CBS is denying an accusation from Stephen Colbert, the network’s top comic and host of “The Late Show,” that it prevented him from airing an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
Colbert during his Monday show told viewers that attorneys for CBS told him “in no uncertain terms” that “we could not have him on the broadcast,” referring to Talarico, a member of the Texas House.
“Not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on,” the host continued. “And because my network clearly does not want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”
CBS in a statement to The Hill denied Colbert’s account.
“The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” a spokesperson for the network said. “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.”
It was “The Late Show” itself, CBS said, that “decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.”
The Hill reached out to “The Late Show” for comment.
The back-and-forth comes as President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, has floated doing away with a department rule that exempts daytime and late-night talk shows from the FCC’s equal-time protection, which dictates all candidates for public office receive equal time on public airwaves.
Colbert, during his monologue, tore into Carr, mocking his appearance and arguing he is motivated by a desire to please Trump.
“Let’s just call this what it is: Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV,” the host said.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, also blasted Paramount, CBS’s parent company, over the dispute, saying it amounted to political censorship.
Paramount has made headlines with sweeping changes to its news division in recent months and last year canceled Colbert’s show, which is slated to come off the air this spring.
The broadcaster at the time said Colbert’s cancellation was necessary given rising financial pressures facing the company.
Critics accused the company of seeking favor with Trump as it sought the administration’s approval for a merger with Skydance. And on Tuesday, Paramount renewed talks with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire its entertainment and news assets.
If you had bothered to listen or pay attention to anything you would have known that what this is about is a new rule that even talk shows now have to give all opposing candidates equal time. That is the condition under which CBS would not allow the Late Show to have Talarico on as a guest. Colbert explained that but this is the spin CBS is putting on it.
Actually it's not even a rule yet but still they are already investigating The View for this same thing. CBS wouldn't allow the interview to go on because of the investigation of The View because the other guests couldn't be scheduled to comply with this "not yet a rule" that the FCC is already investigating The View for.
CBS are depending on gullible fools that didn't even watch what Colbert said to listen to their nonsense. And obviously they found some.
The equal time rule has never been applied to talk shows before.
Youtube is not on the airwaves so the FCC has no control over interviews done there...... yet.
But ignore what's really going on and pretend it isn't happening. Some of you have done pretty well at that so far.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Here is some more trumpian slop for you to slurp up.......................
FCC Chair Brendan Carr Denies Censoring Colbert Interview, Calls It A 'Hoax'
"There was no censorship here at all," Carr told reporters.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr on Wednesday denied the government censored CBS “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert after the network forbid him from airing an interview with a U.S. Senate candidate earlier this week.
“There was no censorship here at all,” Carr told reporters.
Instead of censorship, Carr blamed Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) of committing a “hoax” related to CBS not airing his interview.
“You had a Democrat candidate who understood the way the news media works and he took advantage of all of your, sort of, prior conceptions, to run a hoax, apparently for the purpose of raising money and getting clicks,” Carr claimed. “And the news media played right into it.”
The “hoax” claim doesn’t appear to be factually supported, however: Colbert first brought up the censorship to his audience Monday, not Talarico.
“We were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers ― who called us directly ― that we could not have [Talarico] on the broadcast,” Colbert said Monday.
“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,” Colbert added. “And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”
Colbert proceeded to explain that the FCC, under Carr, has threatened to require late night TV talk shows to give equal time to every political candidate in a race, and it appears CBS decided to comply in advance. (Notably, Trump’s FCC has not threatened to apply the same rule to right-wing talk radio.)
“Now, as I said, at this point, he’s just released a letter that says he’s thinking about doing away with the exception for late night,” Colbert said. “He hasn’t done away with it yet, but my network is unilaterally enforcing it as if he had ... but I want to assure you, this decision is for purely financial reasons.”
Colbert accused CBS of caving to threats on Monday, saying the network told him not to interview Talarico on his show.
Colbert said CBS discouraged Talarico as a guest, seemingly fearing the FCC would impose an equal-time rule that hasn’t previously been used for late-night talk shows. Talarico is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat.
