ABC filed a lawsuit against the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday, alleging the regulator breached its First Amendment rights through a "retaliatory campaign" against the network. The suit follows the FCC's early review of ABC's local broadcast licences, which cited the network's internal diversity and inclusion practices as a factor. The case is significant because it frames the FCC's actions as part of a wider pattern of government pressure on media organisations over their editorial choices.

The licence review came after President Trump repeatedly criticised ABC programming, including Jimmy Kimmel Live and The View, and pushed for these shows to be pulled off air. ABC's lawyers argued in the filing that the case sends a warning to the whole media industry to fall in line with the administration's preferred coverage or face consequences, describing a broader use of regulatory and contractual pressure against outlets seen as unfavourable to the government.