The Watchdog with David Bozell

A funny thing happened after MRC went to the FCC.

The View apparently discovered caution.

For years, ABC’s daytime screamfest booked political candidates while insisting it qualified as a “bona fide news interview program.”

We disagreed.

So we did what MRC does. We watched. We counted. We documented. And we delivered 2,473 pieces of evidence and eight full studies to the FCC, making the case that The View operates less like a news program and more like a Democratic Party operation with better lighting.

And now?

Fox News reports that The View has eased its political candidate bookings amid the FCC inquiry.

Well, well, well.

Nothing says “we have absolutely nothing to worry about” quite like suddenly changing your behavior when the regulator starts looking.

I enjoyed that story.

But I enjoyed the next two even more.

MRC has now formally asked the FCC to deny license renewals for ABC’s eight owned-and-operated television stations. 

Our case is simple: ABC uses public airwaves worth billions of dollars. The public has every right to ask whether ABC is actually serving the public interest.

Yahoo News reports that Jimmy Kimmel and ABC are now facing an FCC fight⁠.

Then The Guardian⁠ reported that the fight over ABC’s license renewals is “heating up.”⁠

Fox News. Yahoo News. The Guardian.

Apparently, MRC has found the one thing that can bring the media together: making ABC nervous.

For decades, conservatives have been told to accept media bias as a fact of life. Complain about it. Yell at the television. Maybe write a strongly worded letter.

We prefer receipts.

The receipts are getting results.

The View is reportedly rethinking its political bookings.

Jimmy Kimmel is part of the FCC conversation.

ABC is defending its broadcast licenses.

And MRC is driving all three stories.

Now, I am not declaring victory. ABC has a lot of lawyers, a lot of money, and, judging by its programming, a very high tolerance for embarrassment.

But the media giant is paying attention.

So is the FCC.

And now, thanks to these stories, so is the country.

For nearly four decades, you have helped MRC build the research operation, archive and expertise needed for a moment like this.

We kept the receipts.

Now ABC gets to explain them.

Thank you for making it possible.

Take it easy,

David Bozell
President