Stephen Colbert says CBS spiked interview with Democrat over FCC fears

Late-night host Stephen Colbert publicly accused CBS of blocking his interview with Texas Democratic lawmaker James Talarico due to fears of FCC retaliation under new equal airtime rules for political candidates. CBS disputed this characterization, claiming they merely provided legal guidance about potential equal-time obligations rather than outright prohibition, and suggested options for compliance that the show chose not to pursue. The controversy stems from expanded FCC guidance issued in January that may apply equal-time rules to late-night programs, traditionally exempt as news content, under Chairman Brendan Carr's leadership.