Late-night host Stephen Colbert accused his network, CBS, of refusing to broadcast his interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during Monday night’s airing of “The Late Show” for fear of running afoul of the Trump administration.
Colbert said CBS canceled Talarico’s appearance on air in light of guidance issued Jan. 21 by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, which directed daytime and late-night TV talk show hosts to offer equal airtime to all political candidates running for a given office. Talk shows have long been exempted from these “equal time” rules when conducting “bona fide news interviews,” allowing them to book political candidates without bringing on their opponents.
Talarico “was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said in a segment explaining the cancelation. “Then I was told in some uncertain terms that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”
The interview was set to air on Monday night’s show the day before the start of early voting for Texas’ March 3 primaries. Talarico is vying for the Senate Democratic nomination against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas.
Brilliant bit of marketing to blare “We’ve been censored by the FCC!” from the rooftops, on the day the Texas primary starts.
It’s the Orson Wells playbook. “See the movie that the Hersts dont want you to see!!”
Still brilliant either way.
You can still (and should) watch it on YouTube!
Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature
The joy of his Colbert Report is finally returning to him.
That guy was super well spoken and had a good message. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of him before. Always nice to see the Streisand Effect in action!
This stunt has caused the video to get 100 times the views it would normally get. I watched it and i never catch the colbert report unless i stumble across is online.
The Trump administration is doing their best to destroy this country, but even republicans know you don’t touch the first amendment.
Remember, CBS is now owned by a Trump ally.
Correct, they refused to air it not out of fear of the FCC, but out of fear of that Texans might like what Talarico has to say.
Banning something is a sure fire way to give it oxygen. Streisand effect
The problem Trump has in doing this type of suppression is that it gains more attention and riles people up more than if he had let the interview air. Sure the interview might have said things he didn’t want to be said, but now he has made this a much bigger issue and he looks weak because he is scared at the mere prospect of some words being uttered.
Yep, and Colbert has no reason to pull any punches either. They already canceled his show to appease the administration. Why would Stephen hesitate to tell the world every time CBS bends the knee?
Good on him for calling out every time they act as state propaganda and not a news network.
If they cancel the show earlier they can’t pretend to be impartial, and Colbert gets paid the rest of his contract without having to do any work.
Plus they’ll be in the real news for a week lol
Banning something is a sure fire way to give it oxygen.
It’s a clever bit of marketing to queue this up and make a big stir and drum about being censored.
The allegations feel… thin? This is a primary race in a state that’s been sandbagged for Republicans for decades. But as a piece of campaign material, it’s par excellance. More people are going to see the clip passed around online than ever would watching it broadcast on a Monday night.
The problem Trump has in doing this type of suppression
I doubt this was anyone’s serious intent. Republicans pull this gag all the time. They deliberately try and trick the alarm for censorship and then scream ten times as loud “LOOK AT ME! I’VE BEEN CENSORED! CHECK OUT THE VIDEO THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO SEE!”
Liberals (or, at least, this one guy fighting for his life in a deep red state) finally seem to have caught up to the game.
i wouldn’t have watched the interview if cbs hadn’t cancelled it
Same
And, in hindsight, I’m glad I did. That guy has the right idea.
He said ‘It’s not left vs right, it’s top vs bottom’.
Exactly what we need our politicians to be acknowledging
See BS is not scared of the FCC, they’re bootlicking. But I’m sure Colbert is trying to be diplomatic.
Not to say this story isn’t important, self censorship at the hands of the state is…
But what does this have to do with technology?
Important story, wrong place friend.
I believe that communications/media broadcasting are under the technology umbrella.
Not really a tech centric story. This is primarily a political/free speech story. If it was about a piece of technology used to censor someone, that might fit.
I didn’t even notice, good catch.
Colbert, go be funny again plz
Really depressing to see what a wet blanket he became after he took the Letterman spot, especially given how much leyway Letterman had to fuck around with prior to his departure.
Some of Colbert’s best material is when he’s got nothing to lose. The last six months have been a breath of fresh air on that alone.
He is lying. What they are afraid of is Amadioh Chess
Sure, Jan.
