Trump Threatens ABC, NBC

President Trump issued some late-night threats to ABC and NBC, accusing both of bias and threatening their broadcast licenses.

• In one post, he suggested the networks functioned as "an arm of the Democratic party" and "should, according to many, have their licenses revoked by the FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!"
• Short of having the Federal Communications Commission pull their licenses—the president does not appear to have the authority to do that— Trump wrote they should at least "pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime!" Such a fee could be millions per year, he added, backing an idea previously endorsed by Elon Musk, notes Forbes.

• Trump spared CBS from his criticism, and the Hill provides some context, noting that FCC chair Brendan Carr has lauded parent company Paramount for promising "to retool the editorial bend of CBS News to represent what it is calling a more 'diverse' set of viewpoints," per the Hill. Paramount also settled with Trump over its 60 Minutes coverage of Trump on CBS.
• Trump also asserted that he has the highest poll numbers he's ever had, despite what the "fake news" says. Axios says it isn't true. A Reuters/Ipsos poll had his approval rating at 40% last week, the lowest level of his second term.