Brendan Carr targets broadcasters for airing false polls ‘without regard to basic journalistic ethics’

Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), warned broadcasters against airing fabricated election polls on October 21, 2026, stating that stations could face regulatory scrutiny if they knowingly mislead viewers with false polling data. This warning came after Wedgewood Polls admitted to deliberately fabricating polling numbers in races across the country, raising questions about how news organizations vet political surveys before reporting on them. On October 22, Carr further elaborated on X (a social media platform), accusing journalists and broadcasters of amplifying fake polls without adhering to basic journalistic ethics or informing the public that such polls lack scientific accuracy.

Carr's actions mirror President Trump’s past rhetoric on "fake" and "suppression" polls, suggesting a pattern of using government power to curb speech critical of administration views. However, critics argue that enforcing these warnings could potentially violate the First Amendment by restricting freedom of speech.