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FCC's Inquiry Sparks CBS Intervention in Colbert's Show Over Election Rules

KVIA•Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 6:55 PM•CNN Newsource

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A recent inquiry by the FCC regarding ABC's compliance with the 'equal time' rule has raised concerns at CBS, leading to an unusual intervention during a taping of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.' The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, is pushing to enforce this rule more strictly, which mandates that if one political candidate receives free airtime, all others must be granted the same opportunity. This situation arose after Colbert interviewed Texas State Representative James Talarico, who is running for the Senate. Following the controversy, Talarico's campaign reported a record fundraising day, raising $2.5 million, demonstrating the impact of media attention on political campaigns. CBS claims it sought legal guidance to comply with FCC regulations, while Colbert criticized the network for yielding to government pressure.

Key Details: • Colbert's show faced intervention during a taping on Monday. • Talarico's campaign raised $2.5 million in one day following the controversy. • The FCC is investigating ABC's 'The View' for potential violations of the 'equal time' rule. • Colbert directed viewers to YouTube, where the interview gained millions of views. • The controversy coincides with early voting for Texas Senate primaries.

elections politics television media fcc

People & Organizations

TexasCBSBrendan CarrFCCABCJames TalaricoStephen ColbertCBS

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