immediately return requests for comment.
The campaign employee and motive behind fake robocall impersonating Biden
The individual responsible for the Biden robocall scam, which circulated prior to the New Hampshire primary election, has come forward in an exclusive interview with NBC News. The man discussed his motive behind the AI-generated robocall.
Steve Kramer claims to have pulled the stunt in order to bring attention to the dangers of AI ahead of the 2024 election. Kramer compared himself to American Revolutionary heroes in the interview.
United States officials believe the robocall incident marks the first attempt to interfere with an election process by using artificial intelligence.
The robocall impersonating President Joe Biden was sent to 20,000 voters in January before the New Hampshire primary.
The call told voters to “save their vote for November” in an attempt to deter primary voters from showing up to the polls. In the beginning of the investigation, authorities didn’t know who made the call. However, Kramer has recently claimed responsibility for the operation.
Kramer, a long-time election campaign employee, was working for Rep. Dean Phillips, the Democratic challenger to Biden in New Hampshire’s primary. Kramer paid a magician $150 to create a Biden voice message, according to Venmo transactions and text messages shared with NBC News.
Before deploying Biden’s fake call, Kramer first commissioned a fake call that impersonated Sen. Lindsey Graham as a test.
Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating the robocall for potentially violating state laws against voter suppression. Kramer said he received a subpoena from the Federal Communications Commission and welcomes the House of Representatives to call on him to publicly testify.
“This is a way for me to make a difference, and I have,” Kramer told NBC News in part. “I’m not afraid to testify, I know why I did everything. If I had come out right away, it takes away from the goal of the call. Even individuals acting alone can quickly and easily use AI for misleading and disruptive purposes.”
Several news outlets previously reported Life Co., a Texas telemarketing company, was linked to delivering the fake call. Kramer said the company had no knowledge of the content of the call prior to its delivery and he’d use the company again, except it is now done with his business.
