Colbert Blasts CBS For Blocking Interview With Texas Dem Over FCC Rule; CBS Pushes Back
“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert accused CBS of blocking him from airing a taped interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat running in Texas’ Senate primary, on Monday. He said there were concerns it would violate the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule. CBS pushed back Tuesday.
WHAT IS THE EQUAL-TIME RULE? In January, the FCC issued a notice clarifying that late-night and daytime television programs are not exempt from the equal-time rule. The rule requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunities to all candidates running for the same office. It has not applied to late-night shows for two decades.
COLBERT: “We were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said. “Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”
Colbert did post the interview to his show’s YouTube channel.
CBS: The network, which canceled the top-rated show last year, said the program “was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule.” But, CBS maintains the show “was not prohibited” from broadcasting the segment.
CBS, which has been reshuffling since the Skydance–Paramount merger last year, said the interview could “trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett.”
The “The Late Show” is set to end in May. The network said it was “purely a financial decision.”
Talarico's appearance on ABC's "The View" triggered an FCC probe earlier this month.
📺 LATE NIGHT POLITICAL GUESTS’ LEFT-LEANING VIEWS:
BIGGER PICTURE
Looking at five different late-night shows, about 97% of political guests since September 2022 have been liberals and Democrats, according to conservative media watchdog NewsBusters.
Since President Trump returned to office, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has moved to shakeup late-night television. In September, he threatened to revoke ABC affiliate licenses over Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk — a move that led to the show going dark for several days, but drew bipartisan pushback.
IN TEXAS
Talarico is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent John Cornyn’s Senate seat in November. Early voting in the primary began Tuesday, with Election Day set for March 3, 2026.
A January 2026 Emerson College poll showed Talarico leading Crockett 47% to 38% in the Democratic primary.
Talarico has faced other controversies this election cycle. Earlier this month, a political content creator accused Talarico of making racially charged remarks about a former political opponent — comments Talarico called a “mischaracterization” of a private conversation.