MRC Challenges ‘The View’ FCC Exemption, Submits 2,473 Alleged Examples Of Political Bias

The battle over whether ABC’s The View qualifies as a legitimate news interview program is escalating as a leading conservative media watchdog moves to challenge the show’s exemption from federal equal-time requirements.

The Media Research Center (MRC) has formally urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject ABC’s request to classify The View as a “bona fide news interview program,” arguing that the daytime talk show has evolved into a partisan political platform rather than a journalistic enterprise.

The dispute stems from an FCC investigation launched earlier this year after Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the program. The inquiry is part of a broader review of equal-time requirements governing political candidates who receive airtime on broadcast networks.

Disney and ABC have argued that The View qualifies for a longstanding exemption granted to legitimate news interview programs. That exemption allows candidates to appear without requiring broadcasters to offer equal airtime to opponents.

But MRC President David Bozell says the facts tell a different story.

In an 18-page filing submitted to FCC officials, Bozell argued that the program no longer operates according to journalistic standards and instead functions as a vehicle for political advocacy.

“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,” Bozell wrote.

According to the filing, MRC plans to submit 2,473 separate examples that it says document political bias, partisan advocacy, and what it characterizes as electioneering by the show’s hosts.

The conservative watchdog alleges that the program consistently promotes Democratic candidates and policy priorities while opposing President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

Among the examples highlighted in the filing is a statement by co-host Whoopi Goldberg encouraging viewers to participate in Election Day voting, which MRC argues crossed the line from commentary into political advocacy.

Bozell further accused ABC of misrepresenting the nature of the program in its FCC petition and argued that the network improperly relied on First Amendment case law to defend the show’s exemption status.

The filing comes as Disney has reportedly mounted a public campaign defending The View and encouraging viewers to support the program amid the regulatory scrutiny.

The FCC has not yet announced a final decision on ABC’s petition. The outcome could have broader implications for how politically oriented talk shows are classified under federal broadcasting rules and whether similar programs can continue receiving exemptions from equal-time requirements.

EXCLUSIVE: MRC tells the FCC that ‘The View’ is a Democratic Party operation, not a news program.@DavidBozell: “Evidence shows that it has for years operated for political purposes.” @FoxNews @briansflood https://t.co/ONINKMLpfS

— Media Research Center (@theMRC) June 23, 2026