FCC to probe Disney over DEI practices: ‘Going to get to the bottom of everything’

New York Post - Mar 28th, 2025

Disney is facing scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced plans to send a letter to Disney addressing concerns similar to those raised with Comcast and Verizon. These concerns involve potential DEI discrimination that could violate the FCC's equal employment opportunity rules or public interest standards. Disney's stock took a hit, dropping over 2% following the news, and has experienced a significant decline over the past year. The FCC's action is part of a broader effort to challenge companies that promote DEI initiatives, with Carr expressing hesitance to approve transactions for companies engaged in what he describes as discriminatory DEI practices.

The move against Disney follows earlier actions by Carr, including a December letter to Disney's CEO Bob Iger about the company's broadcast network ABC, accusing it of imposing financial and operational demands on local TV stations. Additionally, the FCC reinstated a complaint concerning ABC's fact-checking practices during a Trump debate. Despite the pressure, Disney's shareholders recently rejected a proposal to withdraw from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, underscoring the continued internal support for DEI initiatives. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between federal regulatory goals and corporate policies aimed at fostering diverse and inclusive environments.

Disney Broadcasting Brendan Carr Abc Bob Iger Fcc Dei Policies Corporate Policy Regulatory Actions Stock Impact

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RATING

5.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article presents a timely and relevant topic concerning the FCC's investigation into Disney's DEI practices, which engages public interest and has potential implications for corporate policy and regulation. However, the story's reliance on a single perspective, lack of diverse sources, and insufficient transparency about the investigation's specifics weaken its factual accuracy and balance. While the language is clear, the absence of detailed context and counterarguments may limit reader understanding and engagement. Overall, the article highlights an important issue but would benefit from more comprehensive coverage and verification of claims to enhance its reliability and informative value.

Accuracy

The story claims that the FCC is investigating Disney's DEI initiatives, which is supported by Brendan Carr's statements. However, the article lacks specific details about which policies are under scrutiny, making it difficult to verify the full scope of the investigation. The mention of a previous letter to Disney's CEO and the reinstatement of a complaint against ABC provides some factual grounding, but the lack of direct quotes or official documentation from the FCC or Disney weakens the accuracy. The financial impact on Disney's stock is a verifiable fact but is not directly connected to the FCC's actions in the story.

Balance

The article predominantly presents the perspective of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, focusing on his criticisms and actions against Disney's DEI policies. There is a lack of balance as the article does not include responses or counterarguments from Disney or independent experts on DEI practices. This one-sided presentation might lead readers to perceive bias against Disney's initiatives without understanding the broader context or rationale behind these policies.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language, presenting the main points in a straightforward manner. However, the lack of detailed information about the investigation and the absence of diverse perspectives create some ambiguity. The structure is logical but could benefit from more context and background to help readers fully understand the significance of the FCC's actions and Disney's DEI policies.

Source quality

The primary source of information is Brendan Carr's statements, which are reported without additional verification from other authoritative sources. The article does not reference any official documents or statements from Disney or the FCC, reducing its reliability. The lack of diverse sources or expert opinions on the matter also impacts the credibility of the reporting, as it relies heavily on a single viewpoint.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency regarding the basis of its claims, particularly in terms of evidence supporting the FCC's investigation into Disney. It does not disclose how the information was obtained or whether there might be any conflicts of interest. The absence of methodology or context for the investigation leaves readers with unanswered questions about the motivations and implications of the FCC's actions.