MSNBC’s Ari Melber, on his show The Beat Monday, hosted FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez to speak out against the recent Paramount-Skydance merger. Featuring the obviously inflammatory headline “TRUMP VS. 1ST AMENDMENT,” it was clear which way Melber and his guest leaned. The two discussed how the FCC’s typical role in the merger was really an attack against our Constitution.
After noting that his guest was “a Democratic appointee,” Melber teed Gomez up by asking specifically whether or not this “was this done in a traditional and proper way,” she was quick to respond:
This is absolutely unprecedented. First of all, the First Amendment and the Communications Act prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcasters. And in this case, what you saw was new Paramount agreeing to self-center based on content that this administration doesn't like. And that is a direct violation of our First Amendment.
Building off the absurd unstated assumption that the Paramount merger was purely a form of censorship from the FCC, Gomez offered some unbelievable complaints. Somehow, the unrelated fact that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr believed liberal media should be less biased meant he was destroying the First Amendment.
Gomez specifically complained that it was a violation when CBS decided to “self-center” (presumably she meant ‘self-censor’) their reporting, something that neither the Trump administration nor the FCC ever required.
But rather than press against these claims, Melber pushed the focus on Chairman Carr, someone whom Gomez never brought up:
Yeah, and so the Trump commissioner in charge, Carr, has been very blunt about this, more so than most – I should mention, as full disclosure, FCC is involved in overseeing aspects of companies, media companies we’re involved with as well, but that's not going to affect our independence or coverage here – Do you view his approach as partisan, as trying to abuse the FCC's regulatory oversight just to get political or MAGA goals?
The main complaint Melber brought against Carr was that he leaned too much one way politically. He was, of course, telling this to the FCC administrator actively attacking Trump and defending biased media.
Clearly, Melber agreed with Gomez’s fearmongering, asking her: “What, if anything, can be done about this? You may be objecting, but you're in the minority. What else do you think should be done?”
Melber made Gomez out to be a hero, a noble Democrat standing up against the corrupt FCC she worked for. Clearly, free speech didn’t seem to be at much risk as she spoke out against the administration and the deal. The threats to democracy her and Melber fretted over seemed pretty irrelevant as they freely dissented.
As quoted earlier, Melber acknowledged that the FCC oversaw MSNBC’s productions. He also conceded that there was no concern that their programming would be changed by the FCC. So in the end, it became clear the conversation was nothing but fluff, an attempt to generate fear over the loss of free speech through a free and unhindered conversation.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read.
MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber
July 28, 2025
6:50 p.m. EST
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): The appearance of this wink-wink deal basically lets every other company and every other billionaire know that Trump is open for business.
(Cuts to live)
ARI MELBER: Senator Warren criticizing the approach there, including what's happening with the FCC. And we're now joined by an insider. Anna Gomez is a commissioner at the FCC and a Democratic appointee. Welcome.
ANNA GOMEZ: Thank you.
MELBER: When you look at the process and now approval of this merger of the CBS parent company, was this done in a traditional and proper way or not?
GOMEZ: What you're seeing here is the weaponization of the FCC as part of this administration's campaign of censorship and control. It exerted pressure on the company in order to gain ideological and financial concessions and favored coverage.
MELBER: So the FCC is not supposed to do that? I mean, not everyone follows it that closely, right? So there's plenty of politics in Congress. If we heard a similar pressure, you'd say, well, they pressed Congress and see where they can go. But in your time at the FCC, have you ever seen a deal go down like this?
GOMEZ: This is absolutely unprecedented. First of all, the First Amendment and the Communications Act prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcasters. And in this case, what you saw was new Paramount agreeing to self-center based on content that this administration doesn't like. And that is a direct violation of our First Amendment.
MELBER: Yeah, and so the Trump commissioner in charge, Carr, has been very blunt about this, more so than most – I should mention, as full disclosure, FCC is involved in overseeing aspects of companies, media companies we’re involved with as well, but that's not going to affect our independence or coverage here – Do you view his approach as partisan, as trying to abuse the FCC's regulatory oversight just to get political or MAGA goals?
GOMEZ: I think that this administration will use any leverage of power that it has to force corporations to bend to its will. And what's particularly worrisome, of course, is that we want a free and independent press because it is important to have checked power, not unchecked power, in this country. It's particularly important for our democracy.
MELBER: Yeah. And Chairman Carr, who I mentioned, not exactly a household name, I don't think. But here's some of what he was saying to our sister company, CNBC.
(...)
6:53 p.m. EST
MELBER: He doesn't want to apparently admit the exact deal, if there was one, but is it the FCC's job to course correct from the government what the press does? It seems antithetical to that job. And that question, plus a final one for you is, what, if anything, can be done about this? You may be objecting, but you're in the minority. What else do you think should be done?
GOMEZ: Well, as you said, I am in the minority, but my power is in my ability to dissent. Here's the truth: capitulation breeds capitulation , but courage breeds courage. We have seen plenty of organizations and corporations push back against this administration's attempt to censor and control, and we need more people to do that. We need people to stand up and push back, because we don't want this to become the status quo.
MELBER: Yeah, understood. And as I told viewers, you're an insider, you're dealing with this through the process that's not always front page news. And yet, from 60 Minutes to Colbert, we're seeing a lot of people, as you mentioned, speak up. You're saying that that is heard in the halls of power, which is interesting. Commissioner Gomez, thanks for joining us.