Under the banner of stopping the flow of "misinformation," two Democrats in the House of Representatives pressured television and content providers to stop carrying conservative channels like Fox News, One America News Network, and Newsmax.
Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) authored letters suggesting that the providers cease carrying those three channels that they deemed, "misinformation, rumor mills and conspiracy theory hotbeds."
"Right-wing media outlets, like Newsmax, One America News Network (OANN), and Fox News all aired misinformation about the November 2020 elections," the California duo wrote. "These same networks also have been key vectors of spreading misinformation related to the pandemic."
Eshoo and McNerney sent their letters to no less than 12 major content providers:
- Alphabet (parent company of Google)
- Altice
- Amazon
- Apple
- AT&T
- Charter
- Comcast
- Cox
- DISH
- Hulu
- Roku
- Verizon
The Democrats told these content providers that by allowing the conservative networks to use their platforms, it was leading to "real harm."
Republicans pushed back against the letters as examples of elected lawmakers in their official capacity threatening the First Amendment.
"Democrats are sending a message that is as clear as it is troubling — these regulated entities will pay a price if the targeted newsrooms do not conform to Democrats' preferred political narratives," Republican FCC commissioner Brendan Carr said in a statement.
