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+--- Thread: CBS caves to Trump's new FCC censorship rule (/thread-19805.html)
CBS caves to Trump's new FCC censorship rule - Magical Realist - Feb 17, 2026
Colbert stood his ground and posted the interview anyway. Freedom of speech is not dead yet.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1355443236339357
Here's the censored interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A
RE: CBS caves to Trump's new FCC censorship rule - Syne - Feb 18, 2026
The exemption to the Equal Time rule for late night shows was only made in 2006. Considering it has been federal law for almost a century, 20 years is the exception, not the rule. IOW, this only returns us to the status quo, not some huge leap to censorship.
But you'd have to either know or be willing to look up the history to understand that.
I wouldn't consider late night shows to be any of these:
Regularly scheduled newscasts.
News interview shows.
News documentaries.
On-the-spot news events (like political debates)
RE: CBS caves to Trump's new FCC censorship rule - C C - Feb 18, 2026
Seems to be a roundabout self-acknowledgement that The Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live are politically inverted equivalents to conservative radio talk shows, and thereby deserve the same exemption. I.e., no pretense anymore (if there ever was one) of them not having party loyalties.
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https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/stephen-colbert-says-cbs-forbid-interview-of-democrat-because-of-fcc-threat/
EXCERPTS: CBS denied prohibiting an interview with Talarico in a statement reported by Variety. The CBS statement acknowledged giving “legal guidance” about potential consequences under the equal-time rule, though.
“The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” the statement said. “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. The Late Show decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.”
[...] Formally known as the Equal Opportunities Rule, the rule generally requires that stations giving time to one political candidate provide comparable time and placement to opposing candidates if any opposing candidate makes a request. The rule has an exemption for candidate appearances on bona fide news programs, and entertainment talk shows have generally been treated as bona fide news programs for this purpose.
[...] The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) said that “candidate interviews have long been exempt from ‘equal time’ rules for good reason. It would be wrong if a Democratic administration demanded conservative talk radio hosts give equal airtime when they interview candidates, and it’s wrong for the Trump administration to demand the same of late night talk show hosts.”
RE: CBS caves to Trump's new FCC censorship rule - Magical Realist - Feb 18, 2026
Quote:Seems to be a roundabout self-acknowledgement that The Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live are politically inverted equivalents to conservative radio talk shows, and thereby deserve the same exemption. I.e., no pretense anymore (if there ever was one) of them not having party loyalties.
Colbert and Jon Stewart and Bill Mahr have always had liberal politicians and authors on their shows without providing equal time for conservatives. It has never been questioned before. That's why this stinks to high heaven like CBS is kowtowing to the Trump administration, who regularly watches such shows and posts nasty comments about them on Truth Social. It's all consistent with other recent signs of them conforming to MAGA political pressure, not the least among them being the canceling of The Late Show for "financial reasons" right after the Jimmy Kimmel fiasco.
Colbert in his own words:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1200740245377257