Talk show host Stephen Colbert revealed that CBS attorneys prevented him from airing an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico due to new FCC equal time requirements. The incident highlights how Trump administration broadcasting guidelines are affecting late-night television programming.
Television host Stephen Colbert disclosed that CBS network attorneys blocked his scheduled interview with Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico from appearing on Monday evening’s program due to concerns about violating federal broadcasting regulations regarding equal time for political candidates.
During his program “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host explained the situation to viewers. “He was supposed to be here, but 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 stated.
The comedian went on to reveal additional restrictions placed on the discussion. “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.”
The incident occurred just as early voting commenced in Texas primary elections, highlighting how media organizations are adapting to revised broadcasting regulations implemented during the Trump administration that govern political candidate interviews.
Talarico shared portions of the conversation on social media platforms, describing it as “the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.”
While broadcasters have long been subject to equal time requirements for political candidates, these regulations historically did not extend to talk show programming. However, the Federal Communications Commission released updated guidance in January, alerting late-night and daytime television hosts that they must now provide equal access to political candidates. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr challenged the previous talk show exemption, suggesting hosts were acting with “partisan purposes.”
The FCC’s public notice stated: “The FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption.”
Colbert pointed out that equal time rules apply only to traditional broadcast television, not streaming services. As a result, his approximately 15-minute conversation with Talarico appeared on his show’s YouTube channel instead, with the host specifically noting the segment would only be available online rather than on television.
On social media platform X, Talarico posted a brief excerpt from their discussion, writing: “This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see. His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert. Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.”
Neither CBS nor the FCC provided immediate responses to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Texas voters began early voting Tuesday in races where Talarico and Representative Jasmine Crockett are among Democrats competing for the U.S. Senate position currently occupied by four-term Republican Senator John Cornyn. The primary election is scheduled for March 3.
Chairman Carr, whom Trump selected to head the agency last year, has frequently targeted network talk shows with criticism. He previously suggested that investigating ABC’s “The View” — whose hosts regularly critique Trump — regarding the exemption could be “worthwhile.”
Colbert’s tenure as host is approaching its end, following CBS’s decision last year to conclude his program in May due to financial considerations, ending a long-running television tradition amid an evolving media environment.
However, the timing of that cancellation announcement — occurring three days after Colbert criticized an agreement between Trump and Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, concerning a “60 Minutes” report — prompted two U.S. senators to publicly question the decision’s motivations, as it removes one of Trump’s most vocal and consistent late-night television critics from the airwaves.