Craig Melvin Appears on “Today” 1 Day After Intruder Broke into Studio in Security Breach

Craig Melvin Appears on “Today” 1 Day After Intruder Broke into Studio in Security Breach Yamillah HurtadoFri, July 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM UTC 0 Craig MelvinCredit: Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images Craig Melvin returned to the anchor desk one day after a shocking intruder incident at Today On Thursday, July 16, an intruder broke into Today’s studio in New York City The man was detained by police after confronting Melvin Craig Melvin is back at the Today anchor desk one day after a shocking intruder incident in the morning show’s New York City studio. He began the 7 a.m.

Craig Melvin Appears on “Today” 1 Day After Intruder Broke into Studio in Security Breach

Yamillah HurtadoFri, July 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM UTC

0

Craig MelvinCredit: Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images -

Craig Melvin returned to the anchor desk one day after a shocking intruder incident at Today

On Thursday, July 16, an intruder broke into Today’s studio in New York City

The man was detained by police after confronting Melvin

Craig Melvin is back at the Today anchor desk one day after a shocking intruder incident in the morning show’s New York City studio.

He began the 7 a.m. broadcast alongside Laura Jarrett. Co-anchor Savannah Guthrie announced on July 16 that she would be off for the next “few” weeks to film her new Wordle project.

Craig Melvin on the ‘Today’ show on April 24, 2024.Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

On Thursday, July 16, a man broke into the studio at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City at about 9 a.m. The intruder allegedly confronted co-host Craig Melvin, yelling racial slurs. A law enforcement source told PEOPLE he allegedly also asked for Al Roker after slipping past studio security.

The man was later identified as Andrew Truelove, 41, and was charged with hate crime - burglary, hate crime - menacing, hate crime - criminal trespass, and harassment, the NYPD said Thursday. Truelove has not yet been arraigned.

Court records indicate Truelove has a criminal history. In June 2026, he pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief in connection with a case involving damage to multiple vehicles. He was sentenced to six months in jail, five years of probation and ordered to pay $375 in fees. It is unclear how much of that sentence he served before Thursday’s alleged incident.

He also has three pending criminal cases in New York. In those cases, he has pleaded not guilty to charges including misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass on railroad property and trespassing.

Following the incident, Melvin shared a statement in a July 16 Instagram post.

“Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours,” Melvin wrote. “I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow.”

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Melvin had previously announced he has a vacation planned to begin on Monday, July 20.

— sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

NBC News released a statement on Thursday confirming that “there was a security incident this morning at the Today show studio.”

The statement said the man “approached” Melvin, “who alerted security,” and the intruder was then “detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident.”

“There was no altercation, and no one was injured. Today is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. NBC and Today take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously,” the statement continued.

“We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”

Carson Daly, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Roker on the ‘Today’ show on Jan. 15, 2025.Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

The NYPD said in a statement that at approximately 9:19 a.m. “it was reported to officers that there was a disorderly person inside 30 Rockefeller Center, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct. Officers responded and placed an unidentified individual into custody. There were no injuries reported. The investigation remains ongoing.”

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Craig Melvin Appears on “Today” 1 Day After Intruder Broke into Studio in Security Breach

Craig Melvin Appears on “Today” 1 Day After Intruder Broke into Studio in Security Breach Yamillah HurtadoFri, July 17, 2026 a...

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Largest male great white shark detected on Atlantic coast emerges near vacation spot

Largest male great white shark detected on Atlantic coast emerges near vacation spot Julia MustoFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM UTC 72 The great white shark known as ‘Contender’ is tagged in January 2025. His GPS device triggered an alert this week (OCEARCH) The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The largest male white shark ever tagged in the western North Atlantic was just detected near a top East Coast tourist destination.

Largest male great white shark detected on Atlantic coast emerges near vacation spot

Julia MustoFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM UTC

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The great white shark known as ‘Contender’ is tagged in January 2025. His GPS device triggered an alert this week (OCEARCH)

The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

The largest male white shark ever tagged in the western North Atlantic was just detected near a top East Coast tourist destination.

The GPS tracking device on the 14-foot-long shark known as “Contender” triggered an alert Thursday evening near North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The device pings a satellite when it is out of the water, helping the non-profit to track the sharks.

This time, it was not exposed long enough to determine Contender’s exact location, but a spokesperson for OCEARCH told The Sun the nearly 1,700-pound shark is likely heading up the East Coast as a part of sharks’ annual summer migration.

