Give me an effing break -- FCC commissioner claims Harris on 'SNL' violates 'equal time' rule

[CatWoman]

A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner has claimed that Vice President Harris’s recent appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” commonly known as “SNL,” violates the “equal time” rule.

“This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule,” Commissioner Brendan Carr posted on the social platform X on Saturday in response to a post from The Associated Press about Harris being on the show that night.

“The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct — a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election. Unless the broadcaster offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns,” Carr, a Trump appointee, continued.

The FCC’s “equal time” rules let rival candidates ask for equal air time.

Carr, the senior Republican on the commission, was appointed by former President Trump.

https://thehill.com/homenews/4968217-fcc-commissioner-claims-harris-on-snl-violates-equal-time-rule/

[a kennedy]

1. You have to be fawking kidding me.....

🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬 🤬

[kelly1mm]

94. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time."

[msongs]

2. so let trump be on next week'ss SNL. no mic either just stand before the camera nt

[raging moderate]

3. Was it a violation when John McCain appeared on SNL during HIS candidacy?

I don't remember any complaints from Republicans when John McCain made a similar appearance years ago.

[former9thward]

53. Obama and Clinton were both on SNL in 2008.

[wnylib]

74. I could not find any report or video of obama on snl in 2008.

I did find a report about him cancelling an appearance due to a hurricane and his request that his supporters give aid to the victims.

[former9thward]

75. I googled and many stories came up.

I don't watch SNL so I can't testify personally.

But here you go:



https://money.cnn.com/gallery/media/2015/11/05/snl-donald-trump/3.html

[wnylib]

87. Checked again and found one reference in an Entertainment Weekly article

about Obama appearing on SNL in 2007 for the 2008 campaign, but could not find a video or other article on it. That would have been sitting the primary between Obama and Clinton. No mention of him appearing as the DEM candidate when he was running against McCain.

There are several references to imitation Obamas in snl skits, but not the real Obama.

[wnylib]

89. I can't get your link to open, but from the pic

that does appear with the link, "Obama" seems to be an actor wearing an Obama face mask, looking at an imitation Clinton. That would have been the primary season with Obama running against Clinton.

Once he was the chosen Dem candidate running against McCain, I can't find anything on him appearing on SNL.

[former9thward]

131. It was Obama.

Wearing a mask. Try again.

[DFW]

120. I actually saw it at the time.

It was a Halloween party where someone came up to a tall skinny guy with an Obama mask, complimenting him on how good a mask it was. He took it off, and it was the real Obama.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

122. He was on.

I've been watching all of the old SNLs the past year, working my way from the beginning to current. I'm currently on 2008 as luck would have it and, yes, he did appear in a cold open that year.

[wnylib]

70. Don't forget Sarah Palin's appearance when Amy Pohler did the rap song.

?si=Y6OF0CbZnnRGL_ss

[Klarkashton]

4. Carr a maga? Just a guess.

Otherwise if it was trump on there it would be 1A!

[SharonClark]

78. He is a full fledged MAGA who posts

crazy anti-Biden and anti Harris nonsense on his X account. Just ignore him.

[Cha]

5. So what are the Fucking Whiners gonna Do about it?

Equal Time.. Balderdash!

So SNL likes Kamala Harris and Hates TSF.. BFD. It's New York!

[kelly1mm]

95. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[newdeal2]

6. I'm sure he got an earful from Steven Cheung this morning

[Cha]

12. ...

[skylucy]

23. LOL

Hi Cha!

[Cha]

31. Really.. Aloha, skylucy!

[MoseShrute]

7. Fux?

What about all the times OrangeHitler is on Fux News?

[wnylib]

76. Fox is cable and not subject to the equal time rule.

It only applies to network stations like NBC, CBS, and ABC.

[yaesu]

8. tRump did sketch in 15 , no one bitched about that, also, given 6 minutes more time in the ABC debate

"Some viewers also noted that Harris’s “mirror image” comedy sketch was conceptually identical to a sketch Trump featured in with ex-SNL comedian Jimmy Fallon on Fallon’s the Tonight Show in 2015."

[wnylib]

90. Trump guest hosted the show in the 2016 campaign.

SNL took a lot of flak over that.

How much time did Clinton get on SNL in 2016?

[C_U_L8R]

9. What equal time rule?

The one Republicans did away with years ago? If there was an equal time rule, Fox News and rightwing hate radio would not exist.

[former9thward]

51. The equal time rule has never gone away.

You may be thinking of the fairness doctrine. The law containing the rule is 47 U.S. Code § 315 The law exempts talk shows and news programs.

