{"id":167327,"date":"2026-11-13T07:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/11\/13\/dems-oppose-brendan-carrs-efforts-to-rush-the-appointment-of-a-lackey-to-fcc-promise-new-year-investigations-into-carr\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T07:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:33:15","slug":"dems-oppose-brendan-carrs-efforts-to-rush-the-appointment-of-a-lackey-to-fcc-promise-new-year-investigations-into-carr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/11\/13\/dems-oppose-brendan-carrs-efforts-to-rush-the-appointment-of-a-lackey-to-fcc-promise-new-year-investigations-into-carr\/","title":{"rendered":"Dems Oppose Brendan Carr\u2019s Efforts To Rush The Appointment Of A Lackey To FCC, Promise New Year Investigations Into Carr"},"content":{"rendered":"

The GOP and Ted Cruz are trying to rush the appointment of Brendan Carr\u2019s personal legal aide<\/a> Danielle Thumann Severs to the FCC. While simultaneously refusing to seat any new Democrats to the Commission or extend the term of Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, who has been a very vocal critic of FCC boss Brendan Carr\u2019s media censorship campaigns and abuse of power.<\/p>\n

Their goal is to use the lame duck session to illegally<\/a><\/strong> impose a 3-0 FCC majority so they can rush through all sorts of dodgy efforts; from the further \u201cderegulation\u201d (read: elimination of all oversight) of telecom and media giants, to Carr\u2019s ongoing efforts to harass journalists that criticize the President. They should have the votes to confirm Severs, though Democrats can certainly slow-walk the confirmation (recall what the GOP did to popular reformer Gigi Sohn\u2019s nomination to the FCC<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Severs had her first hearing this week before the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, and it didn\u2019t go particularly well<\/a>. She refused to answer basic questions, and generally received an appropriately-cold shoulder from Democrats fresh off of their landslide midterm victory:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAfter the American people last week overwhelmingly rejected the MAGA agenda, there is no justification for this committee to advance partisan nominees during the lame-duck period,\u201d Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Other Democrats at the hearing promised looming new year investigations of Carr\u2019s numerous instances of illegal destruction of consumer protection and media consolidation limits, as well as his long-list of efforts to trample the First Amendment and undermine public-interest journalism:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Chairman Carr is going to be around more than another three or four months because when we have the gavels in here, he will be here once a month,\u201d Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) said. \u201cAnd Mr. Carr, if you\u2019re listening now, know you\u2019re going to be in this body once a month, if not more, and in the House of Representatives as well, answering questions, and you don\u2019t have the protection of the gavel any longer.\u201d Luj\u00e1n said Democrats will use \u201csubpoena authorities that you have to respond to so we can get to the bottom of the nonsense and the cover-ups that have been taking place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some Democrats made it clear that as a personal aide to Carr, Severs is effectively just a warm body who\u2019ll exist to rubber stamp Carr\u2019s agenda for the remaining two years of Trump\u2019s Presidency:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMs. Thumann Severs, your career has largely been spent serving Brendan Carr,\u201d Hickenlooper said. \u201c[You are] currently Chairman Carr\u2019s senior counsel; previously, you were legal advisor to Commissioner Carr. Your official duties include near-daily meetings with Chairman Carr and working to advance his agenda, amplify his messaging.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Severs stated she personally helped draft Carr\u2019s efforts to dismantle E-Rate<\/a>, the $3 billion a year program that helps drive affordable broadband into parts of the country left high-and-dry by the regional telecom monopolies Carr refuses to regulate.\u00a0Since it\u2019s illegal to simply destroy a program dictated by Congress, they\u2019re trying to effectively erode it while pretending the changes won\u2019t prove fatal.<\/p>\n

Severs also refused to address Carr\u2019s ongoing harassment of companies like ABC for their \u201csin\u201d of hosting politicians Donald Trump doesn\u2019t like, or platforming comedians that made fun of the President\u2019s wife. Carr\u2019s efforts on that front have even involved creating a conspiracy with the help of right wing broadcasters<\/a> that ABC violated FCC rules by simply hosting newly elected Texas Senator James Talarico.<\/p>\n

