Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is set to provide an update on the agency’s investigation into George Soros and his influence over local radio stations during a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Wednesday.
According to Fox News, Carr will address members of the Republican Study Committee, a group consisting of 175 House Republicans, during their annual closed-door lunch. His briefing is expected to focus on Soros’s involvement in local radio stations, particularly in light of his ties to an investment firm that acquired over 200 Audacy radio stations nationwide last year.
The meeting comes amid growing Republican scrutiny over the deal, with many lawmakers voicing concerns about foreign ownership and the regulatory process followed by the FCC. Carr is also expected to discuss broader strategies to counter left-leaning media influence, a subject that has gained prominence among senior Republican officials.
The acquisition of the radio stations has drawn significant attention from Republican leaders. In September, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) announced plans to investigate the FCC under the Biden administration, questioning why Soros Fund Management was allowed to take a major stake in Audacy. The investment firm has a substantial level of foreign ownership, which has raised further concerns among Republican lawmakers.
Carr previously testified before the House Oversight Committee, raising alarms over how the FCC handled the transaction. “The FCC is not following its normal process for reviewing a transaction,” Carr stated at the time. He emphasized that existing regulations limit foreign ownership to 25 percent unless specific approvals are granted through a well-established review process.
“We have established over a number of years one way in which you can get approval from the FCC when you have an excess of 25 percent foreign ownership, which this transaction does,” Carr said. “It seems to me that the FCC is poised to create, for the first time, an entirely new shortcut.”
Republican lawmakers have expressed frustration over the way the FCC has handled the case. In a letter to then-FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, members of the House Oversight Committee accused the agency of bypassing the established regulatory process to accommodate Soros.
“By all appearances, the FCC majority isn’t just expediting, but is bypassing an established process to do a favor for George Soros,” the letter stated. Lawmakers argued that the move could allow Soros to exert influence over hundreds of radio stations in the lead-up to the November election, an outcome they view as concerning.
Other Republican lawmakers have also weighed in. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) sent a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in April 2024, raising concerns about the implications of the acquisition. “I write today regarding Soros Fund Management’s acquisition of over $400 million in debt held by Audacy — the second-largest broadcast radio station owner in the country,” Roy wrote, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Republicans argue that the transaction could have significant consequences on media influence, particularly in shaping public discourse ahead of the presidential election. Many GOP leaders believe the regulatory process should be applied consistently, without exceptions that benefit politically influential figures.
As Carr prepares to update lawmakers on the investigation, the issue is expected to remain a focal point for Republicans pushing for greater scrutiny of media ownership and regulatory fairness. The outcome of this investigation could have lasting implications on how the FCC oversees media transactions and ensures compliance with established ownership rules.
With the meeting set to take place behind closed doors, the details of Carr’s discussion may not be fully disclosed immediately. However, it is clear that the issue of Soros’s media influence will continue to be a topic of debate in the coming months, especially as the 2024 election approaches.
