Written by Timothy Lawson.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is preparing to meet with Republican lawmakers this Wednesday, February 27, 2025, to deliver an update on an ongoing investigation into George Soros and his sway over local radio stations across the United States. This briefing comes at a time when many Americans—perhaps those tuning into their car radios during the daily commute—are growing wary of concentrated media influence, especially linked to a figure as prominent and polarizing as Soros. What unfolds in this closed-door session could shape how we view the integrity of our airwaves moving forward.

Carr’s Briefing: Soros and the Audacy Acquisition

Chairman Carr will address the Republican Study Committee, a group comprising 175 House Republicans, during their annual private luncheon. His focus? The substantial role Soros Fund Management, an investment entity tied to the billionaire Democratic donor, has assumed in Audacy, a major radio broadcaster that emerged from bankruptcy last year. Audacy controls over 200 stations in 40 markets, reaching an estimated 165 million listeners—numbers that dwarf many competitors and amplify the stakes of this probe.

The deal itself unfolded rapidly in 2024. Soros Fund Management acquired $415 million of Audacy’s debt during its Chapter 11 reorganization—a move that positioned the firm as a leading shareholder once the restructuring dust settled. For everyday folks, this might sound like distant financial maneuvering, but consider this: those stations include talk shows and news outlets in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, places where opinions are shaped daily. Republicans, including Carr, have flagged the process as unusually swift, raising questions about whether the FCC bent its own rules to make it happen.

Carr isn’t just there to recap the transaction. He’s expected to outline broader FCC strategies to tackle what some see as left-leaning media dominance—a concern that resonates with voters who feel their perspectives get drowned out on the dial. This isn’t abstract policy talk; it’s about who controls the microphone in your community.

A Controversial Approval Process

The Soros-Audacy deal didn’t slip through unnoticed. Last September, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Representative Nick Langworthy launched an inquiry into the FCC’s actions under its prior Biden-appointed leadership. Their grievance? The agency greenlit the acquisition on a 3-2 party-line vote, bypassing what they call established protocols—specifically, a thorough review of foreign ownership stakes exceeding 25 percent, a threshold this deal crossed due to Soros Fund Management’s international investors.

Normally, such transactions trigger a detailed vetting process. The FCC, guided by the Communications Act, assesses whether foreign entities holding significant shares—here, over one-fourth of Audacy’s capital stock—serve the public interest. This involves scrutiny from national security agencies like the NSA and Justice Department, a step that can stretch months. Yet, in this case, the FCC opted for what Carr dubbed a “shortcut”—approving the licenses before the election, with a promise to revisit foreign ownership later via “special warrants” that delay full equity conversion. Comer and Langworthy argued this rushed timeline seemed tailored to boost Soros’s influence just as voters headed to the polls.

Take a step back. Audacy isn’t a small player—its stations include powerhouses like KCBS in San Francisco, recently probed for airing ICE agent locations, and WWL in New Orleans, a cultural fixture. When a single financier gains leverage over outlets reaching a third of the U.S. population, it’s not hard to see why lawmakers like Representative Chip Roy sounded alarms. In April 2024, Roy wrote to then-FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, pressing her on why the agency didn’t demand the usual rigor, warning that expediency shouldn’t trump oversight.

The numbers tell a story too. Audacy’s 220-plus stations dwarf iHeartRadio’s reach in some markets, airing everything from sports talk to conservative commentators like Sean Hannity. Handing Soros—a known backer of progressive causes—a major stake could shift that balance, especially if programming subtly tilts left. That’s the fear driving this investigation, and Carr’s testimony will likely unpack whether those concerns hold water.

Why Soros’s Role Raises Eyebrows

George Soros isn’t a stranger to controversy. The Hungarian-born billionaire has funneled billions into Democratic campaigns and organizations advocating open borders, criminal justice reform, and online speech curbs—positions that rankle conservatives. His Fund Management group’s move into Audacy isn’t its first media play either. In 2022, Soros backed Latino Media Network’s $60 million purchase of 18 Spanish-language stations, a deal that also drew FCC scrutiny but ultimately passed. Now, with Audacy, he’s poised to influence a far larger slice of the audio landscape—31 percent of U.S. media consumption, per industry data, outpacing even television.

What’s at stake here? Control over airwaves matters. Radio remains a trusted source for millions—think of the retiree in Ohio catching morning news or the trucker in Texas relying on talk shows for company. Soros’s firm, with its foreign ties, triggered FCC rules under Section 310(b)(4), which cap overseas ownership at 25 percent without special approval. Critics like Carr argue the agency sidestepped this, letting Soros assume a “major” shareholder role without the usual national security checks—checks that past bankruptcies, like Cumulus Media in 2018, underwent without such haste.

Then there’s the timing. The FCC’s approval came weeks before the November 2024 election, a period when airwaves buzz with political ads and commentary. Comer and Langworthy suggested this wasn’t coincidence—Soros, they claimed, sought to “consolidate control” over what Americans hear, potentially swaying discourse. Add recent incidents—like a Soros-linked KCBS broadcast revealing ICE agent positions amid gang territory sweeps—and the plot thickens. Was this a power grab masked as a bankruptcy bailout? Carr’s update might shed light.

Yet not everyone agrees it’s sinister. Audacy’s restructuring slashed $1.6 billion in debt, leaving it leaner at $350 million. Its CEO, David Field, stays on, and no licenses technically transferred to Soros himself—just to a reorganized Audacy where he holds sway. Some FCC insiders note similar fast-tracks occurred under Trump for iHeartMedia and others, suggesting this is less a conspiracy than a procedural flex. Still, the foreign ownership piece remains a sticking point—why rush it?

Our Take

Brendan Carr’s briefing to Republicans this Wednesday arrives at a pivotal moment, and here’s my assessment. The Soros-Audacy deal reeks of expediency over principle—the FCC’s decision to skip a full foreign ownership review before the election raises legitimate red flags. Public airwaves aren’t a playground for billionaires, whatever their politics, and 165 million listeners deserve transparency, not shortcuts. Comer, Roy, and Carr aren’t wrong to push back; if Soros’s influence can reshape what’s broadcast—from Seattle’s traffic updates to Miami’s talk radio—without proper vetting, we’ve got a problem.

That said, let’s not overstate it. Audacy’s a business, not a Soros puppet—its stations won’t flip overnight to progressive manifestos. The real issue is process: the FCC’s dodge of standard checks, especially with foreign stakes topping 25 percent, undermines trust. Carr’s probe could clarify whether this was favoritism or just bankruptcy pragmatism gone hasty. Either way, it’s a wake-up call—radio’s reach is vast, and who controls it shapes our national conversation. This investigation needs to dig deep, not just posture, because the answers affect us all, from the diner booth to the driver’s seat.