Late-night television host Stephen Colbert revealed that his planned interview with Democratic Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico was axed from Monday night’s show due to concerns from the network about potentially violating regulatory rules set by the Trump administration regarding equal airtime for political candidates.
This development occurred right before the commencement of early voting in the Texas primary elections, where contentious Senate nomination battles are unfolding in both major parties.
Colbert disclosed on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” that network lawyers directly informed them that they could not have Talarico on the broadcast, nor could they even mention his absence. Despite network denials, CBS clarified that legal advice indicated the interview could trigger the FCC’s equal-time rule.
Talarico is engaged in a fierce competition for the Democratic nomination amid evolving broadcast guidelines, issued during the Trump era, concerning interactions with political candidates. His primary rival is U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, and both candidates have garnered national attention through viral social media content.
On the Republican side, incumbent Senator John Cornyn faces significant opposition from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt in what is deemed a pivotal political contest. Paxton bolstered his campaign with a rally in Tyler, Texas, on Monday night.
Talarico shared a snippet of his Colbert interview on social media, calling it “the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see,” while planning a rally in Austin for Tuesday evening.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued guidance cautioning talk show hosts about providing equal time to political contenders, with FCC Chair Brendan Carr questioning the exemption for talk shows and suggesting partisan motivations behind their actions.
Colbert emphasized the distinction between broadcast and streaming platforms regarding the equal-time provision. Consequently, his interview with Talarico was exclusively posted online, bypassing the broadcast restrictions.
As Colbert faces an imminent exit from his hosting role following CBS’ decision to end his show in May, questions have emerged about the motives behind the cancellation, especially considering Colbert’s critical stance on Trump-related matters.
In Texas, as voting kicks off, candidates like Talarico, Crockett, Paxton, and Hunt are striving to secure significant support to avoid runoff elections and gain traction in the primary race. The political landscape is rife with challenges and strategic messaging as the candidates vie for voter attention.
GOP concerns about Paxton’s candidacy have surfaced, with fears that his nomination could necessitate substantial financial backing to compete in the general election, posing a potential threat to party resources and objectives.
Cornyn and his allies have heavily invested in advertising to counter Paxton’s momentum, highlighting the high stakes of the Senate race and the implications of candidate choices for the party’s electoral prospects.
