Something about the deal didn’t smell right.
A shadowy media acquisition tied to billionaire George Soros was quietly set in motion—one involving over 200 radio stations across the United States.
On paper, it looked like just another business transaction. But behind closed doors in Washington, alarm bells were ringing.
Now, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is briefing Congress—privately—on what could become one of the most consequential media ownership investigations in recent memory.
Is this just a corporate reshuffling?
Or is something far more calculated unfolding beneath the surface?
FCC Chairman Sounds Alarm Over Soros-Linked Radio Deal: Foreign Influence, Media Fairness Under Scrutiny
In a private session with the Republican Study Committee (RSC), FCC Chairman Brendan Carr raised serious questions about the recent acquisition of hundreds of radio stations by a company reportedly linked to financier George Soros. The transaction stems from the ongoing bankruptcy of Audacy, one of the largest radio broadcasters in the U.S.
Soros’s investment fund is said to have snapped up approximately 40% of Audacy’s debt, giving it significant leverage in the restructuring process. That level of control—and how quietly it happened—has rattled some lawmakers.
By law, foreign ownership of American broadcast media is capped at 25%, unless a waiver is explicitly approved by the FCC. And that’s where this case gets murky.
Chairman Carr, known for his vocal support of free speech and media transparency, indicated that standard regulatory protocols may have been “sidestepped or accelerated” during the deal’s approval.
“There are long-standing procedures for assessing foreign involvement in American media,” Carr told the House Oversight Committee. “This deal appears to have bypassed or fast-tracked some of those norms.”
A Clash Over Control—and Credibility
RSC Chairman Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) praised Carr for taking a firm stand:
“Chairman Carr continues to defend the core principles of media fairness, free expression, and national security. The American people deserve to know who controls the airwaves—and whether that control is being used to silence dissent.”
Pfluger accused Soros of leveraging his influence to manipulate media narratives and stifle conservative voices—a claim echoed by several members of Congress calling for tighter scrutiny on politically motivated media consolidation.
The deal has sparked broader fears about centralization in the media landscape, particularly when such moves occur under financial distress and away from public view. Many are asking: Who decides what Americans hear on their local airwaves?
Not Just Business—A Battle for the Narrative
While Soros’s team maintains that the investment is purely financial, critics aren’t convinced. With over 200 radio stations on the line—many in smaller, rural communities—lawmakers are concerned that local voices could be drowned out by a top-down agenda.
Supporters of Carr’s inquiry argue that this isn’t about partisanship. It’s about preserving journalistic integrity, respecting transparency, and making sure that foreign-linked interests don’t shape domestic media from the shadows.
Conclusion
The FCC’s deepening review of the Soros-tied radio station acquisition signals more than a regulatory hurdle—it marks a critical juncture in the fight over who controls the American media narrative. Chairman Brendan Carr’s behind-the-scenes briefings with lawmakers reflect a growing consensus: that the public deserves clarity, accountability, and a press that remains as free as it is diverse.
In an era where information is power, the question isn’t just who owns the stations—
It’s who controls the story.