Quick Hit:

The FCC has approved a deal that would allow George Soros to acquire over 200 Audacy radio stations, despite concerns from Trump-nominated FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. Soros' group received approval without undergoing the standard national security review process.

Key Details:

• The FCC approved the Soros deal through a partisan vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposing.

• Commissioner Nathan Simington criticized the process, labeling it "fast-tracked."

• The acquisition allows Soros to potentially influence over 165 million Americans through these radio stations.

Diving Deeper:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has moved forward with approving a deal for billionaire George Soros to acquire over 200 Audacy radio stations, despite strong objections from Republican-appointed Commissioner Nathan Simington. The decision came just weeks before the 2024 presidential election, raising concerns about the potential political influence Soros could exert through these stations.

According to the New York Post, the FCC’s approval allows Soros’ group to reach an estimated 165 million Americans in 40 markets. The vote saw the FCC's three Democratic commissioners backing the deal, while its two Republican members, including Simington, voted against it.

Simington, a Trump nominee, criticized the process, calling it a "fast-track" maneuver that bypassed the usual national security review. He noted that the deal was approved without a thorough public interest analysis, with just a 48-hour notice given to commissioners. “Not a single Commissioner outside of the Chairwoman was invited to even think about the issue,” Simington told Fox News Digital.

George Soros’ acquisition comes at a time of heightened political stakes. His organizations have long been involved in funding left-wing causes, with millions spent to shift key states like Texas toward Democratic control. The deal has also drawn scrutiny due to Soros’ use of foreign investment to finance the bid, which typically would trigger a longer review process to evaluate national security implications.

While some within the FCC argue that similar processes were followed under the Trump administration during bankruptcy proceedings of other companies, the timing and lack of comprehensive review have caused concern, particularly from Commissioner Brendan Carr. Carr, another Republican on the commission, voiced his alarm on The Ingraham Angle, stating that many of the stations involved air conservative talk radio, and the FCC should not be creating a "Soros shortcut."

If finalized, Soros would become a significant shareholder in one of the largest radio networks in the U.S., potentially shaping media influence as the nation prepares for the 2024 election.

"George Soros" by World Economic Forum licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)