CBS blocks Colbert interview with Democratic Senate candidate

CBS blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate. Colbert said CBS lawyers told him "in no uncertain terms" he could not air the interview, citing FCC equal-time rules—even though FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has not actually eliminated the exemption that has long protected late-night talk shows. Colbert aired the interview on YouTube instead and called out CBS on air. CBS released a statement claiming it offered "legal guidance" and "options"; Colbert called the statement "crap" and noted CBS lawyers had approved his script before reversing course. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the decision "yet another troubling example of corporate capitulation." Talarico won the Texas Democratic Senate primary on March 3, 2026. His national profile was significantly boosted by the blocked interview going viral; the YouTube clip reached 5M+ views, double the Late Show’s nightly audience.