In a recent interview, Sikes told me that current FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s threats against the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and TV networks are antithetical to the agency’s founding mission. Carr, he said, seems to be opposed to “too much free speech. In my view, the public interest is for free expression.”

In the 24 hours after ABC announced it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air, FCC chairman Brendan Carr has made a wave of media appearances, on CNBC, Fox News and a podcast, and he’s made more threats.

But it is unclear to what extent media companies might push back - at the potential expense of their bottom line.

Jimmy Kimmel has posted on social media for the first time since his show's suspension ahead of his return to the air.

Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” The Walt Disney Company wrote in a statement Monday.