FCC Chairman Responds to Colbert’s Claims of Censorship

On Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr addressed accusations made by late-night host Stephen Colbert. Colbert had suggested that CBS barred him from interviewing politicians, claiming it was an act of censorship.

During his show on Monday, Colbert mentioned that CBS had declined to host Democratic Texas Senator James Talarico on “The Late Show,” citing concerns over potential FCC regulations related to equal airtime for political candidates.

“This was Democrat-on-Democrat violence,” Carr remarked on Fox News with Laura Ingraham. He clarified that CBS informed Colbert he could proceed with the interview but warned that they might need to adhere to equal time rules. However, instead of addressing this directly, CBS appeared to position itself as a victim of censorship.

Colbert implied that the network’s actions were influenced by the current administration, stating, “Let’s just say this: Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence people who say bad things about Trump on TV because that’s all Trump is watching.”

The regulations enforce a requirement for public broadcasters to offer equal opportunities to candidates from rival political parties.

According to Carr, these rules exist to prevent media from unfairly selecting election outcomes, allowing the American public to make informed choices instead. He criticized the uproar as more about gaining publicity than about any actual regulatory violation.

CBS countered Colbert’s claims on Tuesday, stating that “The Late Show” was not prohibited from airing the interview with Talarico. They explained that the show had received legal advice about possible implications of the equal time rule, which could have affected other candidates, including Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett from Texas.

Carr reaffirmed the FCC’s commitment to operating within the law and emphasized that they will hold broadcasters accountable for their actions. He expressed concerns about some Democrats wanting to unfairly tilt the Democratic primary and stated, “We’re going to enforce the law.” Fox News Digital has reached out to “The Late Show” for further comment.