US EditionWhat to know about the ‘equal time’ rule Stephen Colbert says led CBS to pull his Talarico interview
CBS avoided triggering FCC equal-time rules by moving Stephen Colbert's interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico online, reflecting new FCC guidance expanding equal-time application.
- On Tuesday, CBS said legal guidance warned that airing Stephen Colbert's interview with James Talarico could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other March 3 Democratic primary candidates, so the network moved it online with on-air promotion instead.
- The Communications Act of 1934 requires equal-time provisions only for broadcast television and radio, excluding cable and streaming services as well as social media.
- Colbert posted the full interview online after lawyers intervened, saying network lawyers called directly and told the show it could not have the candidate on broadcast, which he referenced on Monday.
- In January, the Federal Communications Commission warned late-night and daytime hosts they must give political candidates equal time, with Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman, questioning the talk-show exemption and noting networks must seek exemptions.
- The spat highlights attempts to apply equal-time to entertainment programs, as James Talarico posted a clip on X calling it `the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see`.
24 Articles
24 Articles
CBS host Stephen Colbert says network barred airing interview with Texas US Senate candidate
WASHINGTON — CBS late-night show host Stephen Colbert said on Monday that the network’s lawyers barred him from airing an interview with Democratic Texas State Representative James Talarico, who is running for his party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Stephen Colbert Explains Why CBS Blocked Explosive Chat With Texas Democrat
Stephen Colbert has gone public to explain why CBS refused to broadcast his interview with Texas State Representative James Tallarico, calling it a bizarre mix of bureaucratic rules, FCC regulations, and network caution. The Late Show host delivered a humorous yet pointed explanation, highlighting how an obscure law intended for fairness in elections has unexpectedly silenced a high-profile political conversation on broadcast television. What th…
Colbert’s James Talarico Interview Hits 3 Million YouTube Views, Surpasses Bad Bunny Appearance
Stephen Colbert’s sit-down with Texas State Rep. James Talarico reached 3 million views in just 18 hours Tuesday after the network pulled the interview from “The Late Show.” The late night host pushed the interview with the Texas Democrat straight to the “Late Show” YouTube page after explaining on Monday’s broadcast that he was told by CBS’ lawyers that he couldn’t air the segment due to FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s enforcement of the equal-time ru…
The moderator was not supposed to broadcast an interview with a politician – and was not even allowed to talk about it. Stephen Colbert did not follow the guidelines.
Stephen Colbert blasts CBS for nixing interview with Democratic candidate for Senate
(The Texas Tribune) — Late-night host Stephen Colbert accused his network, CBS, of refusing to broadcast his interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during Monday night’s airing of “The Late Show” for fear of running afoul of the Trump administration. Colbert said CBS canceled Talarico’s appearance on air in light of guidance issued Jan. 21 by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, whic…
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