A radio anchor for the George Soros-controlled KCBS 740 AM "All News Radio" station who had the gall to unmask the vehicles of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in the gang-infested San Jose, California area in January has reportedly been demoted after MRC Business took him to task.
Anchor Bret Burkhart elevated the unmasking of “undercover” ICE agents from the leftist Rapid Response Network, which fights against deportation initiatives during the January 26 edition of KCBS Radio Weekend News. To make things worse, he gave exact descriptions of the vehicles the ICE agents were reportedly using, including specific locations. NewsNation confirmed January 27 that the agents were conducting an operation in the area around that time, meaning their cover was potentially blown and they were placed in significant danger.
MRC Business immediately cut the audio and published it in an investigative report detailing the incident in addition to the radio station’s connection to Soros. In February 2024, Soros purchased $400 million, or a 40 percent stake, of the bankrupt Audacy in February 2024. Notably, Audacy, which is America’s second biggest radio company, features or streams at least 16 powerful 50,000-watt radio stations, which means that their coverage is especially widespread. KCBS 740 AM was one of the stations prominently listed in that deal. At the time, FCC bizarrely fast-tracked Soros’s purchase of the radio giant — which was also backed by foreign money — and dubiously allowed him to skirt the rigorous review process for such acquisitions.
You can listen to the insane reporting by KCBS 740 AM unmasking ICE agents below.
MRC’s exposé led the Federal Communications Commission under chairman Brendan Carr to open up an investigation into KCBS 740 AM for violating its public interest obligation by blowing the cover of law enforcement officers. Fox News reported February 5, 2025 that the FCC Enforcement Bureau “has already sent a formal Letter of Inquiry to the radio station as part of the FCC investigation.” In accordance with MRC’s reporting, “The formal Enforcement Bureau Letter notes that the ICE agents were operating at the time in an area known for violent gang activity.”
After the whole ordeal, Burkhart was demoted and the KCBS 740 AM newsroom was shaken up, per a story from Associated Press published December 15, 2025:
Bret Burkhart, who first read the report on the immigration action over the air, was demoted from his anchor position to a less prestigious reporting gig. After a few months, he left the station for a new job, according to current and former staffers.
He ended up at KOGO in San Diego. Inside Radio also reported December 16 that “staffers said the investigation had a chilling effect inside the newsroom.” In addition to Burkhart’s fall from grace, “political coverage was scaled back, and reporters were encouraged to focus on human-interest stories rather than controversial topics.”
"Activists posing as journalists always cry 'chilling effect' whenever anyone tries to curtail their activism," said NewsBusters Executive Editor Tim Graham about the response to MRC Business. "They cry that they've been 'neutered.' There ought to be a 'chilling effect' or a 'scaling back' from encouraging insurrection against law-enforcement agencies."
The demotion apparently fired up prominent legislators on Capitol Hill, as was exhibited by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) who lost his marbles on Carr during a recent Senate hearing over the FCC's investigation into KCBS 740 AM. Markey went into complete "chilling effect" bluster.
Yikes! Senate Oversight hearing devolves into chaos as Sen. Ed Markey goes berserk over @BrendanCarrFCC holding broadcasters accountable. pic.twitter.com/eI9O9nXGau
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) December 17, 2025
Given the Soros empire’s overt obsession with pushing for open borders, it is no surprise that a radio station it controls would be tailoring its reporting along parallel interests.
Broadcasters have a duty to the public interest, and that includes doing everything they can to protect the lives of officers working to uphold federal immigration law. By exposing them to potential retaliation by violent gangs within San Jose, Burkhart and KCBS 740 AM violated this principle in the name of illegal immigration activism. MRC Business is proud to have been the first to hold this Soros-controlled station accountable for its actions, and that meaningful action was taken as a response.