Democrats, if you\u2019re listening: that last one should be very fertile ground for subpoenas, since it\u2019s clear Carr had Trump friendly broadcasters \u2014 including Sinclair and NexStar \u2014 alter paperwork to help him pretend that ABC had violated the law (see: pages 3-4<\/a> of this ABC\/Disney filing with the FCC).<\/p>\n

Severs refused to meaningfully answer questions when asked about Carr\u2019s efforts to strip away ABC\u2019s broadcast licenses for the sin of upsetting Republican interests:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThumann Severs answered that the FCC \u201chas a responsibility to fully investigate any complaint\u2026 and to evaluate that complaint on the merits. I don\u2019t think a decision should be made purely based on someone\u2019s discontent with the content being aired.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBased on publicly available material, which is all I have seen on that particular matter, the licenses were called for early renewal as part of an investigation into potential rule violations,\u201d Thumann Severs said today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

About as weak as you\u2019d expect for somebody hand-picked to prop up Carr\u2019s extremist ideology.<\/p>\n

Severs might still be confirmed, but a 3-0 Republican majority would technically be illegal under the Communications Act, potentially putting any FCC rulings under less stable FCC footing. At the same time, Trump\u2019s weakening health and political power will make it increasingly difficult for Carr in the face of companies that are already starting to take his threats less seriously<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dems Oppose Brendan Carr\u2019s Efforts To Rush The Appointment Of A Lackey To FCC, Promise New Year Investigations Into Carr<\/a><\/p>\n

More Law-Related Stories From Techdirt<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s Dodgy \u2018Media Company\u2019 Claims 205% Revenue Jump After Charging For Early Access To The President\u2019s Brain Farts<\/a>
Unjustly Fired Black Washington Post Columnist Sued, Got Her Job Back, And Politely Just Told The Paper To Go Fuck Itself<\/a>
A Tool Built By Election Deniers Said These Voters Were Dead. We Found Them Alive.<\/a><\/p>\n

The post Dems Oppose Brendan Carr\u2019s Efforts To Rush The Appointment Of A Lackey To FCC, Promise New Year Investigations Into Carr<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Win McNamee\/Getty Images)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The GOP and Ted Cruz are trying to rush the appointment of Brendan Carr\u2019s personal legal aide<\/a> Danielle Thumann Severs to the FCC. While simultaneously refusing to seat any new Democrats to the Commission or extend the term of Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, who has been a very vocal critic of FCC boss Brendan Carr\u2019s media censorship campaigns and abuse of power.<\/p>\n

