Strap yourselves in, gang, we are set now for a week of Trump-authoritarian-censorship-democracy-fearing opponents-First-Amendment-election tampering-oppression narrative hysteria. Once again, we have late-night distaff talk host Stephen Colbert rising to the headlines over his being smacked in the snotbox with a newspaper by the network, and he is "bravely" opposing the decision, in full comedian vs. Goliath peacocking mode.
This latest hairspray-on-fire outrage concerns the host conducting an interview with nebbish Texas congressional candidate James Talarico. The candidate sat with Colbert for the taping, but before airing, the network decided to pull that entire segment from the broadcast. Anyone who endured last year’s hyperbolic reaction to Colbert’s contract not being renewed knew this was going to be treated with all of the calm expected from a monster truck plowing through a trailer park filled with carnies.
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) February 17, 2026
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas. pic.twitter.com/BCev5jZbKc
Yes, of course, President Trump is blamed, as is FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, because anytime those who are sitting on the port side of politics get redressed over an issue, they need to lash out about their rights being trampled and then blame the correction on the evil Right. Admitting to an infraction is an unimaginable act, and serious introspection a pathological impossibility; pointing a digit at imagined demons is done to avoid that needed glance at a mirror.
To sort through the debris of this media mobile home metaphor, let us start with the fact that this was not a command from the FCC. The network lawyers were the ones to yank the Talarico segment. This then leads to the rote reaction by many that, sure, the network did this, but under the duress of the administration, and it is a case of unacceptable influence leading to self-censorship. This is deflection in the face of inconvenient accuracy.
Again, that is casting blame but only managing hook your own hip pocket. The main reason the Briefcase Battalion at CBS yanked the interview was that this was trending into the waters of violating the equal time provision with broadcasters. This has been a code in place for some time and is recognized by the networks. The reason this is not a free speech violation is that broadcasters are using public bandwidth, which has finite availability, and is federally governed, so judicial rulings have stipulated it was proper that the set-aside for all candidates was established. (Cable providers are exempt because they own the medium carrying those TV signals.)
Want to know why all of the bluster about Colbert being “censored” for having on a Democrat is laughable? Because Colbert has long engaged in party-specific booking on his show.
Dear Chris:
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) February 17, 2026
Colbert's recent guest-booking record is this: 214 liberals/Democrats to ONE Republican. https://t.co/Y11zaXHKeB https://t.co/hFiQpC0wCd
The difference in this Talarico muzzling is that the Texas Dem is in an active election, and therefore his appearance is regarded as an in-kind campaign donation. Since Colbert did not have on Talarico’s opponents, this becomes a legal boil the network does not need. “Oh sure!” you can imagine the outraged journalists hammering out on their keyboards, spittle peppering their screens in the process, “Trump is DEMANDING Colbert have Republicans on 'The Late Show!'”
Pump the brakes there, you red-faced reactionaries; there is ample evidence that Trump has zero to do with this move. Ya ready?
James Talarico is running in the Democratic Party primary. Meaning, there is no motivation for Trump to make this move. As for Talarico boasting that the president is targeting him specifically for being a vocal opponent – show me any Democrat who is not currently afflicted with TDS, Jimmy. The party does not allow any name on a ballot without first pledging to dedicate their life to bringing down the president. Your avowed opposition is about as novel a move as collecting donations through Act Blue. It is compulsory with Dems.
Trump Withholds Endorsement As Texas GOP Senate Primary Early Voting Begins
And Colbert cannot blithely suggest he will make things right by bringing on the other candidates because, as Ben noted earlier today, the early voting has already begun in Texas. So what we are looking at is Colbert having a preferred candidate while an active election was taking place. If you want to suggest who was primed to raise a legal issue with CBS, don’t look at the White House, but turn to the left and see Jasmine Crockett or Colin Allred, a pair of Democrats checking if their retainers were up to date
What is unspooling now is the predictable howling from the over-emotional and under-contemplated Leftists, who see this headline and put down their soy macchiatos and grab the phone to express their predictable contempt for President Trump. Somebody they kind of know but regard as being on their side has been slighted, so we can expect the TikTok tsunami of impotent rage clips and Xitter posts pleading for attention, all while their content is left begging for accuracy.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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