[wnylib]

91. Cable versus Network stations. The FCC only has regulation authority over network stations, not cable.

[dweller]

10. So the Pisswig asked

for equal time ? Or is Carr asking for him ?
How about all the times the Pisswig has called into Fauxsnooze and was given airtime ? Not a problem ?
🤔



✌🏻

[kelly1mm]

96. Fox news is not regulated by the FCC. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[dweller]

97. More predicting economic doom

Like he did for Biden
How’s that stock market these days ?

Idiot


✌🏻

[Dave Bowman]

11. What the hell?

[kelly1mm]

98. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. FCC commissioner Brendan Carr wrote a chapter for Project 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4777384-house-democrats-question-fcc-role-project-2025/

Democrats question FCC commissioner’s role in Project 2025
by Nick Robertson - 07/17/24 1:10 PM ET

Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, answers a question during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to discuss the President’s F.Y. 2025 budget request for the commission on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
More than a dozen House Democrats sent a letter to the inspector general of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, questioning Commissioner Brendan Carr’s role in helping craft Project 2025, a conservative policy document.

The letter, led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), claims Carr violated ethics rules and may have misused his office.


Project 2025 is a Heritage Foundation document outlining policy initiatives for a second Trump administration, and included multiple contributors and backers close to former President Trump. Trump has personally distanced himself from the project, though Democrats have consistently hit the former president for his ties to its authors.

[dalton99a]

29. +1

[ColinC]

14. Oh shit they wanna bring back equal time??

Let's do it!

[sir pball]

42. Equal time never went away. Are you thinking of the Fairness Doctrine?

Quoth 47 U.S. Code § 315:

If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/315

[ColinC]

48. I am :(

[sheshe2]

60. Well the way I see it...

They gave him equal time by reenacting his rally performance where he was fellating his microphone.
Even Steven

[Cha]

63. That's RIGHT! Besides I read that they had to

ask to be on.. apparently according to that Veep Kamala Asked.

[sheshe2]

68. Geez Louise...

MAGgots are so childish with these tantrums. Time to put on their big boy pants and act like adults for a change.

[duncang]

15. So how many times did tfg call into Faux news?

[Voltaire2]

49. Cable isn't licensed broadcast. Nt.

[Deuxcents]

16. Kamala has been on late night tv shows..had one with Colbert not long ago.

They gonna complain about everything because that’s all they got.

[onenote]

113. Talk shows are exempt. As is news programming.

The rule is triggered by an "appearance" by a candidate in an advertisement or other non-news, non-talk programming.
It primarily serves t ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity ...which is the correct name of the rule, not equal time...to purchase advertising during a campaign and that they are charged the "lowest unit rate" for such advertising. It also applies to "free" appearances, such as an appearance on Saturday Night Live.

Carr was full of shit when he suggested that NBC or SNL had violated the rule. The only obligations a station has when there is an appearance that triggers the rule are to put a notice about the appearance in the station's public file and to honor a request from a competing candidate for an equal amount of time at the same cost.

Also, the Daily Beast article is mistaken when it says NBC filed a notice with the Federal Election Commission. There is no requirement for the NBC to notifiy the FEC. What NBC was required to do ... and what they have done...is to instruct their affiliated stations to put a notice about the appearance in each station's public file.

[Deuxcents]

119. Thank you..appreciate the explanation

[OAITW r.2.0]

17. Jeez, this is disconcerting....

just kidding. Give Trump equal time next weekend!

[BBbats]

18. Hmmm....I seem to remember .......

I remember(I could be wrong) a tidbit of something I heard or read that stated that during the Reagan administration TV stations stopped showing Ronald Reagan's movies because they would have to allow the other side "equal time".
I do remember never seeing " King's Road" or "Bedtime For Bonzo" on during those eight years. They were staples on UHF TV in the 70's.
Could be a real ,although stupid ,FCC rule.

[al bupp]

19. That's some pretty sour grapes there

But maybe NBC could claim they for all they knew, if given the chance, TFG would just try to violate the sound equipment.

[kelly1mm]

99. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race .NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[Silent Type]

20. They showed trump clips, looking/acting like a buffoon. That should qualify.

[skylucy]

21. ...

[Jim__]

22. He posted on X?

[NameAlreadyTaken]

24. So, was Sarah Palin's

appearance on SNL in 2008 also a violation of said rule?

