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.
Interesting. Crockett is one of the very few Dems willing if not just able to navigate through Republican tactics. What could Talarico offer?
Colbert is a religious wacko so they’re probably great homies.
Literally the only defining feature I’ve seen listed about him is that he’s very Christian.
So yeah… Not a big fan of that.
Talerico. Brings his sincerity, faith, and working class background in in one of the poorest school districts in the country. He has integrity and and a way of invoking Christianity that I think resonates in Texas. He appeals to a broad swath of voters without compromising his progressive ideals.
I would vote for Crocket if she wasn’t up against Talerico. But as is, I think he has a better shot at the general and I trust him more.
Talarico resonates with the deeply Christian left
He’s good at messaging from a Christian left perspective. Before I deleted social media, some of his more viral moments on the Texas House floor would make it to my feed. I liked what I heard, but I’m not a Texas resident or voter so Crockett vs Talarico is someone else’s judgement call to make.
I mean she’s fully bought out by AIPAC and her messaging is weak at best from everything I’ve seen. I don’t love Talarico with all my heart but I cannot imagine any world in which he’s a worse choice than Crockett.
Hmmm. I like Crockett. I’m not from Texas but she’s got Texas sized girl balls.
He’s a white minister. This is how they get rid of a pesky black woman, you gerrymander her out of office.
Be careful what you wish for. She is highly respected nationally, and will have multiple offers from several news organizations very quickly, where she will have a national microphone to attack from. She no longer has to abide by MAGA rules.
You cannot gerrymander a senate seat
Nah, the senate is permanently gerrymandered. That’s the whole point of “states”.
Ah, I misunderstood. I thought they were putting two Dems against each other for the same seat. I’ve seen them edge out good, but irritating, Democrats like that before, including one of my favorite old vintage Reps, Dennis Kucinich.
Talerico is serving in the state house, Crocket in the national congressional delegation.
Good, I’m glad we won’t lose her in Congress when she loses the Senate seat, either in the primary or the general. Texas won’t let her be a Senator, they’ll rig it first.
Sounds like they’re both reps and both running for nomination to be the Democratic candidate for the Senate.