In a move that has 'checks and balances' written all over it, ABC and its corporate overlord Disney have filed a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, accusing the agency of running a 'retaliatory campaign' against their networks over the content they dare to broadcast. The suit, filed in federal court on Tuesday, alleges the FCC is 'punishing ABC for its speech' by threatening its broadcast licenses - because nothing says 'free press' like threatening to pull the plug on a network that airs Jimmy Kimmel's monologues.

The whole kerfuffle is the latest escalation in the ongoing feud between ABC and the Trump administration, which has been less than thrilled with the network's political coverage - particularly the late-night jabs from Kimmel and the daytime panel on The View. Back in February, the FCC opened an investigation into whether The View gave political candidates equal airtime (the horror!), and by April, it ordered Disney-owned ABC stations to file for early license renewals. Because nothing says 'government efficiency' like making a broadcaster renew its license ahead of schedule.

ABC, not one to take this lying down, fired off a series of letters slamming the FCC's decision as a chilling effect on free speech. In a particularly bold move, the network also declined to air President Trump's July 16th speech on its linear channels, opting instead to stream it on ABC News Live - a decision that probably didn't endear them to the White House.

The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has 'steadily increased the pressure' on ABC over the past several months, and that the latest attack on broadcast licenses 'underscores the Commission's true purpose: coercing and retaliating against a network that refuses to bow to the Administration's demands.' Bloomberg reported back in July that the FCC could take action against ABC and Disney as soon as this month, so this lawsuit is basically ABC saying, 'You first, pal.'

ABC and Disney are seeking a court order to halt the FCC's broadcast license renewal proceedings. In the lawsuit, ABC warns that the administration's campaign against free speech extends far beyond its own network: 'If the Administration gets its way, the message to every media company in the country will be unmistakable: tell only the stories the Administration deems favorable, or face the coercive machinery of the federal government. In such a world, the press could in no way be described as free.'

The FCC, for its part, didn't immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment - probably too busy drafting another strongly worded letter to a news outlet for reporting on this very story.