Late-night comedy shows generally don’t deal with heavy drama, but “The Late Show” has stirred up some serious issues recently. A conflict arose between CBS, Stephen Colbert, and politicians, as claims about a televised debate were contested by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Accusations of censorship took center stage following an interview Colbert had planned with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
The actions leading up to these tensions began to escalate both on-air and online. Here’s a look at how this saga unfolded.
July 17, 2025: CBS Cancels “The Late Show”
Last summer, CBS caused quite a stir by announcing the cancellation of “The Late Show,” which is set to go off the air in May 2026. The network claimed it was a financial decision, but many critics pointed out that it coincided with Paramount Global’s ongoing negotiations for an $8 billion merger with Skydance, a deal needing FCC approval from Trump-appointed Chairman Brendan Carr.
Supporters of Colbert suggested that CBS’s move was a tactic to smooth the way for the merger, especially since it followed a settlement involving Trump over his interaction with Kamala Harris during a “60 Minutes” interview. Still, reports indicated that “The Late Show” was losing over $40 million annually against a hefty budget of more than $100 million per season.
July 24, 2025: FCC Approves Paramount-Skydance Merger
Just a week after the cancellation announcement, the FCC approved Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The statement from the FCC highlighted Skydance’s commitment to featuring a broad range of perspectives in future programming. Colbert publicly criticized the settlement with Trump, calling it a “huge bribe,” and poked fun at the merger announcement.
January 21, 2026: FCC Crackdown on Liberal Talk Shows
Recently, the FCC reiterated its longstanding policy that allocates equal airtime to eligible candidates, calling to question how late-night talk shows fit into the current broadcasting regulations. Historically, programs like “The View” were excluded from this policy, but the FCC has now asserted that such shows do not meet the criteria for a “legitimate” news exemption. Colbert voiced strong opposition to this move, accusing the FCC of attempting to silence him and fellow liberal comedians.
February 6, 2026: FCC Investigates “The View”
Fox News Digital reported that the FCC opened an investigation into “The View” regarding its compliance with the equal time policy. This was sparked by Talarico’s appearance on the show, marking one of the first political guest spots following the FCC’s announcement. The parent company of ABC, Disney, has yet to file a declaration regarding Talarico’s appearances, which could imply the network’s stance on its classification of “The View.”
The new policy would necessitate ABC to provide equal airtime for Talarico’s competitors in the primary race, including less-known candidates. Candidates do not necessarily need to appear on the show for the network to fulfill this requirement; campaign ads could suffice as well.
February 16, 2026: Alleged Censorship of Colbert and Talarico Interview
Colbert claimed that CBS had blocked his interview with Talarico from airing, stating that the network’s attorney told them they couldn’t proceed. He expressed concern that Trump’s administration wants to silence criticism of him on television. Colbert then shared that Talarico’s interview would be streamed on his YouTube channel instead, a move to bypass the FCC’s regulations. Talarico condemned CBS for compromising the First Amendment.
This triggered backlash from liberal critics, who decried potential censorship, and ultimately worked in Talarico’s favor, with the interview garnering over 8 million views on YouTube and raising him $2.5 million within a day.
February 17, 2026: CBS Responds to Colbert
In response to the mounting frustration, CBS clarified that it had not blocked Colbert’s interview. They explained that the legal guidance they provided indicated broadcasting the interview might invoke the FCC’s equal time regulations concerning other candidates. As a result, Colbert opted to publish it on YouTube instead.
Crockett, one of the competing candidates, commented on the situation, speculating that CBS’s stance could have been clearer before Colbert reached out.
Colbert retorted against CBS’s statement, expressing surprise that such a major network didn’t stand against perceived intimidation.
Amid this turmoil, critics on both sides have emerged, with some labeling CBS’s actions as censorship, while others accuse Colbert of skirting FCC guidelines to favor Talarico. A FCC representative called the media’s portrayal misleading and suggested it reflected poorly on news outlets.
As the public sentiment stirs around this, Colbert will likely continue hosting until the show’s scheduled conclusion in May, though tensions with CBS are palpable.
