A planned late-night interview turned into a broader media controversy after Stephen Colbert revealed CBS blocked an appearance by Texas state Rep. James Talarico.
Talarico, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, had been scheduled to appear as a guest on “The Late Show.” During his opening monologue, Colbert told viewers that the network’s lawyers had informed him that Talarico could not appear on the broadcast.
“You know who is not one of my guests tonight? That’s Texas state representative James Talarico. He was supposed to be here,” Colbert said. “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 said he was also instructed not to mention the cancellation, attributing the decision to renewed scrutiny of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule.
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CBS has denied asking Colbert not to air the interview, saying the network’s legal team gave recommendations about the FCC’s equal time rule.
“The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” the network said in a statement. “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.”
The network said “The Late Show” chose to show the interview on YouTube “rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.”
Equal Time rule in focus
Under FCC regulations, broadcasters that feature legally qualified political candidates may be required to offer equal time to opposing candidates upon request.
For years, late-night and daytime talk shows have operated under a “bona fide news” exemption, allowing programs such as “The Late Show” and “The View” to interview candidates without triggering equal-time requirements.
Colbert aired a clip of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggesting that hosts unwilling to comply with the rule could move their programming to cable, streaming or podcast platforms.
Interview moves to YouTube
So Colbert released the 14-minute interview with Talarico on YouTube.
In the interview, Talarico criticized what he described as efforts to limit political speech.
“I think that Donald Trump is worried that we are about to flip Texas…they are trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read,“ he said.
Talarico also mentioned ABC’s suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel following Kimmel’s comments about MAGA and the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“This is the most dangerous kind of a cancel culture … and a threat to any of our First Amendment rights is a threat to all of our First Amendment rights,” he told Colbert.
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) February 17, 2026
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas. pic.twitter.com/BCev5jZbKc
Talarico also posted the interview on X, writing, “This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.”
Broader media scrutiny
Talarico has previously been at the center of equal time debates. As Straight Arrow News reported, the FCC has opened an investigation into “The View” over a recent interview with him.
Straight Arrow News also uncovered a remark from Carr, made months before the probe of “The View,” in which he specifically named the program as a possible target.
“I think it’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether ‘The View,’ and some of these other programs that you have, still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore are exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place,” he said in a podcast interview.
Reuters reported that President Donald Trump has encouraged the FCC to take action against broadcasters he believes provide one-sided coverage.
Separately, the Federal Trade Commission is reviewing Apple News after FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson raised concerns that the app may favor left-leaning content.
The Texas race
Talarico is running in the Democratic primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn faces contenders Rep. Wesley Hunt and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Early voting ahead of the March 3 primary began Tuesday.