[Retrograde]

32. She was a Republican

so it was OK

[former9thward]

55. Clinton and Obama appeared on SNL in 2008.

[lees1975]

25. He's a MAGAt appointee.

The equal time rule is not the same thing as the fairness doctrine, which is no longer a rule. All NBC needs to do to make sure they comply is to find out how much time they've given to coverage of Trump's appearances, rallies, press conferences, and compare that to what they've given to Harris. It wouldn't even be close. They've violated equal time in his favor to the 100th power.

It's a nothing burger, and the fact that the media is giving it any attention at all is evidence of their bias.

[cadoman]

26. tsf has done this _exact_ format before

Looks like Fallon invented it and has used it with Romney and others?

Hollywood Reporter has the clarification:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kamala-harris-snl-appearance-violate-equal-time-rule-1236052572/

However, the burden falls on the candidates to request those equal opportunities, and the agency’s policy on the rule states: “Equal opportunities generally means providing comparable time and placement to opposing candidates; it does not require a station to provide opposing candidates with programs identical to the initiating candidate.”

So if tsf didn't request it he wouldn't get it. I'm sure he knew his chemistry with the crew would be rotten.

Beware of MAGAT FEC commissioner Brendon Carr--he will likely need a lot of fact-checking in the coming hours:

https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC

[Sympthsical]

36. This has come up with SNL before

I forget which election - maybe the 2016 primaries - and the solution is typically to offer free ad time to the other candidates.

SNL doesn't have to offer Trump a sketch. NBC just has to offer comparable value if requested. They could just toss him a free ad during a football game and call it a day.

[Cha]

43. TY cadoman! Since I read the media is giving this attention

and Not TSF's mic Sexual Attack.. Maybe it will get even more people to watch the SNL skit and see what a great job Kamala Did?!

[LudwigPastorius]

82. Holy crap, Fallon does a terrible Trump impersonation.

Then again, I'm not a fan of much else he does either.

[Tanuki]

27. Trump appointee Carr also wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the FCC

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/project-2025-fcc

"Meet the Project 2025 Co-Author Who Wants to Run the FCC If Trump Wins
Brendan Carr knows who’s calling the shots in the modern GOP, so when he’s not fawning over Trump — a prerequisite for any potential appointee — he’s busy buttering up the world’s richest internet troll: Elon Musk.
....
What you might not know is that just one of Project 2025’s authors currently works for the federal government: Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission.

Carr has sided with big companies and against the public interest on nearly every important issue to come before the FCC. He’s also learned what it takes to get ahead in Trumpworld: telling lies, cozying up to the far right, insisting Trump can do no wrong, sucking up to billionaires and telling more lies.
.....
Commissioner Carr’s contribution to Project 2025’s “Mandate for Leadership” is wrongheaded if relatively milquetoast compared to other chapters. He rants TikTok (which is not under the FCC’s jurisdiction) and China, unwisely calls for the elimination of Section 230 of the Communications Act, and endorses ways to enrich Elon Musk’s Starlink and right-wing broadcasters like Sinclair.

He makes it clear that under a future Chairman Carr, the FCC would do the bidding of big business unencumbered by notions of serving the public interest, helping those experiencing poverty or addressing racial disparities."...(more)

[Clouds Passing]

28. Reagan blew that up. Bo such thing anymore

[TrunKated]

30. sock it to me

[Straw Man]

33. Equal Time?

Didn't that get tossed along with the Fairness Doctrine?

[Freethinker65]

34. Trump held "press conferences" and took no questions for free media time

Harris's campaign didn't demand equal time even though it was obvious Trump called those fake "press conferences" to spew his stump speech material to a national TV audience and disparage Harris (and before her, Biden).

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

35. By all means give Trump equal time on the next SNL show.

'Ya know, after the election. Hell, let him produce his own comedy show like the one in MSG and demonstrate once more how racist, misogist, classist, homophobic, transphobic and xenophobic Republicans are. Good fodder for commercials in case of runoff elections.

BTW, what is the penalty (if any) for broadcast networks who violate the fairness rules?

[kelly1mm]

100. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[Mountainguy]

37. The FCC is close to irrelevancy

So go ahead, do something about it.

[cadoman]

38. the other ace the Harris campaign has up their sleeve: there is an equal time exception for "interviews"

And the skit here is literally an interview format.

If the airing was within a documentary, bona fide news interview, scheduled newscast, or an on-the-spot news event, the equal-time rule does not apply.

[kelly1mm]

101. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[Raven123]

124. Good. Issue resolved

[Metaphorical]

39. Would Trump Even Appear on SNL?

Three points:
* Trump would no more appear on SNL than he would endorse Kamala Harris for President. This is a man who hates being the subject of ridicule, and they would ROAST him alive.
* The FCC would have to explain then how networks have given Trump IMMENSE amount of free air time, far in excess of Harris.
* A single commissioner can complain, but it takes a committee to make a formal complaint (and levy fines), with two Democrats and two Republicans on the current committee. So this is basically a personal opinion.

