Stephen Colbert is publicly criticizing the Donald Trump administration after CBS declined to air his taped interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. The dispute has started a brand new debate over FCC guidance and political pressure on broadcasters. Plus, how networks interpret the long-standing “equal time” rule.
Stephen Colbert calls out Donald Trump administration
Stephen Colbert used his Monday night monologue to blast the Donald Trump administration. This was after CBS reportedly blocked him from airing a scheduled interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. The full interview was eventually posted to YouTube as an “online-only exclusive.” Colbert told his audience that CBS lawyers intervened directly to keep the segment off broadcast television.
“We were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly. We could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said, pointing the finger at both network executives and the administration’s escalating pressure on broadcasters.
The controversy highlights the Trump administration’s aggressive use of regulatory power, specifically through the Federal Communications Commission. FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, recently signaled that late-night shows may no longer qualify for the “bona fide news exemption” to the equal time rule. It is a regulation requiring stations to provide equal airtime to all qualified political candidates.
CBS pushed back against Colbert’s characterization. They released a statement claiming the show received “legal guidance” but was not explicitly “prohibited” from airing the interview. According to the network, producers were warned that broadcasting Talarico could trigger equal-time obligations for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett (via CNN).
Nonetheless, in the now-viral YouTube interview, which has amassed over 2 million views, Talarico didn’t hold back. In fact, the Texas state representative accused Republicans of hypocrisy, saying they “ran against cancel culture. Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read.”
“This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture. The kind that comes from the top,” James Talarico told Stephen Colbert. Moreover, with the Texas Senate primary scheduled for March 3, Talarico is leveraging the controversy to boost his campaign.
