The FCC, under Trump-appointed Chair Brendan Carr, issued a public notice warning that late-night and daytime talk shows may lose their exemption from the federal equal-time rule. This rule requires broadcast stations to offer comparable airtime to opposing political candidates. The notice signals a potential shift in how the agency enforces this long-standing regulation.

Historically, _bona fide_ news programs like talk shows have been exempt from equal-time requirements, allowing them editorial discretion in booking guests. Carr has previously questioned whether programs like ABC's *The View* qualify for this exemption. The move is seen as part of a broader campaign against alleged liberal bias on broadcast television.

Commissioner Anna Gomez, the FCC's only Democrat, countered that the notice is misleading and no policy has actually changed. She stated that the principle of editorial discretion for news interviews remains intact. Conservative groups, however, celebrated the announcement as a victory against what they call 'left-wing' entertainment shows masquerading as news.