Talarico’s interview instead aired on the “Late Show” YouTube channel, where it quickly amassed millions of views. The campaign also said it raised $2.5 million within 24 hours after the interview aired.
In his press conference Wednesday, Carr claimed that Congress passed the equal-time rule so “the media elites in Hollywood and New York” can’t “pick the winners and losers in primaries.”
“There was one partisan candidate who fed this slop to the mainstream national news media and you guys ran for it,” Carr said. “I was just laughing, it was clear this story was going to turn at some point and the truth was going to come out.”
And here's the actual reason why all of this happened. Same candidate different show. Investigated over a rule that isn't even as rule yet for talk shows. If you aren't smart enough to understand the intimidation being applied to the media where they are willing to bring the full weight of the federal government down on them, you are well beyond help.......
The View Is Being Investigated by the FCC After Airing Political Interview
The news comes after Stephen Colbert was blocked from airing an interview with Senate candidate James Talarico this week, with CBS lawyers citing the FCC's Equal Time Rule
NEED TO KNOW
'The View' is being investigated following an episode featuring Democratic Senate Candidate James Talarico, with the FCC claiming the broadcast may have violated the Equal Time Rule
Although FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency was looking into an "enforcement action" against the show, he didn't provide further details
Carr's remarks come after Stephen Colbert's interview with Talarico was not allowed to air, after CBS lawyers also invoked the Equal Time Rule
The head of the Federal Communications Commission said the agency is exploring “an enforcement action" against The View after the talk-show welcomed James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, as a guest on a recent episode.
“We’re taking a look at it,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 18, but didn’t provide further details, according to Deadline.
Since earlier this month, The View has reportedly been under investigation for potentially violating the Equal Time Rule, a restriction that prevents favoritism by forcing broadcasters to provide commensurate airtime to opposing candidates, if requested.
The View had no comment when PEOPLE reached out on the FCC chairman's comments.
However, a network source told PEOPLE that the panel show regularly hosts sitting leaders and political candidates from across the political spectrum to discuss current events and differing viewpoints. That format is consistent with how The View has operated for years and what audiences tune in for.
For example, The View has also had one of Talarico's Democratic primary opponents, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, on as a recent guest.
During his appearance on the panel show, Talarico said this year’s Texas primary is “something unique.”
“We’re on the same team, Jasmine and I,” Talarico said. “We’re trying to change the politics of our state and take back this country… I got elected to the state house by flipping a Trump district that no one thought was winnable, in a county that was so red it hadn’t voted for a Democrat for president since Jimmy Carter.”
Carr’s comments come days after Stephen Colbert, 61, was blocked from airing his interview with Talarico on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Colbert instead put the interview online, telling his broadcast viewers that CBS's lawyers cited the Equal Time Rule while telling him he “could not have” Talarico on the show.
In response, CBS said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that Colbert's show "was not prohibited by CBS" from broadcasting the interview and was "provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett."
During his Feb. 17 show, Colbert responded to the CBS statement before crumpling it up shortly after saying, "I'm not a lawyer and I don't want to tell them how to do their jobs. But since they seem intent on telling me how to do mine, here we go."
"Fellas, I am well aware that we can book other guests. I didn't need to be presented with that option," Colbert continued. "I've had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice. I could prove that to you, but the network won't let me show you her picture without including her opponents. So I'll have to show you this picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein instead."
He added, "They told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that equal-time exception. And I used that language. So I don't know what this is about. For the record, I'm not even mad. I really don't want an adversarial relationship with the network. I never had one."
Colbert, whose show is ending in May after 11 years, said he was “grateful” for the network and "so surprised that this giant, global corporation would not stand up to these bullies."
"Come on, you're Paramount. No, you're more than that. You're Paramount+," he joked. "Plus what? I guess we're all gonna find out pretty soon."
"And for the lawyers to release this without even talking to me, it was really surprising," he concluded.
I have worked for companies that work with FCC compliance. What is being told is a misnomer and false interpretation. They just didn't want to have a Republican on the show.
And you enjoy trumps non stop lies, breaking the law and ignoring the constitution. Putting his name on everything. Killing American citizens. degrading women and his hate nationality du jour. Do you think he ended 8 wars?
