Stephen Colbert didn’t hold back on Tuesday night, calling out CBS for denying his claim that the network blocked his interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico. He described the network’s response as “crap” and urged CBS and its parent company, Paramount Skydance, to stand up to the current political climate.
After CBS released a statement about the incident, Colbert took to the stage, brandishing a copy of the network’s response. He humorously pretended to throw it away in a plastic bag, expressing his disbelief over the situation.
The controversy has led to speculation. CBS’s decision not to air Talarico’s interview raised eyebrows, especially since it happened while Paramount is attempting a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. This deal requires approval from federal regulators, adding pressure to CBS’s decision-making.
Colbert had planned to feature Talarico, who is running in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat. However, he revealed that CBS’s lawyers advised against the broadcast, citing potential violations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) equal-time rule. This rule requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to political candidates if one candidate appears on air.
Colbert responded to CBS’s statement by emphasizing that, throughout his career, broadcast scripts have been thoroughly approved by CBS lawyers. He pointed out that this situation felt unique, claiming he had never been asked to comply with such rules in his 20 years of hosting.
Despite his frustration, Colbert made it clear he wasn’t angry with CBS. He simply found it surprising that a large corporation wouldn’t push back against what he described as “bullies” in Washington.
Interestingly, Colbert noted that the equal-time rule has exceptions for talk shows, a fact he couldn’t find evidence of being enforced in any late-night interviews since the 1960s. He mentioned that the current FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, hasn’t changed this landscape but acknowledged CBS’s unilateral decision to enforce it.
As early voting kicked off in Texas for the Democratic primary on Tuesday, Talarico found himself in a tight race against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The winner will take on the Republican candidate from a competitive primary involving Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Notably, Democrats haven’t won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, making Talarico’s candidacy particularly significant.
This event highlights the delicate balance media companies must maintain while navigating political pressures. As audiences digest these developments, it’s worth noting how public sentiment evolves surrounding media freedom, transparency, and political discourse.
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