This is the forbidden video!
https://youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A?si=5D1iWC8OII8qS_h4
5,159,632 views #Colbert #Comedy #JamesTalarico
Stephen Colbert hosts Texas State Rep. James Talarico for an online-exclusive interview that touches on the issues raised in Talarico's campaign for the Democratic nomination for Senate including the separation of church and state, the dangers of consolidated corporate-owned media, and the fabricated culture wars pushed by Republicans in states like Texas. If you're curious why this interview with James Talarico was an online-exclusive, click On the link below to watch Stephen Colbert explain:
• Why CBS Didn't Broadcast Stephen Colbert's... .Rep. Talarico asks questions of Rep. Noble on the layout of SB 10, point of order...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Na7eXsRpI
PBS +2
The Incident and Alleged CensorshipThe Blocked Interview: On February 16, 2026, Colbert stated that CBS lawyers directly instructed him not to air a pre-recorded interview with Talarico, a candidate in a competitive Texas U.S. Senate primary.
"Order" to Silence: Colbert claimed that in addition to scrapping the interview, network executives ordered him not to even mention that the interview had been canceled.
Defiance: Colbert went on-air to openly discuss the incident, criticizing the network and labeling the move as an act of cowardice.
Workaround: The full interview was later posted on The Late Show’s YouTube channel, as FCC regulations do not apply to streaming platforms.
Variety +5
Why the Interview was PulledFCC "Equal Time" Fears: CBS lawyers reportedly feared that airing the interview would violate the FCC's "equal time" rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to all legally qualified candidates.
New Guidance: The concern stemmed from new, stricter guidance regarding the "equal time" rule issued by the FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr, which suggested that late-night talk shows may no longer qualify for the "bona fide news" exemption.
Corporate Pressure: Critics, including FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, suggested this was an example of "corporate capitulation" by CBS, which has regulatory matters before the government.
CNN +4
The Dueling NarrativesColbert's View: Colbert asserted that his network was bowing to political pressure from the Trump administration to stifle dissent.
CBS's View: CBS denied that it outright "prohibited" the interview, stating instead that they provided "legal guidance" to the show regarding the potential for triggering equal-time requirements for other candidates.
Reaction: Representative Talarico argued that the decision showed the network was willing to go along with political efforts to control media, which he deemed alarming.
The Hill +4
Contextual FactorsPrevious Incidents: This incident follows a pattern of pressure on media companies, including the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, notes FCC commissioner Anna Gomez.
Show Cancellation: This conflict occurs as CBS has already announced it is canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026 for financial reasons.
Reaction: The incident has been compared to historical, high-stakes battles between network executives and political satirists, similar to the cancellation of The Smothers Brothers.
In a significant February 2026 free speech controversy, The Late Show host Stephen Colbert accused CBS of "censorship" for allegedly blocking the broadcast of an interview with Texas Democratic state Representative James Talarico. The incident has highlighted a deepening conflict between late-night television satire and new regulatory pressures from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
PBS +2The Incident and Alleged CensorshipThe Blocked Interview: On February 16, 2026, Colbert stated that CBS lawyers directly instructed him not to air a pre-recorded interview with Talarico, a candidate in a competitive Texas U.S. Senate primary.
"Order" to Silence: Colbert claimed that in addition to scrapping the interview, network executives ordered him not to even mention that the interview had been canceled.
Defiance: Colbert went on-air to openly discuss the incident, criticizing the network and labeling the move as an act of cowardice.
Workaround: The full interview was later posted on The Late Show’s YouTube channel, as FCC regulations do not apply to streaming platforms.
Variety +5Why the Interview was PulledFCC "Equal Time" Fears: CBS lawyers reportedly feared that airing the interview would violate the FCC's "equal time" rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal airtime to all legally qualified candidates.
New Guidance: The concern stemmed from new, stricter guidance regarding the "equal time" rule issued by the FCC under Chairman Brendan Carr, which suggested that late-night talk shows may no longer qualify for the "bona fide news" exemption.
Corporate Pressure: Critics, including FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, suggested this was an example of "corporate capitulation" by CBS, which has regulatory matters before the government.
CNN +4The Dueling NarrativesColbert's View: Colbert asserted that his network was bowing to political pressure from the Trump administration to stifle dissent.
CBS's View: CBS denied that it outright "prohibited" the interview, stating instead that they provided "legal guidance" to the show regarding the potential for triggering equal-time requirements for other candidates.
Reaction: Representative Talarico argued that the decision showed the network was willing to go along with political efforts to control media, which he deemed alarming.
The Hill +4Contextual FactorsPrevious Incidents: This incident follows a pattern of pressure on media companies, including the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, notes FCC commissioner Anna Gomez.
Show Cancellation: This conflict occurs as CBS has already announced it is canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026 for financial reasons.
Reaction: The incident has been compared to historical, high-stakes battles between network executives and political satirists, similar to the cancellation of The Smothers Brothers.
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