FCC Chair warns broadcasters after Trump slams 'fake news media' over Iran war coverage WASHINGTON, DC: Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters on Saturday, March 14, that they could face consequences during license renewals if they aired what he described as âfake newsâ or distorted reporting about the ongoing US conflict with Iran. Carr made the remarks in a post on X, amplifying criticism from President Donald Trump over media coverage of the war. In his message, Carr said broadcasters had an obligation under federal law to operate in the public interest and warned that failure to do so could jeopardize their licenses. âThe law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,â Carr wrote. Brendan Carr cites declining trust in media Carr also pointed to declining public confidence in traditional media organizations as part of his criticism. He argued that broadcasters benefited from access to publicly owned airwaves and therefore had a responsibility to provide accurate reporting. Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.â Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2026 The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they⌠https://t.co/7bBgnsbalw âThe American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nationâs airwaves,â Carr wrote, adding that restoring trust in media institutions was essential. His comments suggested that broadcasters should reconsider their editorial approach before upcoming license renewal reviews. Comments follow Trumpâs criticism of war coverage Carrâs warning came after Trump accused several major news outlets of misrepresenting details about US military operations against Iran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said some media reports about damage to US aircraft involved in the operation were misleading. According to Trump, the strike referenced in the reports occurred days earlier, and four of the five aircraft involved had âvirtually no damage.â The president accused prominent newspapers of undermining the United States during the conflict. Trump targets major newspapers Trump singled out âThe New York Timesâ and âThe Wall Street Journalâ in his criticism, accusing them of publishing inaccurate reports about the war. âThe New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other âpapersâ and media actually want us to lose the war,â Trump wrote. He described their reporting as the âexact opposite of the actual facts,â arguing that such coverage damaged the United States. Debate intensifies over media and war coverage Carrâs remarks add to an intensifying debate over the role of media coverage during the conflict with Iran, particularly as news organizations report on the scale and impact of US military operations. Critics of the administration say warnings about licenses could raise concerns about press freedom, while supporters argue that inaccurate reporting undermines public trust. The FCC chair did not name specific broadcasters that could face scrutiny, but his comments signaled that the issue could become a factor when media companies seek to renew federal broadcasting licenses.
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A tanker identified as the Kaifan was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Omanâs Limah in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a July 21 report from UK Maritime Trade Operations. No ships were observed transiting the strait that day. Attribution of the strike and links to prior incidents have not been confirmed by the vesselâs owner.
Goldman Sachs has projected Brent crude averaging $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter and $75 in the following year, conditional on reduced Middle East tensions, while noting upside risks from potential shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz or Red Sea.
Brent prices rose above $91 per barrel amid recent U.S.-Iran exchanges and Houthi threats to Saudi shipments before edging lower on Tuesday. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that mediators had proposed a 10-day ceasefire to preserve an interim agreement.
Opening summary: Iran claims attacks on strait of Hormuz ships amid fresh US strikes Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East crisis. Iran attacked a tanker in the strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship, as Yemenâs Iran-backed Houthis announced they were imposing an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
A Houthi official said the Bab al-Mandeb strait â at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the worldâs trade usually passes â would be closed to the Saudis in response to the kingdomâs âunjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 yearsâ.
Saudi Arabia said it would take âall necessary measures to protect its vessels in accordance with international lawâ. A 10 consecutive night of US airstrikes has not compelled Tehran to loosen its grip on the strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.
But even as Iranâs president said the country had returned âfull-scale warâ, the Iranian interior minister travelled to Pakistan â a key mediator in the conflict â for talks. In key developments: The latest US strikes came hours after Donald Trump said Iran would pay âmany times overâ for killing US soldiers after multiple service members were killed in action over the weekend.
A tanker came under attack early Tuesday in the Hormuz strait off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel, the British militaryâs United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said. Iranâs Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack as well as two other attacks on ships in the waterway on Monday.
The US militaryâs Central Command said its latest airstrikes were to âdegradeâ Iranâs ability to attack commercial shipping in the strait and included hitting military command centres and missile and drone launch sites. Iranian media reported strikes in parts of the country including Bandar Abbas, Tabriz and Bushehr, home to the countryâs only operational civilian nuclear power.
Iranâs launched attacks in response against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, which all host US forces. Oil prices softened after hitting their highest levels in more than a month in the previous session. Brent crude futures eased 0.4% to $88.87 a barrel by 0052 GMT on Tuesday while US West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery was steady at $82.
47 a barrel. Democrats have seized on the deaths of three US troops killed in Iranian strikes to urge Trump to urgently reverse his resumption of the war with Iran amid widespread anxiety over climbing casualties. The Lebanese army began taking charge of security in three southern villages, the US said, as a deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah faced its first test on the ground.
US forces struck the tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, killing three Indian crew members when munitions hit the engine room and adjacent areas. Maritime tracking data indicate the vessel had transported Iranian oil under US sanctions for several years and conducted offshore transfers prior to the strike.
The US military described the action as a precision operation, while reports note the ship was stationary at the time.