[jimfields33]

54. He's hosted it in 2004 and appeared in 2015.

I’m sure he’d go on for a third if offered.

[dpibel]

62. The information you have at your fingertips!!!

It's truly amazing.

[jimfields33]

65. Google is awesome.

[RidinWithHarris]

40. Is there any evidence Trump wasn't offered equal time?

He probably was, and just didn't want it.

[kelly1mm]

102. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[grobertj]

41. So what, it's done!

[Tree Lady]

44. So Trump can show up to one of the many

news shows he turned down like CBS, they would all put him on.

[live love laugh]

45. Republican bullshit. Fuck his partisanship.

[ananda]

46. Trump was on the show too. I saw him, and he even had lines.

[Bristlecone]

47. Fuck that guy. Seriously. Fuck him.

[ailsagirl]

50. The rule applies to Dems only

Apparently

[former9thward]

57. How?

[W_HAMILTON]

66. It's been pointed out to you. Repeatedly.

If you think this isn't just a Republican whining to appease his cult leader, please cite all the public comments made by sitting FCC commissioners about how McCain/Palin appearing on SNL broke the rule.

[former9thward]

69. Since both Clinton and Obama appeared on SNL in 2008 how was any rule broken?

[W_HAMILTON]

72. Perhaps you should look more into this rule before commenting on it.

The rule is regarding COMPETING POLITICAL CANDIDATES and requires COMPARABLE TIME AND PLACEMENT.

Furthermore, the rule isn't simply enforced by the FCC -- it requires a complaint from an interested party to be investigated and potentially enforced. Jonathan S. Uriarte, an FCC director, said that no complaint had been received as of earlier today.

So, yes, I will repeat it for you one more time: this is just a Trump-appointed Republican hack doing what we expect Trump-appointed Republican hacks to do.

Can't wait for Kamala to get elected and start to ... drain the swamp!

[former9thward]

73. Maybe you should read the full thread.

And my posts. Please do a cut and paste where I complained a rule had been violated. My only comments were to people who said that Republicans had broken the rule in various years on SNL. No one has since they have had both Rs and Ds. Try again.

[W_HAMILTON]

77. They have. As you have been told repeatedly.

Obama appeared in 2007, when he was competing for the Democratic nomination.

McCain appeared in 2008, just days before the actual election.

Hence my COMPETING POLITICAL CANDIDATES and COMPARABLE TIME AND PLACEMENT comments.

Get it yet?

[former9thward]

79. "As you have been told repeatedly."

Told by who? You? A poster just told me Obama never appeared on SNL. I guess that makes you wrong since I have "been told repeatedly"

[W_HAMILTON]

81. The other correct responses to you that I've read and your insistent "nuh-uh'ing" of them -- those comments.

[former9thward]

83. Do a cut and paste if you can get past personal attacks.

[W_HAMILTON]

85. Oh, we're at that point now.

No need -- everyone can read for themselves the responses to you that apparently you have not if you are making that request of me.

PS - My responses are sufficient. They exactly explained why you are in the wrong here, even if the others that told you this before me did not get through.

[Wiz Imp]

129. Obama appeared on SNL on November 3, 2007

Proof at this link.

https://snl.fandom.com/wiki/Barack_Obama

On Saturday Night Live, he has been impersonated by Fred Armisen for more than 30 times until May 12, 2012 and by Jay Pharoah from September 15, 2012 and Obama himself made a cameo during the "Halloween Party" cold opening sketch on the November 3, 2007 episode where he also started the show by uttering the famous line, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!".

[former9thward]

130. Yes, as a candidate for president.

So what?

[DiamondShark]

123. Trump calls in to Hannity's show pretty often.

[former9thward]

132. As I said the law exempts talk shows.

[DiamondShark]

133. You should double check your info. AM/FM radio is still covered under the FCC.

[former9thward]

134. The FCC exempts talk shows.

Talk shows and other regular news programming from syndicators, such as Entertainment Tonight, are also declared exempt from the rule by the FCC on a case-by-case basis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule

[DiamondShark]

135. Good to know...

Maybe you should have mentioned it originally...

[NoMoreRepugs]

52. Blatant MAGAT partisanship.

[spanone]

56. trmp is on 'fox entertainment' daily. This is total bullshit.

