GEOFF BENNETT: The Federal Communications Commission is ramping up the pressure on ABC and Disney by threatening to strip broadcasters of their station licenses.

The FCC says the review of the licenses is tied to Disney's DEI initiatives, but it's widely seen as retaliation in the ongoing battle between President Trump and ABC and its late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

On his show last week, Kimmel parodied Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner in advance, delivering a mock roast, which included this joke about the Trumps: JIMMY KIMMEL, Host, "Jimmy Kimmel Live": And, of course, our first lady, Melania, is here.

Look at -- well, it's so beautiful.

Mrs.

Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.

GEOFF BENNETT: Kimmel later said it was a joke about their age difference.

But following the shooting at the dinner, the first lady yesterday wrote a post on X criticizing Kimmel, saying he -- quote -- "deepens the political sickness in America and that people like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate."

That was echoed by the president, who said Disney should fire Kimmel, and then reiterated by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press Secretary: Just two days prior to the shooting, ABC's late-night host Jimmy Kimmel disgustingly called first lady Melania Trump an expectant widow.

Who in their right minds says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?

This kind of rhetoric about the president, the first lady and his supporters is completely deranged and it's unbelievable that the American people are consuming it night after night after night.

GEOFF BENNETT: For his part, Kimmel said last night that this is all a matter of free speech.

For more on all of this, we're joined now by CNN's chief media analyst, Brian Stelter, who's outside ABC's New York headquarters.

Brian, thanks for making time for us.

So, the FCC says the timing of this license review coming within 24 hours of President Trump criticizing Kimmel is coincidental.

How credible is that claim, given the sequence of events?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN: Well, I don't know any legal experts or FCC experts who believe that claim.

It is true there's been an open investigation of Disney involving the company's diversity practices, DEI programs.

That's been going on for quite some time.

And it is true that, just last week, Disney turned over some documents in that probe.

So that's going to give the Trump-aligned FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, the excuse or the rationale or the story that he can tell publicly about why this is happening.

But, listen, we have heard President Trump threaten local TV station licenses for more than a year now.

This is the first concrete action that the government's taking to follow up on those threats.

He is calling in -- Carr is calling in these licenses for early renewal, which is a way to challenge the licensees.

And it's going to cause a protracted legal battle, but the action today is being called by the lone Democrat on the FCC, Anna Gomez -- quote -- "the most egregious action the FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment to date."

She basically says Brendan Carr heard Trump's complaint, and, today, he's answering the president's call.

GEOFF BENNETT: The last time the FCC revoked a broadcast license related to a station's programming was in 1969.

There was a station in Jackson, Mississippi, which defended segregation on the air.

What are the realistic outcomes here?

Are we talking fines, conditions on licenses, or something more severe?

BRIAN STELTER: I think the process is mostly the punishment here.

It is unlikely that ABC would have its station licenses in eight cities where it owns stations, it's unlikely those would actually be revoked.

And if the FCC does try to revoke those licenses, again, it'll cause a protracted legal battle.

ABC can appeal.

And there's lots of legal rationale or legal history to believe that ABC would win.

But here's the thing.

Disney would have to be willing to fight.

That's the big question here.

Will Disney fight it out in court?

Now, today, the company came out with a statement that says it believes it's confident it will prevail and it did cite the First Amendment.

And my sources at Disney say they're willing to fight this First Amendment battle.

But will that be true over a period of months and maybe even years?

We don't know.

And, by the way, this might not just be about Kimmel or about DEI programs, for that matter.

In this building is the ABC daytime talk show "The View."

And FCC officials have also been scrutinizing "The View" over alleged equal time violations.

So, basically, if you're the head of Disney, you have government pressure from multiple directions right now.

This is a big test for the new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, who just took over for Bob Iger six weeks ago.

But so far, at least, my sources say he is willing to stiffen his spine and push back, because this sure looks like a First Amendment clash.

GEOFF BENNETT: And how are other broadcasters watching all of this, Brian, based on your reporting?

BRIAN STELTER: Well, right now, we're talking about a handful of big companies, and, of course, PBS as well, broadcasters that are licensed by the federal government.

Channels like the one I work, CNN, they're not licensed by the federal government.

But this action that we are seeing from the government, it does potentially have a chilling effect all across the mainstream media.

But I am heartened to say that, when we have seen these other First Amendment stress tests in America during Trump 2.0, America has been passing the test, maybe not with A-plus grade.

But remember last September, when Kimmel was briefly pulled off the air when there was another controversy?

And then he was brought back less than a week later.

That's an example of Disney recognizing that it has to defend its stars and defend the right of comedians and, yes, journalists too, to speak freely.

Normally, gosh, when we cover political leaders trying to silence a comedian, we're usually talking about authoritarian regimes.

But, right now, it's happening here in America.

GEOFF BENNETT: CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter, good to see you.

Thanks for being with us.

BRIAN STELTER: Thanks.