In this interview with Joe Pags, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr discusses a highly concerning situation involving George Soros's attempt to purchase over 200 radio stations in the U.S. The acquisition is happening just weeks before a major election, raising alarm over potential foreign influence and the lack of regulatory scrutiny.
Carr, one of the five FCC Commissioners, explains the significance of this deal, saying, “Never before has the commission voted to authorize the takeover of 200 plus radio stations across more than 40 markets or cities without running the required normal review process.” He continues, explaining that this is unprecedented: “They’re using some foreign investment dollars from somewhere as part of the purchase."
The normal process for such a deal involves a comprehensive review, particularly when foreign investment is involved. Carr points out that this was not followed, stating, “The FCC’s law is very clear when you have excessive foreign ownership—meaning more than 25%—you have to go through an executive branch review process.” However, the Soros-backed group admitted they were using foreign funding but opted not to follow the typical procedure because “it’s going to take too long.”
A key concern raised by Carr is the lack of transparency in this deal. He remarks, “What the Soros group hasn’t told us is how much foreign money they have. Is it 26%, or is it 100%? What they haven’t told us is the source of that.” This vagueness over the funding's origin is troubling, especially considering the stations’ potential influence on public discourse right before an election.
Carr also highlights the broader implications of this buyout: “Once these new station owners get a hold of these licenses, which they’re doing either now or very soon from now, they can make any changes they want in terms of the format or the programming.” This change could have a direct impact on conservative voices currently on these stations, such as Joe Pags, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin.
He stresses that this situation is highly unusual, particularly given the FCC’s track record with other deals: “This isn’t an administration and an FCC that has not found its way to yes on almost any transaction or deal,” Carr says, emphasizing that the typical checks and balances appear to have been bypassed in this case.
To learn more about this troubling development and its potential impact on the media landscape, listen to the full interview below.