FCC Chairman Brendan Carr mocked “The View” on X Wednesday after co-host Sunny Hostin urged Democrats to flip the Senate during a discussion about Maine’s embattled Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner. This came as ABC argues the daytime program should remain exempt from federal political equal opportunity rules.
Carr said ABC was asking the FCC to treat the show like a traditional news program while Hostin openly pressed for a Democratic Senate majority.
“ABC is arguing to the FCC that The View is a bona fide news programâjust like Meet the Pressâand thus exempt from the political equal opportunity rules,” Carr said.
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Hostin’s remark came as “The View” panel discussed whether Platner, who faced mounting Democratic pressure over allegations he denies, should step aside in the race to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
“Were in an existential crisis. We need to flip the Senate,” Hostin said.
Hostin argued that Maine remained a key pickup opportunity for Democrats and said the party needed the right replacement candidate if Platner left the race.
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“I do believe that Susan Collins is beatable. And I think once they just have the right candidate with all the appropriate information, the Democrats really could take that seat and thats a very important seat,” Hostin said.
Hostin also said Platner should not have a role in picking who would replace him.
“No, he cant have any say in his replacement, I agree with you. I think thats ridiculous and I think its clear that he has to step down,” Hostin said.
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Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Trump White House communications director, said Democrats mishandled a race that has been viewed as central to their hopes of retaking the Senate.
“Im just struck by how bad Dems botched it. It always ran through Maine. That was always going to be an important pickup seat,” Farah Griffin said. “They had six years to recruit against Susan Collins and vet somebody and look into the tattoos that they might have.”
Sara Haines said Platner should step aside rather than try to influence the replacement process.
“I think he should get out, because I dont think… if hes not qualified for the job, hes not qualified to pick his successor,” Haines said.
Joy Behar was more blunt about Platner amid the panel’s discussion of his controversies.
“Look, they knew that he had this so-called Nazi tattoo on him. They knew that and he claims he didnt know… if I had a third nipple, I know its there, okay? This is the dumbest… Ive never heard anything so stupid. Based on that he should get out and shut up,” Behar said.
Whoopi Goldberg said the