"But viewers weren't left in the dark about why-host Stephen Colbert told his audience that CBS didn't air his interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico due to concerns it could run afoul of shifting FCC rules. "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 on the air Monday."
"According to Colbert, CBS' lawyers were acting in compliance with a recent letter from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr about the FCC's equal time rule. It says that a broadcast station granting airtime to a legally qualified candidate for public office must offer the same amount of time to all other candidates for the same office. The Jan. 21 letter suggested that late-night shows-which have been exempted from the rule as "bona fide news interview programs" (aka, non-partisan, regularly scheduled newscasts)-no longer fit that definition"
An interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico was not broadcast on a national late-night program after network lawyers advised the broadcast could trigger FCC equal-time obligations. Network counsel cited a recent Jan. 21 letter from FCC Chair Brendan Carr that questioned whether late-night shows still qualify as "bona fide news interview programs" exempt from equal-time requirements. The guidance noted that airing the interview could obligate the station to offer equivalent time to other Democratic primary candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The host publicly criticized the network's decision and posted the full interview to YouTube, and the episode highlighted broader industry concerns about regulatory shifts and political pressure.
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