Stephen Colbert Says CBS Blocked James Talarico Interview Over FCC ‘Equal Time’ Fears

Stephen Colbert went public Monday night with a striking accusation against his own network: that CBS lawyers had barred him from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who is running for U.S. Senate, in a preemptive bow to FCC pressure over the agency’s push to apply its “equal time” rule to late-night […] Home TV News Feb 17, 2026 2:40am PT Stephen Colbert Says CBS Blocked James Talarico Interview Over FCC ‘Equal Time’ Fears By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest ‘Squid Game,’ ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Help Korean Content Surge as Netflix Non-English Originals Hit Record High, New Research Finds 37 minutes ago Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ Tops U.K., Ireland Box Office 2 hours ago Nippon TV Launches Viral Pocket Division to Expand Into Microdrama Market – Global Bulletin 4 hours ago See All Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Stephen Colbert went public Monday night with a striking accusation against his own network: that CBS lawyers had barred him from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who is running for U.S. Senate, in a preemptive bow to FCC pressure over the agency’s push to apply its “equal time” rule to late-night talk shows. Colbert revealed that the network’s legal team had called “The Late Show” staff directly and told them “in no uncertain terms” the interview could not be broadcast. He had additionally been instructed not to raise the matter on air. He then proceeded to do precisely the opposite. Related Stories The Epstein Files Have Become The Ultimate Disturbing Horror Movie. No Wonder We Can't Look Away