“White sharks in the western North Atlantic typically migrate north and spend the summer and early fall foraging in the waters of Cape Cod or Atlantic Canada,” the spokesperson said.

The region offers sharks comfortable water temperatures, and grey seals and large fish species to feast on.

Experts say that white sharks – white sharks and great white sharks are the same species – feed on schools of menhaden near the shore of New York’s Long Island, for example.

The last location for Contender was around the same area in April, when the tag stayed out of the water long enough for the researchers to pinpoint him.

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Contender is a big white shark — but by no means the biggest.

Deep Blue, the largest known white shark who has been seen swimming off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, is around 20 feet and is estimated to weigh 4,500 pounds.

The inspiration behind the book that led to filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s 1975 summer blockbuster film Jaws, these sharks swim thousands of miles around the world.

Marine conservationist and diver Ocean Ramsey swims with the largest known great white ‘Deep Blue’ in August 2020 (AFP/Getty Images)

Contender was first tagged in January last year off the coast of Florida and Georgia.

Since then, he’s traveled more than 7,000 miles in the Atlantic Ocean, swimming between Florida and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Canada.

The tag on Contender is expected to provide real-time data about his movements for five years.

“Every ping from Contender gives us a window into the life of a mature male white shark — how he moves, feeds and contributes to the population’s recovery,” Chris Fischer, OCEARCH’s founder, said in a release last year.

Contender was named in honor of the boat company Contender Boats, which partners with OCEARCH.

For more sharks, check out the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, which begins July 26.

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Largest male great white shark detected on Atlantic coast emerges near vacation spot

Largest male great white shark detected on Atlantic coast emerges near vacation spot Julia MustoFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:23 P...

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Why Trump Is Calling For These Major TV Networks to Lose Their Licenses

Why Trump Is Calling For These Major TV Networks to Lose Their Licenses Tiago VenturaFri, July 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM UTC 187 Monitors display President Donald Trump during an address to the nation in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on July 16, 2026. —Aaron Schwartz––Getty Images President Donald Trump accused U.S. TV networks that opted not to broadcast his election security speech of being engaged in a “plot” and said they should lose their licenses.

Why Trump Is Calling For These Major TV Networks to Lose Their Licenses

Tiago VenturaFri, July 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM UTC

187

Monitors display President Donald Trump during an address to the nation in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on July 16, 2026. —Aaron Schwartz––Getty Images

President Donald Trump accused U.S. TV networks that opted not to broadcast his election security speech of being engaged in a “plot” and said they should lose their licenses.

“In a rare move, NBC and ABC 'Fake' News have both said that they would not cover this speech. They knew what it was about,” Trump said during his 25-minute address Thursday night.

As he made a series of allegations about foreign interference in U.S. elections, Trump claimed the major TV networks “are part of a plot, they want to continue this fraud, for whatever reason.”

Doubling down on his stance, he said: “Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses.”

The White House’s Rapid Response social media account also lashed out at CNN for opting against a live broadcast.

NBC and ABC carried Trump’s remarks on their streaming channels, while other networks including CBS, MS NOW, and Fox News chose to broadcast part or all of the speech.

TV networks are not required to provide a live broadcast of Presidential speeches. Some have occasionally opted not to air addresses from former Presidents, including Joe Biden's 2022 speech on threats to democracy.

Broadcasters may also be wary of airing Trump's claims about election interference following Fox News' $787.5 million defamation settlement over false claims related to the 2020 election.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont criticized Trump’s threat against the major TV networks.

“Pathetically, in true authoritarian fashion, he even threatened to revoke the licenses of ABC and NBC because they would not cover his speech. Insane,” Sanders said. “Too many Americans have fought and died to defend American democracy.”

Trump’s lambasting of the TV networks comes after months of tension including threats against late-night TV hosts and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigations led by chairman Brendan Carr.

Last August, Trump signaled his support for revoking the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC, claiming the media outlets were an “arm of the Democrat party.”

Despite longstanding legal protections for press freedom that limit such action, in December, Trump again argued that certain TV stations should lose their licenses over perceived political leanings.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has also engaged in a long-standing feud with late-night TV.

Last September, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked Trump for his response to a reporter’s question over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. When Trump’s response focused on construction of the White House ballroom rather than the conservative commentator's death, Kimmel joked: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend… This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” The comedian then went on to say that the “MAGA gang” was trying to “score political points” following Kirk’s assassination.

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Following his comments, ABC announced it would suspend Kimmel’s show indefinitely—a decision Trump celebrated, saying: “Great news for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is canceled. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

When Kimmel’s show returned to air a few days later, Trump strongly criticized the network over its decision.

