Stephen Colbert Rips CBS for Blocking James Talarico Interview on "The Late Show"
“You know who is not one of my guests tonight? Texas State Representative James Talarico,” Stephen Colbert announced to his audience on Monday night, revealing that CBS had blocked the airing of Talarico’s interview. “We were told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers that we could not have him on the broadcast.”
Colbert continued, “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.” His remarks highlighted a growing tension between late-night programming and regulatory guidelines.
The crux of CBS's decision stems from new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidance regarding equal airtime for political candidates. This regulation mandates that if a broadcaster allows one candidate to appear, they must provide equal opportunities to all opposing candidates. Colbert noted that while Talarico's interview did not make it to television, it was available on YouTube, where FCC rules do not apply.
“The network says I can't give you a URL or a QR code, but I promise you, if you go to our YouTube page, you'll find it,” he assured viewers, cleverly circumventing the restrictions imposed by CBS.
Talarico, a Democrat who has represented Texas since 2018, is currently campaigning in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat. In response to the situation, CBS issued a statement clarifying that “THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview.” They explained that legal guidance suggested airing the interview could trigger the FCC's equal-time rule due to other candidates in the race.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez expressed disappointment over CBS's decision on social media, stating, “That makes its decision to yield to political pressure all the more disappointing. Corporate interests cannot justify retreating from airing newsworthy content.”
The FCC's recent notice emphasized that daytime and late-night shows must adhere to equal time regulations for political candidates. This law has been in place for decades, requiring broadcasters to offer equal opportunities to all candidates running for the same office, with exceptions for bona fide newscasts.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr remarked on X about the legacy networks' assumptions regarding their programming qualifying as “bona fide news,” asserting that they must provide equal opportunities for all candidates. Colbert responded directly to Carr during his show, saying, “Well, sir, you're chairman of the FCC, so FCC U, because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself.”
Colbert further criticized the political climate, stating, “Let's just call this what it is: Donald Trump's administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV.” He likened Trump’s behavior to that of a child overwhelmed by screen time.
Talarico shared a clip of his interview on social media, framing it as “the interview Donald Trump didn't want you to see,” suggesting that Trump fears a shift in Texas politics as early voting began for the March 3 primary.
In this primary, Talarico faces off against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and businessman Ahmad Hassan. The winner will challenge the Republican primary victor, which includes longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn facing challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. Both races may lead to runoffs if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote.
Former President Trump has frequently criticized networks and talk shows for perceived political bias, even calling for broadcasters to lose their FCC licenses. As Colbert prepares to conclude his tenure on “The Late Show” in May, speculation surrounds whether the cancellation is politically motivated due to his vocal criticism of Trump.
CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment regarding this ongoing situation.
