
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How MRC Wants the FCC to Strip &#8216;The View&#8217; of Its News Status</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For years, critics of ABC&#8217;s <em>The View</em> have argued that calling the daytime talk show a &#8220;news interview program&#8221; requires a straight face, crossed fingers, and perhaps a very active imagination. Now that debate has moved beyond social media arguments and into a formal proceeding before the Federal Communications Commission, where the Media Research Center (MRC) is asking regulators to deny the show&#8217;s &#8220;bona fide news interview program&#8221; exemption.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC contends that <em>The View</em> has evolved from a daytime discussion program into a platform dedicated to advancing Democratic politicians, progressive causes, and relentless criticism of Republicans, particularly President Donald Trump. According to MRC President David Bozell, the evidence is overwhelming.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As Bozell wrote in the filing, &#8220;While The View may once have qualified for an exemption, the evidence shows that it has for years operated for political purposes and is therefore not entitled to an exemption to the law.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The MRC Says It Has Mountains of Evidence</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is not simply a complaint based on a handful of controversial episodes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC announced that it intends to submit 2,473 separate pieces of evidence documenting what it describes as partisan bias, political advocacy, and electioneering on the program. The filing itself spans 18 pages and cites years of research conducted by the organization.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bozell argues that ABC misrepresented the nature of <em>The View</em> when seeking protection under the FCC&#8217;s longstanding exemption for legitimate news interview programs. According to the filing, the show consistently promotes Democratic candidates and policy priorities while attacking Republicans and conservative viewpoints.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC also notes that it has published eight separate studies examining the program&#8217;s political content, all pointing toward what it considers an unmistakable partisan pattern.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Five Examples Critics Point To</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Critics argue that isolated opinions are expected on an opinion show. Their concern is that <em>The View</em> repeatedly crosses from commentary into political advocacy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Among the examples highlighted in the materials are:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Whoopi Goldberg&#8217;s Election Day Message</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC points to Goldberg telling viewers, &#8220;You know what to do on Election Day.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The organization argues that encouraging viewers during an election while consistently favoring one political party resembles political advocacy more than neutral journalism.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>America Compared to Iran</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During a discussion about conditions in Iran, Alyssa Farah Griffin argued that living in America was fundamentally different.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Whoopi Goldberg responded, &#8220;Not if you&#8217;re Black!&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Griffin pushed back, saying, &#8220;Guys, don&#8217;t compare us to Tehran.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Critics argue that equating the United States with one of the world&#8217;s most oppressive theocracies illustrates the show&#8217;s willingness to embrace highly inflammatory rhetoric.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Sunny Hostin&#8217;s &#8216;Roaches Voting for Raid&#8217; Remark</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hostin reacted to polling showing white suburban women moving toward Republicans by saying it was &#8220;almost like roaches voting for Raid.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The comment generated widespread criticism because it compared millions of American voters to insects supposedly acting against their own interests.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even Alyssa Farah Griffin objected, calling the remark insulting to voters.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Joy Behar Calls Republicans a Cult</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Joy Behar declared:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;You&#8217;re not voting for Republicans, you&#8217;re voting for a cult.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Critics argue that reducing tens of millions of Americans to members of a cult does little to encourage thoughtful political discussion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Whoopi Goldberg&#8217;s Holocaust Comments</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Perhaps the most controversial controversy involved Goldberg&#8217;s statement that the Holocaust &#8220;isn&#8217;t about race.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The remark generated international criticism and eventually required public apologies. Critics point to the incident as evidence that the program frequently presents highly controversial assertions while still carrying the ABC News brand.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Guest List is Overwhelmingly Left</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC also argues that the guest list tells its own story.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to one of its studies, <em>The View</em> began the 2026 midterm cycle with 27 liberal guests compared with only one Republican. Another analysis found only two guests presenting conservative viewpoints during 2025, with Vice President JD Vance becoming just the third conservative guest in 2026.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">ABC disputes the significance of those numbers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The network says it has invited numerous Trump administration officials and conservative leaders, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio, Elon Musk, Lindsey Graham, and JD Vance, and that several declined invitations. ABC maintains that guest selections are based on newsworthiness and audience interest rather than political preference.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Even Former Co-Hosts Have Raised Questions</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Some of the criticism has come from inside the studio.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Former co-host Meghan McCain publicly complained that the show displayed a liberal bias, arguing that producers ignored stories involving Hunter Biden while aggressively covering controversies involving Donald Trump&#8217;s family.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&#8220;What I find interesting is not the stories we talk about, but the stories we don&#8217;t talk about,&#8221; McCain said.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">She added, &#8220;We never talked about Hunter Biden.&#8221;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Former co-host Meghan McCain has also previously described a hostile environment toward conservative voices during her tenure, adding to longstanding complaints from previous conservative panelists.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>What the FCC Fight Is Really About</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The legal issue is not whether <em>The View</em> may express political opinions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It unquestionably can.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The question before the FCC is whether the show qualifies for the special exemption traditionally granted to legitimate news interview programs.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If it does not qualify, appearances by political candidates could trigger equal opportunity requirements requiring comparable airtime for opposing candidates.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FCC has stated that a program motivated by partisan purposes would not qualify for the exemption under longstanding precedent, although the agency has not yet ruled on ABC&#8217;s petition. ABC argues that removing the exemption would chill free speech and interfere with editorial discretion protected by the First Amendment.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Doesn&#8217;t the opposite chill free speech even more?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Elephant Sitting on the Studio Couch</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At this point, critics argue that pretending <em>The View</em> is politically neutral has become one of television&#8217;s longest running performances.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No one tunes in expecting a panel of robotic, emotionless journalists reading wire copy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">People expect opinions &#8211; Strong, Loud even obnoxious at times.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The MRC&#8217;s position is essentially this: if the program wants to operate as an openly partisan opinion show, that is perfectly legal. Just do not ask regulators to treat it as if it were an objective news interview program entitled to special regulatory protections.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Whether the FCC ultimately agrees remains to be seen.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But one thing appears beyond dispute. Few television programs generate as much political passion, or as many daily debates, as six women around one table proving once again that daytime television can be every bit as politically combustible as prime time.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>

MRC: ‘The View’ is a Mouthpiece for the Democrat Party