More recently, both Trump and First Lady Melania called for Kimmel to be fired over a skit the comedian delivered about the White House Correspondents' Dinner—a bit which was filmed and televised days before this year’s event, which involved a shooting incident.

Trump also celebrated the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show when it was first announced last year.

Colbert’s show was canceled by CBS due to financial reasons, according to the network. But others voiced concerns that it was instead done due to pressure from the Trump Administration, especially given the timing. The cancellation was announced days after Colbert, in his opening monologue, addressed how CBS’ parent company, Paramount, had reached a $16 million settlement with Trump over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe,” referencing the then-pending sale of Paramount to Skydance Media, which required the approval of the Trump Administration.

The FCC under Carr, a Trump ally, has also sparked debate with its investigations.

In February, it was reported the FCC was looking into whether ABC's The View had violated equal time rules for interviews with political candidates after interviewing a Democratic Texas Senate.

ABC has argued it still qualifies as a “bona fide” news program, making it exempt from equal-time requirements for political candidates.

In a filing submitted July 6, ABC argued the issue had already been settled, pointing to a 2002 FCC decision granting the program that exemption.

Carr, however, defended the agency's review during an interview on July 10, stating: “The baseline position is that all political candidates should get equal time on these types of shows. But we'll work through all these issues as they arise.”

Carr added that the FCC had not yet made a decision in regards to The View and whether it is a “bona fide” news program.

Prior to the final episode of his show airing in May this year, Colbert sparred with his then-network CBS, accusing them of refusing to broadcast his interview with Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate, out of fear of the FCC.

CBS denied this portrayal, arguing that The Late Show had been “provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.”

Hitting back, Colbert—who instead opted to release his interview on the show’s YouTube channel—told his viewers: “CBS told me unilaterally that I had to abide by the equal time rules, something I have never been asked to do for an interview in the 21 years of this job.”

“We obeyed our network and put the interview on YouTube, where it’s gotten millions of views,” said Colbert. “I wish we could have put it on the show, where no one would have watched it.”

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Why Trump Is Calling For These Major TV Networks to Lose Their Licenses

Why Trump Is Calling For These Major TV Networks to Lose Their Licenses Tiago VenturaFri, July 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM UTC 187 Monit...

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Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution

Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC 63 States that don&x27;t comply with new Trump administration election security edicts and agree to use a federal database for identifying noncitizen voters will not receive federal reimbursement for elections, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced July 17. Uncooperative state officials could face fines or prison time, if Homeland Security uncovers that noncitizens cast ballots, Mullin added.

Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution

Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC

63

States that don't comply with new Trump administration election security edicts and agree to use a federal database for identifying noncitizen voters will not receive federal reimbursement for elections, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced July 17.

Uncooperative state officials could face fines or prison time, if Homeland Security uncovers that noncitizens cast ballots, Mullin added.

“We’re saying that the machines had to be secured and that your voter restoration list needs to be scrubbed,” Mullin told reporters. “I will tell you if the states choose not to participate – we will make sure that we make those states a priority to look at who voted in their states and hold the election officials accountable."

Mullin made his threat a day after President Donald Trump announced during a prime time White House speech that a “stunning investigation" by DHS found 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections. DHS, according to Mullin, found noncitizens registered to vote in California, Pennsylvania, Nevada and New Jersey, using publicly available information.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in U.S. elections. At the same time, there is no evidence that noncitizen voting has ever been significant enough to impact an election’s outcome, according to a 2026 Bipartisan Policy Center report. States routinely review the accuracy of their voter rolls and sporadic cases of noncitizen voting are investigated and prosecuted.

Election experts pushed back against the Trump administration, saying its methodology was flawed and relied on commercial data that has a lot of inconsistency, rather than state voter files.

"Commercial data does not allow comparison to the public voter file in any conceivable way because of common names, because you lack personal identifiable information – unique identifiers like drivers license numbers or Social Security" numbers, said David Becker, a former Justice Department lawyer who leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, a nonprofit. "You don't even have dates of birth in some cases."

"I predict almost all of them are actually citizens, and actually the states will be breaking federal law by removing them from the voter list at the urging of the federal government."

No reimbursements

The impact of Mullin's threat may not be as great as some might expect. He did not specify which federal grant would be withheld. And his agency did not respond to a request for more information.

"This is a laughable threat," Becker said. "There is no significant pool of federal grant money appropriated, so this threat has no teeth for any state. None of them are expecting any significant federal funds for elections."

