Overview
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett said she has not been invited to The Late Show since her opponent James Talarico's segment was withheld from broadcast, adding she received a call from the parent company outlining equal-time options.
- CBS denied blocking the interview, stating it gave legal guidance that airing Talarico could trigger Section 315 obligations and offered ways to provide comparable airtime to other qualified candidates.
- Stephen Colbert posted the Talarico interview to YouTube, where it drew millions of views, and Talarico's campaign reported raising $2.5 million within 24 hours.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr dismissed claims of censorship as a hoax and said the agency is enforcing the law, while an enforcement inquiry into ABC's The View over Talarico's Feb. 2 appearance remains open.
- Media experts warn the revived application of the equal-time rule to talk shows could chill speech and drive content to unregulated platforms, setting up potential legal challenges.