CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, a critic of the Trump administration, says he was barred from airing an interview with a Democrat seeking a US Senate seat in Texas by network lawyers concerned the appearance would violate federal fairness rules.
Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Monday night Colbert said the lawyers informed his team that state Representative James Talarico couldn’t appear on the broadcast and his name shouldn’t be mentioned.
“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 said.
In a statement, CBS denied barring the candidate’s interview, saying the show was only told that Talarico’s appearance could set in motion a Federal Communications Commission requirement that his opponents also be allowed to appear.
“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,” CBS said.
CBS’s parent, Paramount Skydance Corp., has come under criticism from the media and free speech advocates since technology heir David Ellison took control of the company last year. Paramount installed controversial online publisher Bari Weiss as head of CBS News. She, in turn, has brought in new personnel and recently delayed a 60 Minutes report on US deportees held in an El Salvador prison.
One of the show’s hosts, Anderson Cooper, announced on Monday that he’s stepping down to spend more time with his children.
The network’s action on Colbert coincides with efforts by Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., a deal that will require the approval of federal regulators appointed by President Donald Trump.
Trump officials have been reasserting rules that once forced broadcasters to offer equal time to candidates for public office. News and talk shows had historically been exempt. However, the FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has said this should no longer be the case.
The Talarico interview was posted to the show’s YouTube channel. In the conversation, Colbert and Talarico discussed the FCC’s rule, issues around free speech and the separation of church and state. The agency had previously launched an equal-time investigation into an interview Talarico did on ABC’s daytime talk show The View.
In addition, Talarico posted the sitdown with Colbert on social media and called it “the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see,” adding that “Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.”
Anna Gomez, the FCC’s sole Democratic commissioner, said in a statement that CBS was protected under the US Constitution’s First Amendment to decide what content it airs.
“This is yet another troubling example of corporate capitulation in the face of this administration’s broader campaign to censor and control speech,” Gomez said.
In September, another Democrat-leaning late night host, Jimmy Kimmel, was temporarily suspended by Walt Disney Co.’s ABC after the FCC’s Carr criticized his on-air comments about the assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk and threatened to take action against station owners that broadcast the show. When Kimmel returned to air days later, he apologized for the remarks.
Colbert learned in July that CBS was canceling his show and that he would be off the air in May 2026. The network said it was for financial reasons.
NBC previously came under fire from the FCC for a potential violation after the network’s Saturday Night Live comedy show featured then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris right before the 2024 election.
Talarico is competing in a closely watched primary with US Representative Jasmine Crockett. Talarico, a presbyterian minister-in-training, has centered his pitch to voters on his ability to pull independents and even disaffected Republicans, while Crockett has promised to boost turnout among the party base and non-voters.
A recent poll from the University of Houston showed Crockett leading by eight percentage points, but Talarico has a massive fundraising advantage. His campaign and outside groups supporting it have spent $14.1 million on advertisements, compared to just $2.2 million for Crockett.
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