While the federal government has provided some grants or other resources for election administration, that aid has been inconsistent. When available, funding most often comes through the federal Election Assistance Commission. Last week, Trump fired two of its three commissioners, leaving the panel without the quorum needed to make decisions ahead of the midterms.

The Help America Vote Act grants distributed by the commission for the 2025 fiscal year totaled $55 million, according to former Commissioner Ben Hovland, who was fired by Trump. The money was split among all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. The year before, the grants totaled $15 million, Hovland said.

"We saw the administration spend that on the lining of the reflecting pool," he said.

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Hovland pointed to an MIT Election Data and Science Lab study that showed state and local governments spend as much as $6 billion to administer elections.

In most states, the cost of elections is borne primarily by counties and local jurisdictions, even though state and federal races are on the ballot along with local races. In large part, state and local governments pay for elections through taxes.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said most federal election-related grants go to local law enforcement, not to election administration at the state or local level. It is not money states rely on, she said. Griswold added she expects Mullin's threat to be quickly challenged in court, if he tries to withhold money.

Data limitations

DHS's finding that 278,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in federal elections comes from publicly available or commercial information, in large part because many states have refused to share their voter rolls with the federal government.

The Justice Department demanded voter rolls from all 50 states over the past two years. At least 17 Republican-led states complied. But officials in many other states – led by both Republicans and Democrats – refused, citing privacy laws against sharing personal information and the lack of federal authority over the lists.

The DOJ has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for unredacted lists. It has lost all 16 of the lawsuits that have been resolved. Many have since been appealed.

SAVE system

Mullin said DHS also discovered 28,000 noncitizens and 400,000 dead people on the rolls from 23 states who used the Trump administration’s newly modified Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, an information clearinghouse that combines citizenship data with information from the Social Security Administration.

In late June, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from using the new system, saying it was knowingly providing inaccurate data to states that are now “actively” and “haphazardly” purging purported noncitizens from voter rolls.

“The federal government has knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote,” U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan wrote in a 75-page ruling. “This Court cannot stand idly by while that happens.”

More: A road trip to save democracy? These judges say it's worth a shot

Mullin referred to the decision as coming from an "activist judge."

“Any judge and any God-fearing individual that loves this country should want to make sure that our elections are secure,” he said.

In July, a federal judge in Florida ordered Mullin's department to continue letting some states use the system, setting up a conflict that will likely push the fight to an appellate court.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution

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Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution

Feds threaten state election officials with funding cuts, prosecution Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC ...

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‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins Car After Nearly Perfect Game

‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins Car After Nearly Perfect Game Brittany SimsFri, July 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM UTC 0 "The Price Is Right" contestant Justin Buckner on June 1, 2026 The Price Is Right/Instagram He got a new car and some gas money to go along with it! A The Price Is Right contestant had fans screaming in the audience after his nearperfect game. Justin Buckner won the second item up for bid on June 1. His win was posted to the game show‘s Instagram on July 16. “He didn’t even need all the chances!” the post was captioned. “He didn’t hesitate once.

‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins Car After Nearly Perfect Game

Brittany SimsFri, July 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM UTC

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"The Price Is Right" contestant Justin Buckner on June 1, 2026 - The Price Is Right/Instagram

He got a new car and some gas money to go along with it! A The Price Is Right contestant had fans screaming in the audience after his near-perfect game.

Justin Buckner won the second item up for bid on June 1. His win was posted to the game show‘s Instagram on July 16. “He didn’t even need all the chances!” the post was captioned. “He didn’t hesitate once.”

Buckner bid $601 on an Omega juicer and four crystal glasses. He had the highest bid and won it, moving on to play a game for a bigger prize.

The Price Is Right contestant played Money Game for a KIA K4. Money Game is a game played for a car and smaller money amounts.

In this game, the contestant had to try to correctly get the price of the car. If the numbers are correct, there will be a half of a car symbol behind it. If it is wrong, there is a dollar sign behind it, but they still win that amount of cash.

The contestant is given the third digit in the car. They have to figure out the first two and last two. For Buckner, the middle number was four.

“Don’t get four wrong. Once you get four wrong, the game is over,” host Drew Carey said.

The contestant chose 2 as the first two numbers, and he was correct. The crowd went crazy and started shouting numbers at him.

He listened to one of them and picked 54. Sadly, that was wrong, but he still won $54.

