Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr sparred with Democrats at a House oversight hearing on Wednesday over claims that the agency has pressured news organizations and blurred the line between media regulation and political influence.

The hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee quickly turned into a broader fight over media consolidation, newsroom independence, and how far the FCC can go when enforcing its public interest authority. Lawmakers repeatedly returned to flashpoints involving late-night comedy, network news coverage, and high-profile merger approvals.