I have worked for companies that work with FCC compliance. What is being told is a misnomer and false interpretation. They just didn't want to have a Republican on the show.
And here's where you fell of the boat. He isn't running against any Republicans. The primary elections aren't until March 3rd. He's actually running for the Democratic nomination against other Democrats.
And it WOULD have been false before now. It's not false anymore. If it's false why are they investigating The View over equal time rules? And guess what? It's over the exact same guest. Please pay closer attention next time.
You might think Republicans are afraid a white man has a better chance to get elected in Texas than a black woman so it's best to apply pressure on the media to keep him from going on national television. Or you may not think that.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
The only policy the dems have is to oppose the President.
They offer nothing. Thats' why I don't listen to them anymore. They are useless.
So you have nothing to say about the topic at hand. You have nothing to add to the discussion. Instead you just go off on a rant that's off topic the same way Rumple Thinkskin does. He has taught you well.
It's actually quite funny. Between Kid Rock shooting up cases of Bud Light and trumpsters boycotting it, to putting on a football halftime show in a location where there was no football game, trumpians have shown exactly who the #triggered #snowflakes and cancel culture people are.
It's actually true. Every accusation they launch at the left is nothing more than an admission of their own guilt.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I have worked for companies that work with FCC compliance. What is being told is a misnomer and false interpretation. They just didn't want to have a Republican on the show.
And here's where you fell of the boat. He isn't running against any Republicans. The primary elections aren't until March 3rd. He's actually running for the Democratic nomination against other Democrats.
And it WOULD have been false before now. It's not false anymore. If it's false why are they investigating The View over equal time rules? And guess what? It's over the exact same guest. Please pay closer attention next time.
You might think Republicans are afraid a white man has a better chance to get elected in Texas than a black woman so it's best to apply pressure on the media to keep him from going on national television. Or you may not think that.
if they get him on the show, they have to grant equal time to republicans. It's not that hard to understand.
FCC’s Carr urges broadcasters to air ‘patriotic, pro-America’ content
The agency chair’s call is tied to administration efforts to foster celebrations of American exceptionalism ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr wants broadcasters to air “patriotic, pro-America content” to support the White House’s plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, it is important to reflect on the ideals and events that have defined our past while keeping an eye towards our country’s bright future,” Carr said in a statement Friday. “I am calling on broadcasters to pledge to provide programming that promotes civic education, national pride, and our shared history.”
But Carr’s message to broadcasters comes as his critics are already uncomfortable with the agency’s incursion into policing media content, which they say is an attempt to please President Donald Trump while infringing on the First Amendment.
Several broadcasters also have pending mergers and regulatory requests before the FCC, which could influence their response to Carr’s request. In the latest flare-up this week, CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert accused corporate lawyers at his network of unduly capitulating to new equal time guidance from Carr and sidelining his interview with Democratic Senate contender James Talarico — claims that CBS later denied and Carr dismissed, saying Colbert had other options to air that interview.
Carr’s new initiative takes the form of a voluntary “Pledge America Campaign” that broadcasters can join.
The agency said the initiative is part of a broader White House effort to encourage festivities celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary during this Fourth of July holiday. Trump has taken a personal interest in celebrating the anniversary, and his administration has reviewed Smithsonian exhibits to ensure they align with the White House’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism.
Broadcasters could participate in the pledge, Carr suggested, by running public service announcements or specials devoted to civic education and U.S. history, peppering such historical content into news programming or including daily broadcasts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or playing the national anthem. The FCC said participation could also entail playing music from U.S. composers such as John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin.
In his statement, Carr said civic education is in decline, noting that “classic programming such as Schoolhouse Rock! is now only found in online archives.”
Carr has also used his gavel to integrate certain patriotic activities into government proceedings, such as beginning each monthly open meeting by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Anna Gomez, the agency’s lone Democrat, took to X to criticize Carr’s announcement: “Nothing is more American than defending our constitutional rights against those who would erode our civil liberties. If broadcasters choose to participate in this FCC campaign, they can do so by defending their First Amendment rights and refusing government interference.”
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