The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that ABC is taking the rare step of suing the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on First Amendment grounds, saying the agency's demand for early review of its broadcast licences posed an "existential threat" to the network. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe says that in the lawsuit, ABC, its parent company Disney and the eight ABC-owned stations whose licences are affected asked a federal court to stop the early renewal proceedings. The FCC under chair Brendan Carr, an ally of President Donald Trump, had ordered the early review in April -- itself a rare move -- of all eight licences owned by ABC, years before they are set to expire. Licences are issued for eight-year periods. The FCC cited the network's diversity and inclusion practices as a reason, but the development came shortly after a joke by ABC's late-night host Jimmy Kimmel had infuriated the President, who has called for Mr. Kimmel's firing. "Facing this existential threat," ABC alleged, "Plaintiffs have no choice but to seek redress from the judicial branch for the Administration's blatant retaliation for their First Amendment speech." Mr. Carr has also targeted the morning talk show The View.