Brendan Carr says he’ll let Pete Hegseth decide whether TV networks can air the public execution

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said he does not expect the agency to intervene over whether TV networks can broadcast the planned firing-squad execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. He said the decision should rest with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, especially if the livestream appears online rather than on broadcast TV.

The comments highlight the regulatory gap between traditional public airwaves and online livestreaming, where the FCC has far less authority. If the Pentagon proceeds with a livestreamed execution, it could intensify debate over government transparency, media ethics, and platform responsibility around graphic state violence.