Trump Social Media Liability Order Opens Partisan Divide at FCC

The Federal Communications Commission split along party lines on President Donald Trump’s social media executive order, previewing a potential battle to come as the agency weighs action.

Commissioners started reacting to the order before Trump signed it Thursday afternoon. Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said Trump wants to turn the FCC into “speech police.” Republican Commissioner Mike O’Rielly said he’s troubled that “voices are stifled by liberal tech leaders.”

The contrasting positions show the challenge the FCC faces as it decides whether to move forward—or not—with the executive order Trump signed Thursday. The agency lacks statutory authority to take the sort ...