Senate Republican Pushes Back On FCC Chair's Threats Against Broadcasters Over News CoverageA Senate Republican is adding to the pushback toward Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, who on Saturday threatened broadcasters over their news coverage.“I am a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy-handed government, no matter who is wielding it,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said during an interview on Fox News' “The Sunday Briefing,” when asked if it was the government’s role to police media outlets’ war coverage. “So no, I would rather the federal government stay out of the private sector as much as possible.”Johnson is among the many lawmakers who have rebuked Carr’s remarks, which Democrats described as overreach that's "straight out of the authoritarian playbook."In his post, Carr cited President Donald Trump, who criticized media outlets for how they covered the damage sustained by U.S. Air Force planes that were hit during Iranian missile strikes in Saudi Arabia. Carr then warned broadcasters that their licenses could be in jeopardy if they published so-called “fake news."“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," Carr wrote. "The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not."Carr’s post was just the most recent instance of him suggesting that broadcasters could be penalized by the FCC for the content they air. See All UpdatesClose