[kelly1mm]

104. Fox News is on cable, not broadcast so is not subject to FCC regulation, nt

[spanone]

110. Reagan did away with the Fairness Doctrine

[kelly1mm]

111. The Fairness Doctrine is different than the Equal Time rule. nt

[spanone]

112. 👍🏼

[Raven123]

58. There is a difference between "ask" and "offer."

Would be interested in knowing if TFG was offered time and refused.

[kelly1mm]

105. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[Lulu KC]

109. Do you ever feel like nobody's listening to you?

I have been there, too! I hear you!

[Initech]

59. Oh this is a steaming pile of certified grade A bullshit.

Trump trashed SNL for 8 years straight because they made fun of him. This wasn't a problem until he stole the presidency. The only thing SNL owes him is a straight up middle finger. 🖕

[kelly1mm]

106. It is not the show, but the network. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[vapor2]

61. Can we file an FCC complaint re: this?

[onenote]

115. What would the complaint be?

[Blue_Roses]

64. WTF is this?

I've never heard of this rule and there have been several presidential candidates on SNL.

[kelly1mm]

107. If you use Google you can read all about the rule. NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race.

NBC gave him free time during the Sunday NASCAR race. NBC gave Donald Trump’s campaign commercial time free of charge during Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race, an exchange made to stay compliant with the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time” rule, according to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The former president took advantage of the situation by airing an ad immediately following the race, in which he spoke directly to the camera while intoning about an economic “depression” that he predicted would come if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election on Tuesday.

The network was forced to give up the airtime after it featured Harris for about 90 seconds during its “cold open” sketch on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live—though it remains unclear whether the Trump campaign will request more time.

[Blue_Roses]

121. Got it. Thank-you!

I'll check it out.

[Johonny]

67. Trump appeared over and over again on weekend update

As the butt of jokes.

And I bet SNL offered Trump a chance to appear.

[Montauk6]

71. Trump hosted an entire episode, what are THEY whining about?

And given his various appearances over the years, I'd say Mamala has a balance!

[Lulu KC]

80. For the love of Pete

So give him five minutes on…..what? America’s Funniest Home Videos?

[Emrys]

84. Ahem. "A spokesperson for the FCC issued a statement:

“The FCC has not made any determination regarding political programming rules, nor have we received a complaint from any interested parties.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/03/harris-appearance-snl-equal-time-rule

[The Unmitigated Gall]

86. Whines the party that ended

The Fairness Doctrine.

Fuck them.

[Mossfern]

88. If would appear on SNL

He'd be booed off the stage.

[kelly1mm]

92. NBC is giving President Trump free airtime to comply with the equal time rule. nt

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219650007

[Jit423]

93. What "equal time" rule?

If we have one, does it only apply to Democrats?

[kelly1mm]

114. This Equal Time rule:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule

"The equal-time rule (47 U.S. Code § 315 - Candidates for public office[1]) specifies that American radio and television broadcast stations must provide equivalent access to competing political candidates. This means, for example, that if a station broadcasts a message by a candidate, it must offer the same amount of time on the same terms to an opposing candidate.[2]

Details
This rule originated in §18 of the Radio Act of 1927 which established the Federal Radio Commission; it was later superseded by the Communications Act of 1934, with the FRC becoming the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. A related provision, in §315(b), requires that broadcasters offer time to candidates at the same rate as their "most favored advertiser".

The equal-time rule was created due to concerns that broadcast stations could easily manipulate the outcome of elections by presenting just one point of view and excluding other candidates."

[Orrex]

108. I made that prediction on FB yesterday

Well, they can let Trump appear on SNL next week.

[oldmanlynn]

116. Reagan got rid of the fairness doctrine back in the 80s

Since then there is no equal time doctrine or rule.

[onenote]

117. The equal time rule is a separate rule and was not impacted by the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine.

Google is your friend.

[JohnSJ]

118. Talk shows and other regular news programming from syndicators, such as Entertainment Tonight, are also declared exempt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule#:~:text=This%20means%2C%20for%20example%2C%20that,terms%20to%20an%20opposing%20candidate.

[dchill]

125. The FCC commissioner must think that putting Trump on TV...

... somehow helps him. That's pretty funny, actually. I think it helps Harris/Walz. YOMV.

[pamdb]

126. equal time

1. Hasn't the presidential candidate (democrat) been appearing on SNL for a few years?

2. They gave trump 2 two minute spots yesterday so he could lie all he wanted.

3. Cry me a river.

[k55f5r]

127. I'm all for

For bringing back the fairness doctrine. Republicans, be careful what you ask for.

[Marcuse]

128. So air a rerun.