FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced plans for guidance on political polling in response to Trump’s claims about 'fake polls'.
On September 8, 2026, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency may issue guidance regarding how broadcasters report on political polls. This development follows a request from former President Donald Trump, who has criticized certain polling data as misleading or 'fake'. The announcement was made in an interview on Fox News Sunday, where Carr expressed the FCC's interest in ensuring accurate broadcasting of polls, especially as the midterm elections approach.
In recent weeks, Trump has been vocal about his discontent with poll results that show unfavorable ratings. He specifically referred to these polls as instruments of misinformation, claiming they were created to mislead voters and suppress turnout. During his objections, he urged the FCC to intervene, calling for action against what he deems 'fake' polling results. Carr highlighted that this could lead the FCC to remind broadcasters of their responsibility to operate in the public interest and avoid disseminating misleading information.
Democrat Anna Gomez, the only Democratic member of the FCC, expressed strong opposition to the idea of government intervention in polling. Via social media, she characterized Carr's intentions as a potential roadmap to censorship, asserting that fair coverage of polling data should not be restricted due to partisan politics. She noted that inaccurate polling is a common occurrence in electoral politics but emphasized that the FCC has stringent standards for proving intentional news distortion, which could make enforcement challenging.
As the midterm elections draw near, the possibility of increased scrutiny on polling data raises concerns among broadcasters about how to approach news coverage. Carr mentioned the FCC’s previous enforcement actions regarding misinformation, indicating a possibility of more rigorous oversight of how political polls are reported. With a heightened focus on accuracy, particularly when polls show unfavorable results for political candidates, broadcasters may need to reassess how they present polling information.
Trump's history of disputing negative polling is notable; for instance, he previously pursued legal action against pollsters that generated results he considered unfavorable. Additionally, he has publicly criticized media figures when their coverage of election matters does not align with his narrative. This continued contention between Trump and media representation reflects ongoing tensions around political discourse in America.
The FCC's potential move to provide guidance on polling could lead to significant changes in how political broadcasters operate. This decision, coupled with Trump's continued engagement with the issue, could impact public perception and trust in polling data, particularly heading into critical elections. However, any actual enforcement actions remain to be clarified, as both Carr and Gomez pointed out that the FCC operates within strict legal confines regarding First Amendment rights and news reporting.
For now, as the situation develops, both broadcasters and the public will be watching closely to see how these changes might unfold leading up to the elections.
For ongoing developments, revisit our coverage on William Shatner’s tongue-in-cheek praise for Trump’s uniforms or find out about the latest in political media controversies.
Entertainment news
EpisodeBreakdown may use automated tools to assist research, drafting, and formatting. Published pages are governed by our editorial and corrections policies, and source links are shown when they are available in the article record.
Discovery source: Deadline. The source identifies where the topic was discovered; EpisodeBreakdown is responsible for the commentary published on this page.
Reader response
Reactions and poll results are based on real reader responses. No account is required.
