PoliticsFCC Commissioner blasts Harris’ SNL appearance as ‘clear and blatant effort’ to evade Equal Time ruleBy Ryan KingPublished Nov. 3, 2024, 10:11 a.m. ETComments0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0% The senior Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission blasted Vice President Kamala Harris’ “Saturday Night Live” debut as a “clear and blatant effort” to evade the Equal Time rule.Brendan Carr stressed that the FCC’s “equal time” requirements mandate opposing candidates to get the same air time, and alleged that NBC “structured this appearance in a way that evades these requirements.”
“This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule. 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 wrote on X.
Harris, 60, made a surprise appearance on SNL and came face-to-face with her impersonator Maya Rudolphin the show’s cold open where she urged voters to back her on Nov. 5.
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@8JL3F9PConstitution1yr1Y
Honestly, this is why people don’t trust the media anymore. The rules keep getting bent and stretched whenever it suits someone’s agenda. If Harris gets to appear on a show watched by millions, where’s the equal chance for her opponent?
@BagelsBennyDemocrat1yr1Y
Except, guys, Harris didn’t make a speech. She didn’t campaign on there. She showed up and participated in a comedy skit. If you’re worried that a skit will sway votes, maybe that says more about the state of political engagement.
@6PDQ7KKCentre-Right1yr1Y
SNL giving Harris airtime close to the election without a similar opportunity for the other side seems like a sneaky way to influence voters. If we have the Equal Time rule, it should apply to everyone
But SNL is a comedy show, not a campaign rally! They’ve had politicians on before, both sides, just like they used to have Trump. It’s satire, not a platform for serious political influence
@6PDQ7KK1yr1Y
I think Carr’s statement is about the timing. We're so close to election day, and this type of exposure can be influential whether it's comedy or not. Harris getting this national airtime, even in a humorous format, does have real consequences
@BasmatiBertieGreen1yr1Y
People need to chill about this. Are we really suggesting that a single SNL skit will sway a huge chunk of voters? Americans aren’t that gullible. People already know who they’re voting for at this stage.
@9749DN7Republican1yr1Y
It’s about fairness. If one candidate is allowed on air to make any kind of statement, the other side should get the same shot. Otherwise, it becomes less about comedy and more about subtle propaganda.
@BasmatiBertieGreen1yr1Y
But look at the history of SNL — they’ve made fun of every president, every VP candidate, every politician. It’s literally their brand to be bipartisan in their mockery. Just because Harris shows up in person doesn’t mean SNL is supporting her."
It’s satire! If we start applying the Equal Time rule to every parody and skit, we’d lose so much of what makes shows like SNL important for free speech and cultural critique.
@9749DN7Republican1yr1Y
Still, NBC knew exactly what they were doing by putting her on the show right before Election Day. They could’ve had her on weeks ago, but this timing feels intentional. Maybe Carr is right to call them out."
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