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FCC Chairman Accuses Talarico of Running 'Hoax' Amid Late-Night Interview Controversy
Confirmed
In Short: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has accused James Talarico of running a 'hoax' after his interview with Jimmy Kimmel was moved to YouTube, sparking a debate over the equal time rule.
Earlier this week, Jimmy Kimmel announced he would be interviewing Talarico for his late-night show, but the interview was moved to YouTube due to FCC concerns over the equal time rule. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was appointed by Donald Trump, has now weighed in, accusing Talarico of using the controversy to generate attention and donations.
Carr, a Republican aligned with the Trump administration, has alleged that Talarico is using the equal-time rule dispute to his advantage, comparing it to a similar episode involving Stephen Colbert. 'He’s just running the same hoax he did a few months ago on Colbert for the purpose of getting clicks and donations,' Carr wrote on X.
The FCC's guidance in January suggested that TV talk shows might not be exempt from the equal time rule, a move that critics saw as an effort to crack down on hosts the president does not like. Talarico, a Texas Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, has faced scrutiny from the FCC after appearing on ABC's The View.
Kimmel's interview with Talarico has garnered over 7 million views on YouTube, highlighting the controversy's reach. Talarico's campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Talarico himself has defended the interview, stating that they are being targeted by the FCC for interviewing political candidates.
What's confirmed
- Earlier this week, Jimmy Kimmel announced he would be interviewing Talarico for his late-night show, but the interview was moved to YouTube due to FCC concerns over the equal time rule. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was appointed by Donald Trump, has now weighed in, accusing Talarico of using the controversy to generate attention and donations.
- Carr, a Republican aligned with the Trump administration, has alleged that Talarico is using the equal-time rule dispute to his advantage, comparing it to a similar episode involving Stephen Colbert. 'He’s just running the same hoax he did a few months ago on Colbert for the purpose of getting clicks and donations,' Carr wrote on X.
- The FCC's guidance in January suggested that TV talk shows might not be exempt from the equal time rule, a move that critics saw as an effort to crack down on hosts the president does not like. Talarico, a Texas Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, has faced scrutiny from the FCC after appearing on ABC's The View.
- Kimmel's interview with Talarico has garnered over 7 million views on YouTube, highlighting the controversy's reach. Talarico's campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Talarico himself has defended the interview, stating that they are being targeted by the FCC for interviewing political candidates.
What's still developing
- For decades, daytime and late-night TV talk shows have operated on the assumption that they were exempt from the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters who feature candidates to provide comparable time to their rivals, if it is requested.
- Within weeks, the agency launched an investigation of ABC’s The View after it featured Talarico as a guest.
- The FCC chairman noted that the equal time rule would not apply to Cruz’s appearance because it was on a cable network and because the regulation covers only legal qualified candidates, or contenders who are in the midst of an election campaign.
- For another, Congress stated that the statute only applies to… https://t.co/r3KP7RvQL8 pic.twitter.com/m5IbEl8Ngr A Talarico campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
- In February, Stephen Colbert posted an interview with Talarico to YouTube, telling viewers that he was warned by network executives about featuring the candidate on the broadcast.
- News coverage and news interviews have been exempt from the requirements, and the rule also does not apply cable or streaming, where the FCC’s authority is limited.
- The FCC chairman has alleged that talk shows like “The View” function as partisan mouthpieces for Democrats and should be subject to agency regulations like the equal-time rule and a prohibition on “news distortion,” given they are using publicly licensed TV spectrum.
- “Government censorship should be a concern to all of us, regardless of our political party,” Talarico said in an interview Thursday on MS NOW.