FCC Commissioner Says NBC Avoided Equal Time Rule With Harris ‘SNL’ Spot

NBC’s recent decision to feature Vice President Kamala Harris on “Saturday Night Live” just days before the election has sparked criticism and accusations of partisanship, with Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr suggesting the timing was a calculated effort to bypass federal law. Carr argues that NBC’s move violates the Federal Communications Commission’s Equal Time rule, which mandates that broadcasters provide comparable airtime to all legally qualified candidates when one is given prominent exposure.

On social media, Carr accused NBC of using its platform to influence the election, calling the move “a blatant effort to evade” FCC regulations designed to ensure fairness in media coverage. “The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct—a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election,” Carr posted on X (formerly Twitter) prior to the broadcast. Although NBC did not explicitly endorse Harris, critics claim the appearance was an “in-kind donation” to her campaign by allowing her prime-time exposure without a similar offer to her opponents.

The Equal Time rule, established by the Communications Act of 1934, does not require identical programming but does mandate that broadcasters offer “comparable time and placement” to other candidates. In recent election cycles, NBC has generally adhered to this rule, as evidenced in 2015 when then-candidate Donald Trump hosted “SNL” during the Republican primary.

Following Trump’s appearance, NBC provided his competitors with equal airtime opportunities. However, Carr noted that NBC has made no similar gesture toward Trump’s campaign this year, leading some to question if the network intentionally bypassed the Equal Time rule by reserving Harris’s segment for the show’s final episode before the election.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels had previously stated that election laws made it “complicated” to feature active candidates. In a September interview, Michaels claimed that to comply with Equal Time, the show would avoid inviting major candidates, suggesting that appearances could occur after the election.This statement has been criticized as misleading, as Harris appeared in the show’s cold open this week. While Michaels claimed that featuring “only the main candidates” could violate regulations, Carr argued that NBC’s choice to highlight Harris without extending a similar offer to Trump raises serious concerns about FCC compliance.

Carr contends that NBC’s timing and lack of notice to Trump’s campaign demonstrate a strategic evasion of the Equal Time rule. “Federal law requires that broadcasters provide comparable time and placement to all legally qualified candidates when the Equal Time rule is triggered,” Carr wrote. He further criticized NBC’s apparent refusal to give Trump an equivalent opportunity, saying, “What comparable time and placement can they offer all other qualifying candidates?”

Although the FCC’s Equal Time provision does not compel broadcasters to directly seek out candidates, Carr argued that NBC’s omission of Trump—particularly in the final episode before the election—should prompt FCC action. As a Republican member of the FCC, Carr does not hold decision-making power, so his recommendation would require support from Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, a Biden appointee. Rosenworcel’s stance has been scrutinized, with Carr and others questioning her commitment to holding left-leaning broadcasters accountable.

This latest controversy comes on the heels of other FCC-related issues, including Rosenworcel’s recent approval of Democratic donor George Soros’ acquisition of over 200 radio stations, despite national security concerns and an expedited process without customary reviews. In light of these actions, Carr and other Republicans have called for closer monitoring of FCC oversight.

Harris’s appearance on “SNL” featured her alongside actress Maya Rudolph, who portrayed a fictionalized version of the vice president in a mock mirror reflection skit. The segment, which highlighted Harris’s talking points, received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it a “cringe fest.” Conservative commentators, including Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung, accused Harris of mimicking a 2015 segment in which Trump sat opposite comedian Jimmy Fallon in a similar fake mirror scene. “Kamala continues her pattern of ripping off Trump,” radio host Ari Hoffman commented, echoing accusations that Harris lacks originality and borrows campaign ideas and style points from opponents.

Cheung also pointed to Harris’s recent policy shifts, including her adoption of Trump’s proposal to eliminate taxes on tipped income, as evidence of what he sees as her campaign’s lack of substance. “In addition to stealing policy ideas, @KamalaHarris has now resorted to stealing comedy skits,” he wrote, claiming that Harris’s reliance on recycled ideas reflects a pattern in her political career.

Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller weighed in, describing Harris’s appearance as “pathetic” and accusing her of “cosplaying with her elitist friends on ‘Saturday Night Leftists.’” Miller also criticized her policies, alleging that they have caused hardship for Americans. “Kamala Harris has nothing substantive to offer the American people, so that’s why she’s living out her warped fantasy … as her campaign spirals down the drain into obscurity,” Cheung said to Fox News. He further contended that President Trump’s policies could reverse the negative impacts he attributed to Harris.

Although NBC has yet to address these criticisms directly, Carr and other Republican officials are calling for an FCC investigation. Whether Rosenworcel will act on these concerns remains uncertain, but Carr believes that NBC’s handling of Harris’s appearance necessitates scrutiny. By avoiding Equal Time requirements, he argues, NBC risks eroding public trust in media neutrality and amplifying the already intense scrutiny surrounding media bias in this election cycle.

As the campaign season reaches its final stretch, the issue has become a focal point for Republicans who contend that liberal media outlets exploit their platforms to sway public opinion. This controversy underscores the complex relationship between media networks and political campaigns, particularly regarding how influential prime-time appearances can be in shaping voter perceptions in the critical days leading up to an election.