The MeidasTouch Podcast Former FCC Commissioner Wheeler on Trump Attacking Media
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Oct 5, 2025 Tom Wheeler, the former FCC Chairman under Obama, shares his insights on threats to media diversity. He discusses controversial attempts to overhaul broadcast ownership rules that could lead to autocratic control over local TV channels. Wheeler emphasizes the importance of diverse voices in media and the risks of monopolization. He also reflects on the protests against FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and urges listeners to engage in the regulatory process to push back against harmful changes. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on the state of free speech!
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Control Of Narrative Enables Autocracy
- Tom Wheeler frames FCC actions as a method to control who tells the national story and thus enable autocratic influence.
- He warns consolidation of broadcast ownership concentrates narrative power and undermines democratic debate.
Diversity Was The Core Principle
- The FCC's founding principle in the 1934 Communications Act prioritized diversity of voices and ownership.
- Wheeler says current rule changes would reverse that, shrinking local ownership to benefit national chains.
Nexstar–Tegna Merger Example
- Wheeler cites the Nexstar-Tegna merger as an example that currently violates FCC reach and local ownership rules.
- He says the deal awaits rule changes that Brendan Carr intends to enact to retroactively legalize it.