Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel announced that he will not air his scheduled interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on ABC, saying the decision was due to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission. Kimmel said in a Wednesday monologue that he would instead post the full conversation to his YouTube channel for viewers to watch at home. The comedian explained that he had been interviewing political candidates for over two decades without issue, including notable figures like Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. He noted that Trump had been eager to return for another interview before becoming the Republican nominee in 2016. Kimmel said he was not sure why the situation had changed now, but added that his decision was made out of consideration for ABC affiliates in Texas. Talarico is running against state Attorney General Ken Paxton in a tight Senate race, with Democrats having not won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas in more than thirty years. He emphasized that viewers who want to see the full interview will have to visit the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel where it will be posted in its entirety.
The FCC's Media Bureau issued guidance in January that said late-night and daytime talk shows may have to comply with federal equal-opportunities requirements when a candidate appearance does not qualify for a bona fide news exemption. The rule generally requires a broadcast station that gives airtime to a legally qualified candidate to provide comparable opportunities to other candidates for the same office unless an exemption applies.
This move follows ABC’s ongoing legal battle with the FCC over a decision to require early renewal applications for its television stations, according to TheWrap. The FCC had ordered Disney in April to submit renewal paperwork for its ABC-owned stations even though their licenses were not due for review until 2028 or later. ABC responded by suing the FCC, claiming the agency was using licensing power to punish the network over programming criticized by President Trump and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. The FCC has maintained that the early renewal requests were part of an investigation into employment practices at Disney and ABC. Disney and ABC filed their lawsuit in August, asking a federal court to block the early license review of eight ABC-owned stations. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has called the lawsuit meritless and said the agency is enforcing broadcasters' public-interest obligations.
Kimmel’s announcement comes nearly seven months after Stephen Colbert claimed CBS had prevented his show from airing an interview with Talarico because of concerns about the FCC’s equal-time rule, according to a report from Rolling Stone. Colbert said CBS lawyers told him directly that they could not air the interview, though CBS denied blocking the appearance. The Colbert interview was later posted to YouTube.
Talarico, a former school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, has served in the Texas House of Representatives for four terms. His blend of progressive values rooted in religious belief has drawn support from independents, moderates, and even some disaffected Republicans. Talarico first won election to the Texas House in 2018.
Kimmel’s decision to move the interview online reflects broader concerns about media influence and political pressure in the current environment. He noted that YouTube is currently the best option available for viewers seeking access to political content under these circumstances.