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Buckner chose 86 for the last two numbers. He was correct, so he won the car. This made the vehicle $23,786. The contestant threw his hands on top of his head, jumped up and down, and then hugged Carey.

“Got himself a brand-new Kia and he got the $54. First half a tank is on us,” Carey said.

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'The Price Is Right' Model Devin Goda Shows off Family Farm, Pets & More

“Near perfection playing but happy that he won the car + $54,” a fan said in the comments.

“Wow! That was fast! I think he would have won that even faster, but he wanted that extra $54 for gas,” another said.

“Congrats! That was great!” a third added.

Even though Buckner spun an .80 on the Showcase wheel, it wasn’t enough to advance him to the Showcase, as his opponents spun a .90 and $1.00.

The Price Is Right, Season 55, fall 2026, CBS

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‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins Car After Nearly Perfect Game

‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins Car After Nearly Perfect Game Brittany SimsFri, July 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM UTC 0 "The Pri...

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Lawmakers demand answers after 'bombshell' report about ICE officer shooting in Maine

Lawmakers demand answers after &x27;bombshell&x27; report about ICE officer shooting in Maine By LISA MASCARO Fri, July 17, 2026 at 6:22 PM UTC 11 WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic members of Congress are demanding answers about Homeland Security&x27;s vetting and training of immigration enforcement agents after it was disclosed that the ICE officer involved in a deadly shooting this week in Maine had a history of mental health issues and violent behavior.

Lawmakers demand answers after 'bombshell' report about ICE officer shooting in Maine

By LISA MASCARO Fri, July 17, 2026 at 6:22 PM UTC

11

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic members of Congress are demanding answers about Homeland Security's vetting and training of immigration enforcement agents after it was disclosed that the ICE officer involved in a deadly shooting this week in Maine had a history of mental health issues and violent behavior.

The reported Thursday that David Brouillette, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine, is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, according to several of his close relatives.

The AP reached out to congressional leaders and several key lawmakers of both major political parties for response.

The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said Brouillette’s history of violence and mental health issues and the death in Biddeford, Maine, “directly call into question the supposed vetting and training ICE does of its recruits.”

“This senseless tragedy must be investigated and the officer responsible should be taken off our streets and face justice for his actions,” Thompson said in a statement to the AP.

Brouillette didn’t respond to text messages or an email seeking comment, but three relatives who said they had spoken to him since the shooting, including an ex-wife and a daughter, said he told them he acted in self-defense.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who led a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year as Democrats tried to impose restraints on immigration enforcement operations, said the consequences of failing to put guardrails on ICE are now being measured in lives.

President Donald Trump's administration "rushed 12,000 agents onto our streets without ensuring they were fit to carry a badge and a gun — and Republicans gave this rogue agency vast power and no accountability,” Schumer said in a statement. “They empowered ICE. Now they must work with us to prevent more killings.”

The report on Brouillette’s troubling past comes as the Department of Homeland Security has been on a hiring spree, fueled by vast sums of money from Republicans in Congress to help carry out Trump’s mass deportation agenda. It raises fresh questions about the department's efforts to quickly hire, vet, train and dispatch recruits who are being sent to patrol communities across America.

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Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the Republican chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, referred back to her prior statement that “an impartial investigation into the shooting in Biddeford needs to proceed, as the details surrounding this tragedy are important.”

Collins had said earlier that it is “extremely unfortunate” that the agent did not have a body-worn camera.

The senator ensured $20 million for expanded use of body-worn cameras and $2 million for de-escalation training as part of the Homeland Security funding bill that Congress approved to end the department shutdown.

“The Democratic government shutdown delayed enactment and implementation of these important safety measures,” she said.

At least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since Trump launched the crackdown after retaking office, including 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, the Colombian national who was shot and killed by Brouillette on Monday while in his car near his home in the coastal Maine city of Biddeford.

“This bombshell is absolutely appalling — exactly the intolerable danger that we feared as a result of arrest quotas and inadequate training,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in a statement to the AP.

“This agent clearly should never have had a gun — let alone one provided to him by the United States government. And now a man is dead. I’m going to continue demanding answers and accountability,” he said.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said Trump and his administration have encouraged ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection “to enter and terrorize our communities, even if those agents are untrained, improperly vetted, or lack experience.”

“The killing of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was horrifying,” he said in a statement to the AP, “and there must be a credible, independent, and transparent investigation so that those responsible are held accountable.”

The Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York, referred to his request earlier in the week that the department brief lawmakers from both parties on ICE’s use of force policies and the status of body camera deployment.