Their goal is to use the lame duck session to illegally<\/a><\/strong> impose a 3-0 FCC majority so they can rush through all sorts of dodgy efforts; from the further \u201cderegulation\u201d (read: elimination of all oversight) of telecom and media giants, to Carr\u2019s ongoing efforts to harass journalists that criticize the President. They should have the votes to confirm Severs, though Democrats can certainly slow-walk the confirmation (recall what the GOP did to popular reformer Gigi Sohn\u2019s nomination to the FCC<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Severs had her first hearing this week before the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, and it didn\u2019t go particularly well<\/a>. She refused to answer basic questions, and generally received an appropriately-cold shoulder from Democrats fresh off of their landslide midterm victory:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAfter the American people last week overwhelmingly rejected the MAGA agenda, there is no justification for this committee to advance partisan nominees during the lame-duck period,\u201d Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Other Democrats at the hearing promised looming new year investigations of Carr\u2019s numerous instances of illegal destruction of consumer protection and media consolidation limits, as well as his long-list of efforts to trample the First Amendment and undermine public-interest journalism:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Chairman Carr is going to be around more than another three or four months because when we have the gavels in here, he will be here once a month,\u201d Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) said. \u201cAnd Mr. Carr, if you\u2019re listening now, know you\u2019re going to be in this body once a month, if not more, and in the House of Representatives as well, answering questions, and you don\u2019t have the protection of the gavel any longer.\u201d Luj\u00e1n said Democrats will use \u201csubpoena authorities that you have to respond to so we can get to the bottom of the nonsense and the cover-ups that have been taking place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some Democrats made it clear that as a personal aide to Carr, Severs is effectively just a warm body who\u2019ll exist to rubber stamp Carr\u2019s agenda for the remaining two years of Trump\u2019s Presidency:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMs. Thumann Severs, your career has largely been spent serving Brendan Carr,\u201d Hickenlooper said. \u201c[You are] currently Chairman Carr\u2019s senior counsel; previously, you were legal advisor to Commissioner Carr. Your official duties include near-daily meetings with Chairman Carr and working to advance his agenda, amplify his messaging.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Severs stated she personally helped draft Carr\u2019s efforts to dismantle E-Rate<\/a>, the $3 billion a year program that helps drive affordable broadband into parts of the country left high-and-dry by the regional telecom monopolies Carr refuses to regulate.\u00a0Since it\u2019s illegal to simply destroy a program dictated by Congress, they\u2019re trying to effectively erode it while pretending the changes won\u2019t prove fatal.<\/p>\n

Severs also refused to address Carr\u2019s ongoing harassment of companies like ABC for their \u201csin\u201d of hosting politicians Donald Trump doesn\u2019t like, or platforming comedians that made fun of the President\u2019s wife. Carr\u2019s efforts on that front have even involved creating a conspiracy with the help of right wing broadcasters<\/a> that ABC violated FCC rules by simply hosting newly elected Texas Senator James Talarico.<\/p>\n

Democrats, if you\u2019re listening: that last one should be very fertile ground for subpoenas, since it\u2019s clear Carr had Trump friendly broadcasters \u2014 including Sinclair and NexStar \u2014 alter paperwork to help him pretend that ABC had violated the law (see: pages 3-4<\/a> of this ABC\/Disney filing with the FCC).<\/p>\n

Severs refused to meaningfully answer questions when asked about Carr\u2019s efforts to strip away ABC\u2019s broadcast licenses for the sin of upsetting Republican interests:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThumann Severs answered that the FCC \u201chas a responsibility to fully investigate any complaint\u2026 and to evaluate that complaint on the merits. I don\u2019t think a decision should be made purely based on someone\u2019s discontent with the content being aired.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBased on publicly available material, which is all I have seen on that particular matter, the licenses were called for early renewal as part of an investigation into potential rule violations,\u201d Thumann Severs said today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

About as weak as you\u2019d expect for somebody hand-picked to prop up Carr\u2019s extremist ideology.<\/p>\n

Severs might still be confirmed, but a 3-0 Republican majority would technically be illegal under the Communications Act, potentially putting any FCC rulings under less stable FCC footing. At the same time, Trump\u2019s weakening health and political power will make it increasingly difficult for Carr in the face of companies that are already starting to take his threats less seriously<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dems Oppose Brendan Carr\u2019s Efforts To Rush The Appointment Of A Lackey To FCC, Promise New Year Investigations Into Carr<\/a><\/p>\n

More Law-Related Stories From Techdirt<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s Dodgy \u2018Media Company\u2019 Claims 205% Revenue Jump After Charging For Early Access To The President\u2019s Brain Farts<\/a>
Unjustly Fired Black Washington Post Columnist Sued, Got Her Job Back, And Politely Just Told The Paper To Go Fuck Itself<\/a>
A Tool Built By Election Deniers Said These Voters Were Dead. We Found Them Alive.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The GOP and Ted Cruz are trying to rush the appointment of Brendan Carr\u2019s personal legal aide Danielle Thumann Severs to the FCC. While simultaneously refusing to seat any new Democrats to the Commission or extend the term of Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, who has been a very vocal critic of FCC boss Brendan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":167328,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-167327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167327\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}