Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel announced that he will not air an interview with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, scheduled to be recorded on Thursday. This decision comes after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued what Kimmel described as “threats” against his show and its network, ABC.
During his show on Wednesday, Kimmel expressed frustration, noting, “For more than 20 years, I’ve been interviewing Americans running for office without any issues,” referencing past guests such as Hillary Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump during his campaign in 2015. He added, “But for some reason—one I can’t quite grasp—things have shifted. Now that he is president, his FCC has threatened me, our show, and our network based on routine editorial choices regarding guest bookings.”
Despite the setback, Kimmel confirmed that Talarico’s interview would be available on YouTube, as the candidate traveled from Dallas to Los Angeles for the taping.
Traditionally, talk shows have been exempt from “equal time” regulations when conducting “bona fide news interviews,” allowing them to feature political candidates without needing to showcase their opponents. However, in January, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr instructed daytime and late-night hosts to ensure equal airtime for all candidates vying for the same office.
The FCC has not provided immediate commentary regarding the situation.
Kimmel remarked on the political landscape, stating, “Republicans are at risk of losing a Senate seat in Texas, where James Talarico is competing against a rather unimpressive candidate, Ken Paxton.” He further explained the unusual circumstances surrounding the interview, emphasizing his concern for local stations, particularly ABC affiliates in Texas, which would be impacted by these developments.
This is not Kimmel’s first run-in with the FCC; he faced a brief suspension from ABC following the network’s threat after he made a controversial joke about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Coincidentally, Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s death.
Other late-night hosts have also reportedly experienced similar pressure from federal authorities regarding Talarico. Earlier this year, Stephen Colbert criticized CBS for canceling his planned interview with Talarico amid concerns about potential repercussions from the Trump administration, although CBS denied any such prohibition.
The FCC has also initiated an investigation into ABC’s “The View” after Talarico appeared on the show earlier this year.
Following the Colbert interview, which was posted on YouTube and attracted millions of views, Talarico raised an impressive $2.5 million within 24 hours. He has characterized the FCC’s actions as indicative of government overreach and accused corporate media leaders at CBS of compromising First Amendment rights to appease corrupt politicians. “A threat to any of our First Amendment rights is a threat to all of our First Amendment rights,” he asserted in February.
The upcoming Texas Tribune Festival will feature keynote addresses from notable political figures, including former U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and U.S. Senator John Fetterman, each engaging in discussions with prominent national journalists. The event is scheduled for September 24–26 in downtown Austin.
