Colbert Accuses CBS of Censoring Interview

Stephen Colbert, the host of “The Late Show,” recently criticized CBS, claiming the network canceled an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate and a vocal opponent of President Trump.

During a segment on Monday night, Colbert revealed that his lawyer had informed him that CBS would not allow the airing of Talarico’s appearance, stating, “I was told, in no uncertain terms, that not only would they not let him wear it, but they also couldn’t mention not having him wear it.”

With a hint of sarcasm, Colbert mentioned he would be leaving CBS when “The Late Show” wraps up in May and said, “And my network obviously doesn’t want me to talk about this, so let’s talk about this.” The interview, although reportedly conducted, did not make it to the broadcast.

Colbert speculated that the cancellation stemmed from the Federal Communications Commission’s “Equal Time Rule,” which mandates that all candidates receive equal airtime in elections. He joked, “This is the FCC’s most time-honored rule after ‘No Nipples at the Super Bowl,’” noting that talk shows typically receive exceptions.

However, he pointed out that new guidelines from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, removed these exceptions, citing concerns about potential partisan motivations. Colbert quipped, “Well, you’re the chairman of the FCC, so be the FCC… because I think you yourself are motivated by partisan objectives.”

He went further to criticize Trump’s administration for attempting to silence dissenting voices, likening the former president to a child overindulging in screen time.

Eventually, Talarico’s interview was made available on Colbert’s YouTube channel, but CBS did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident.

This isn’t the first time Colbert has criticized CBS; he previously suggested that the cancellation of his show was linked to Paramount Global’s $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which needed federal approval. The merger received the green light just two months after “The Late Show” was pulled, with CBS stating it was a “purely economic decision.”

Now, the newly formed Paramount Skydance is reportedly reviving discussions to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which could intensify competition against Netflix.