We reported earlier about how one of the Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas, James Talarico, was supposed to be interviewed on Stephen Colbert's show.
But both Colbert and Talarico claimed they were stopped from having the interview air on CBS by the FCC and "Trump."
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
This was not true, as CBS then explained, throwing both Talarico and Colbert under the bus. If you're running for Senate, you should know the rules and tell the truth about them.
"THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. THE LATE SHOW decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options."
READ MORE: UPDATED: Stephen Colbert Makes Newest Dumb Censorship Claim; CBS Responds
Translation? It was about violating the equal time rule. They decided instead that they were going to run the interview with Talarico on YouTube and not provide equal time to the other two Democratic candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30). How does any of that involve Trump? Indeed, complying with the equal time rule just provides more Democratic options. But instead, the show decided not to do that and only platform Talarico.
So Talarico gets to claim victim points, act as though Trump was somehow trying to squash him, and probably gets more attention than he ever would have with this claim than he would have just being on the show normally. This, right as early voting starts in Texas, when he is not as well-known as Crockett. Look at what happened after this little move.
James Talarico is having quite a moment in Texas after the Colbert interview - and according to Google Trends, Texans are now searching his name at a very high rate just in time for early voting. pic.twitter.com/gGnDjx5xUM
— Logan Phillips (@LoganR2WH) February 17, 2026
The primary race is extremely close, so this doubtless gave Talarico a big boost, and he cuts into Crockett's name recognition bonus.
If Crockett objects and tells the truth, that the FCC didn't shut them down, then she appears to be defending Trump, which doesn't help her with Democrats. It's all rather brilliant.
That said, it sounds like Crockett isn't a happy camper and isn't going to go quietly.
Colbert has had her on in the past, but not since she declared in the Senate race, so that's what the problem is here.
Crockett says she's still waiting on a statement from Paramount before she makes an official formal statement. But what she's saying she understands at this point is it wasn't the FCC that "shut [down]" things.
So this promises to get more juicy with her next statement.
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