Newsmax CEO decries 'discrimination' after AT&T drops conservative network

Conservative media figures and former President Donald Trump have weighed in after AT&T's DirectTV cable service dropped the far right-wing Newsmax network from its channel lineup this week. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy decried the move as "a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship" in a blistering press release on the network's website.
In a statement to CNN, DirectTV said it had hoped to keep Newsmax, one of the many conservative stations to gain prominence during the Trump administration, but the network's demand for increased carriage fees would lead to "significantly higher costs that we would have to pass on to our broad customer base." Newsmax is still available to stream on YouTube, Roku, and on its website.
News that the channel was poised to be dropped by DirectTV had unleashed a barrage of bombastic threats and statements of solidarity from across the conservative spectrum. In a short video shared across his social media platforms, former Newsmax host Grant Stinchfield lamented that "Newsmax may have moved toward the center but it still has some very strong conservative voices" above a banner reading "ATT ATTACKS ALL CONSERVATIVES by ATTACKING NEWSMAX."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the move as well, claiming that "the Radical Left seems to have taken over the mind and soul of AT&T," adding: "I, for one, will be dropping all association with AT&T and DIRECTV, and I have plenty." And speaking with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Thursday, Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) went so far as to hint at congressional action over AT&T's business decision, saying "you know, it could go so far as to have their executives come to talk to us, but, and explain this to us in terms of both the timing and the intent. It could go as far as having public hearings."
Waltz, along with dozens of other Republican lawmakers, signed a letter to AT&T and DirectTV executives, alleging that the move to remove the channel amounted to liberal censorship of conservative media, citing DirectTV's continued hosting of other networks, including Vice.
Shortly after dropping Newsmax from its 13 million–strong subscriber base, DirectTV announced it would be adding another conservative network, The First, to its services, saying in a press release that "DIRECTV values different viewpoints and perspectives and will always work to preserve expansive choice." First TV features programming from former National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch, and onetime Fox News host Bill O'Reilly.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Broadway actors and musicians are on the brink of a strike
The explainer The show, it turns out, may not go on
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests?
Talking Points Trump administration efforts to portray Portland and Chicago as dystopian war zones have been met with dancing frogs, bare butts and a growing movement to mock MAGA doomsaying
-
‘Are we just going to stand in passive witness to the degradation of our democracy?’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
Venezuela: Does Trump want war?
Feature Donald Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel and waging a narco-terrorism campaign against the United States