CBS Removes Texas Candidate Interview from Late Show Amid FCC Compliance Fears

New York, Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
On February 16, 2026, Stephen Colbert revealed that CBS attorneys blocked the broadcast of his interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, citing potential violations of the FCC’s Equal Time Rule. This decision follows January 2026 guidance from the FCC, led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, which narrowed exemptions for entertainment programs—a move critics argue creates a “chilling effect” on political discourse. While CBS maintains the decision was strictly legal compliance to avoid granting equal airtime to primary opponents like Jasmine Crockett, Talarico and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez framed the move as corporate capitulation to political pressure. The interview, subsequently released as an online exclusive, garnered over 3 million views by February 18, highlighting how digital platforms are becoming alternative venues for content deemed too regulatory-risky for traditional broadcast networks.