When Donald Trump suggested revoking the government-issued broadcasting licenses for television stations that cover him negatively, he stepped over a line that many presidents before him dared not cross.
He ventured into the business of an agency − the Federal Communication Commission − that Congress created 91 years ago to be independent from presidential influence. No president has ever fired a commissioner, and many commissioners have been outspoken advocates for free speech.
But if Trump has his way, he will have more power over the FCC in the near future. That’s because his administration has been pushing to get more control over independent agencies, and so far, they’re winning.