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Lawmakers demand answers after 'bombshell' report about ICE officer shooting in Maine

Lawmakers demand answers after &x27;bombshell&x27; report about ICE officer shooting in Maine By LISA MASCARO Fri, July...

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Trump wants ABC and NBC licenses revoked. Can that happen?

Trump wants ABC and NBC licenses revoked. Can that happen? BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:54 PM UTC 11 President Donald Trump called for ABC and NBC’s licenses to be revoked over not airing his July 16 primetime address focused on election security. Toward the end of his nearly 26minute long address from the White House, Trump criticized the networks for not broadcasting it live, alleging that the decision was made “because of the fact that they don’t like the topic.” “Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses,” he said.

Trump wants ABC and NBC licenses revoked. Can that happen?

BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:54 PM UTC

11

President Donald Trump called for ABC and NBC’s licenses to be revoked over not airing his July 16 primetime address focused on election security.

Toward the end of his nearly 26-minute long address from the White House, Trump criticized the networks for not broadcasting it live, alleging that the decision was made “because of the fact that they don’t like the topic.”

“Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses,” he said. “They use our public, multi-billion dollar in value, airways for absolutely no money. They pay nothing. All we want is honesty in our elections and honesty in reporting.”

The networks did air his speech on their respective streaming platforms and provide coverage of his statements afterward.

NBC declined to comment. USA TODAY reached out to ABC.

Experts told USA TODAY that while the Federal Communications Commission has limited power to revoke broadcast licenses, doing so over a network’s editorial decision-making would be unconstitutional.

“The First Amendment doesn’t permit the president to demand coverage by royal decree,” said Robert Corn-Revere, chief counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “This is First Amendment law 101.”

Here’s what to know.

How has the FCC responded to Trump's comments?

The FCC did not return USA TODAY’s request for comment on July 17. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has previously threatened broadcast licenses over networks’ Iran war coverage, had not issued a public statement on the matter as of early that afternoon.

Commissioner Anna Gomez, appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2023, said Trump’s call to revoke licenses was “ridiculous” in a statement provided to USA TODAY.

She said the FCC “has no authority to punish a station for refusing to air a blatantly political speech.”

She reiterated those sentiments in a July 17 X post, which also included screenshots of news headlines reporting the networks’ previous decisions to not air speeches from Bidenor former President Barack Obama during their respective terms.

“This is a naked attempt to bully broadcasters, and the FCC should have no part in it,” Gomez said.

Her response echoed previous statements in which she has accused the FCC of engaging in partisan politics to support Trump’s objectives.

Can the FCC revoke licenses over not airing Trump’s speech?

Not according to First Amendment experts.

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“The government is not in charge of deciding what is newsworthy and what isn’t newsworthy, what needs to be carried live and what doesn’t,” Institute for Free Speech President David Keating said.

But given Carr’s past statements and the FCC’s previous actions against broadcasters under the Trump administration, both Keating and Corn-Revere said an attempt to pull licenses over editorial decision-making is possible.

“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he (Carr) tried it, but I don’t think it would be successful in the end,” Keating said.

The process, however, would still be time-consuming and costly for the networks, he said.

What actions has the FCC already taken against ABC?

Trump’s comments add to ongoing discussion surrounding the future of ABC’s broadcast licenses.

The FCC initiated an “enforcement action” against the Disney-owned ABC in February after state Rep. James Talarico, D-Texas, appeared on “The View” while running in the state’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Carr has characterized the matter as a procedural issue, saying ABC hadn’t submitted the proper paperwork declaring an appearance by a political candidate that would open the window for an opposing candidate to request “comparable time and placement.”

The FCC began accepting public input as to whether "The View" should be exempt from the requirement to offer equal broadcast opportunities to political candidates in May. More than 50,000 comments had been filed by late June, when ABC launched an on-air campaign to encourage public participation in the matter.

The network accused the FCC of "chilling speech ahead of the fast-approaching 2026 general election” in a July 6 legal filing.

In a separate matter, the FCC in April ordered the Disney-owned ABC to file license renewals for its eight television stations by late May – years ahead of schedule. The order said the commission was investigating the stations “for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules, including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”

Disney said in response that it was “confident” its “record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels.”

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at bjfrank@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.Funders do not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump wants licenses pulled after networks decline to air speech

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Trump wants ABC and NBC licenses revoked. Can that happen?

Trump wants ABC and NBC licenses revoked. Can that happen? BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAYFri, July 17, 2026 at 6:54 PM UTC 11 Presiden...

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