The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is examining ABC’s daytime talk show The View after President Donald Trump raised objections, according to Spiegel. The probe follows a recent appearance by Democratic candidate James Talarico, and centers on whether the show violated the Equal Time Rule by not offering equivalent airtime to opposing viewpoints.

Political guest sparks regulatory inquiry

The investigation was triggered by a 10-minute interview with James Talarico, a Texas Democrat running for Senate; Talarico criticized ICE enforcement practices and suggested that Trump supporters could be swayed to the Democratic side, according to Spiegel. The FCC. Now under Republican control. Recently ruled that talk shows can no longer be exempt from the Equal Time Rule, which mandates equal broadcast time for political rivals.

Brendan Carr. The FCC chair. Has long expressed concern over media bias and pushed for scrutiny of The View in September — Trump has repeatedly urged Carr to take action against outlets he considers biased. The controversy highlights tensions over media neutrality and the role of government in regulating content.

Conservative hosts exit and criticize show

Former conservative host Meghan McCain. Who left The View in 2021, has since criticized the show for lacking a true conservative voice. On her podcast, she called her replacement, Alyssa Farah Griffin, a “joke” and said she was not representative of conservative women, according to The Daily Beast and USA Today. McCain described the show’s environment as “toxic” and cited personal hardships, including two miscarriages and her father’s battle with brain cancer, as reasons for her departure.

Griffin took over during McCain’s maternity leave and has since returned. However, McCain praised Elisabeth Hasselbeck for filling in during Griffin’s absence, saying she offered a strong conservative perspective. McCain also incorrectly claimed the show only won one Emmy during her tenure, though it has received more than 30 Daytime Emmys.

Controversial on-air exchanges and FCC scrutiny

Other recent episodes of The View have also drawn attention. In one instance, host Sunny Hostin grilled former Trump advisor Alina Habba about her qualifications to serve as attorney general. Before Habba could respond, moderator Whoopi Goldberg cut the segment for a commercial break, sparking viewer reactions on social media. The incident added to the show’s visibility amid the ongoing FCC probe.

Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, has called the investigation into The View “unjustified,” according to the Tages-Anzeiger. She argues that the ruling effectively politicizes media regulation and risks chilling free expression. The outcome of the investigation could influence how the FCC enforces the Equal Time Rule in the future.