Colbert’s Contradictory Statements About CBS

On Tuesday, Stephen Colbert made comments regarding CBS that seemed to contradict what he had said the previous night.

During Monday’s show, Colbert expressed dissatisfaction with how things were unfolding. He mentioned Congressman James Talarico, who was supposed to appear as a guest:

“Do you know who isn’t my guest tonight? That’s Texas Congressman James Talarico. He was slated to be here, but our network’s attorney called us directly, insisting that we couldn’t have him on the air. I was informed clearly that not only could I not have him on, but I also couldn’t even mention that I wouldn’t be airing the segment.”

Colbert went on to criticize the Trump administration, suggesting that it was attempting to suppress voices critical of Trump on television, particularly in regard to the FCC’s “equal time” policy.

However, CBS later released a statement that contradicted Colbert’s claims.

“The Late Show was not prohibited from airing an interview with Congressman James Talarico. Legal guidance indicated that airing the interview could invoke the FCC’s equal time rules, relating to two other candidates, which included Rep. Jasmine Crockett. CBS even suggested ways to fulfill the equal time requirements, ultimately deciding to share Talarico’s interview on its YouTube channel.”

So, while Colbert stated he was told not to air the interview, CBS clarified that it was simply highlighting the implications of the “equal time” rules and offered solutions to comply. The inequality in air time could be addressed by giving equal exposure to Talarico’s opponents in the upcoming Democratic primary, Rep. Jasmine Crockett and businessman Ahmad Hassan, who are also running for the Texas Senate seat.

Colbert opted for a YouTube broadcast of the interview instead of balancing the time with the other candidates not favored by the Democratic establishment.

This situation reveals a significant disconnect between Colbert’s narrative and CBS’s account. He asserted that network mandates prevented the airing of Talarico’s interview, while CBS painted a different picture.

In essence, CBS seems to have suggested Colbert misrepresented the situation, but he did not push back against the network’s statement on his Tuesday show; rather, he made disparaging remarks about it.

“They know full well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS lawyers. For the record, I approve of every script that airs. CBS told me directly that I had to follow equal time rules, but I’ve never faced such a requirement in my 21 years of work… I was even taken backstage for ‘notes’ from my lawyer about my phrasing—something I’ve never experienced before.”

It seems, in fact, that Colbert may have inadvertently admitted to some inconsistencies in his previous claim. Saying that CBS “unilaterally told me I had to abide by equal time rules” is quite different from his assertion of being outright barred from airing the interview.

It appears Stephen Colbert is intent on portraying himself as a victim while perhaps, at the same time, undermining his own credibility in the process.