President Trump is trying to use a federal agency to punish a journalist for reporting something true he didn't like.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he wants Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr and the commission to "take this Threat to our Country very seriously" after Meet the Press host Kristen Welker said his 2026 primary endorsements had "mixed results." Welker made the comment during a local pre-show segment on NBC's Washington, DC station, not during the network's main broadcast. Explaining her point on NBC4 Washington, she said: "He, of course, has endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries. He's had some mixed results. But most recently, his pick of Senator Darline Graham... was successful in her primary battle," according to Mediaite.

Welker's comment lines up with other reporting. According to NBC News, six of the candidates Trump endorsed were defeated in House and governor's races during the August primaries, and a USA Today analysis found Trump-endorsed candidates for governor have won only 79 percent of their primary races this cycle.

Here's the core problem: the FCC has no legal authority to punish an individual broadcast journalist over a comment like this. The agency regulates station licenses — it doesn't referee what a host says on air. Threatening a reporter with a federal investigation for accurate, sourced reporting sets a dangerous precedent, one that could be used against journalists covering any president, of any party, whenever their reporting is unwelcome.

A free press only works if reporters can share facts — even unflattering ones — without fearing retaliation from the government. Sign the petition to tell the FCC to reject this pressure and defend journalists' right to report the news without political interference.