Colbert blasts CBS over Talarico interview dispute as ‘The Late Show’ nears its end
TOI GLOBAL | Feb 18, 2026, 19:57 IST
Host Stephen Colbert has publicly challenged CBS after the network denied preventing an interview with Texas lawmaker James Talarico from airing on The Late Show. Colbert says legal warnings tied to the FCC’s equal-time rule forced the segment off broadcast, while CBS insists it merely offered compliance guidance.
The dispute comes as federal regulators question long-standing exemptions for late-night talk shows and as The Late Show approaches its final episode in May. Together, the controversy reflects mounting pressure on late-night television from political scrutiny, regulatory uncertainty, and changing economics in U.S. broadcast media.
The dispute comes as federal regulators question long-standing exemptions for late-night talk shows and as The Late Show approaches its final episode in May. Together, the controversy reflects mounting pressure on late-night television from political scrutiny, regulatory uncertainty, and changing economics in U.S. broadcast media.
With only a few months remaining before The Late Show goes off the air, host Stephen Colbert has escalated a public clash with CBS, accusing the network of misrepresenting why an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico did not air on the broadcast.
During a recent monologue, Colbert sharply criticized CBS after it issued a statement denying that the network prohibited him from airing the segment. The comedian said he was stunned that lawyers released the statement without consulting him and mocked the explanation on air, underscoring growing tensions between the longtime host and the company that has carried his show since 2015.
Colbert maintains that network attorneys warned the planned interview could run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide comparable airtime to competing political candidates. According to Colbert, he was told not only that the interview could not be aired but also that he could not discuss the decision on the program—an instruction he said was unprecedented in more than two decades working in television.
CBS disputes that characterization. The network said Colbert was offered legal guidance indicating the broadcast might trigger equal-time obligations involving other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that alternative compliance options were presented. Instead, the interview ultimately appeared online rather than on the CBS broadcast, quickly drawing millions of views and intensifying the controversy.
The disagreement arrives amid renewed scrutiny of late-night television’s treatment under federal election law. Updated guidance from the Federal Communications Commission has questioned whether entertainment-style talk shows automatically qualify for the longstanding “bona fide news interview” exemption that previously shielded programs from equal-time requirements. FCC chair Brendan Carr has argued networks cannot assume such protection—especially if political content appears overtly partisan—raising uncertainty across the late-night landscape.
Recent tensions elsewhere in the industry highlight the broader stakes. ABC temporarily sidelined host Jimmy Kimmel following political controversy tied to commentary on his program, illustrating how regulatory pressure, corporate caution, and partisan politics are increasingly intersecting in late-night comedy.
For Colbert, the dispute also unfolds against the backdrop of his show’s impending cancellation. CBS announced last year that The Late Show would end in May, citing financial considerations. Critics, however, have speculated about possible political motivations connected to frequent criticism of President Donald Trump on the program—an idea the network denies. Colbert himself has offered mixed reactions, at times praising his relationship with CBS while also using humor to question the rationale behind the decision.
Host Stephen Colbert has publicly challenged CBS after the network denied preventing an interview with Texas lawmaker James Talarico from airing on The Late Show. Colbert says legal warnings tied to the FCC’s equal-time rule forced the segment off broadcast, while CBS insists it merely offered compliance guidance.
The dispute comes as federal regulators question long-standing exemptions for late-night talk shows and as The Late Show approaches its final episode in May. Together, the controversy reflects mounting pressure on late-night television from political scrutiny, regulatory uncertainty, and changing economics in U.S. broadcast media.
Despite the friction, Colbert has said he does not seek an adversarial relationship with the network. Still, his unusually direct on-air rebuke signals how strained the partnership has become during the show’s final stretch.
As the finale approaches, the confrontation underscores a shifting environment for late-night television—one shaped by evolving federal rules, corporate sensitivities, and an increasingly polarized political climate. Whether Colbert’s clash with CBS proves to be a singular dispute or a sign of deeper structural change may become clearer only after the curtain falls on one of broadcast television’s most prominent comedy franchises.
With only a few months remaining before The Late Show goes off the air, host Stephen Colbert has escalated a public clash with CBS, accusing the network of misrepresenting why an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico did not air on the broadcast.
During a recent monologue, Colbert sharply criticized CBS after it issued a statement denying that the network prohibited him from airing the segment. The comedian said he was stunned that lawyers released the statement without consulting him and mocked the explanation on air, underscoring growing tensions between the longtime host and the company that has carried his show since 2015.
Colbert maintains that network attorneys warned the planned interview could run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide comparable airtime to competing political candidates. According to Colbert, he was told not only that the interview could not be aired but also that he could not discuss the decision on the program—an instruction he said was unprecedented in more than two decades working in television.
CBS disputes that characterization. The network said Colbert was offered legal guidance indicating the broadcast might trigger equal-time obligations involving other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that alternative compliance options were presented. Instead, the interview ultimately appeared online rather than on the CBS broadcast, quickly drawing millions of views and intensifying the controversy.
The disagreement arrives amid renewed scrutiny of late-night television’s treatment under federal election law. Updated guidance from the Federal Communications Commission has questioned whether entertainment-style talk shows automatically qualify for the longstanding “bona fide news interview” exemption that previously shielded programs from equal-time requirements. FCC chair Brendan Carr has argued networks cannot assume such protection—especially if political content appears overtly partisan—raising uncertainty across the late-night landscape.
Recent tensions elsewhere in the industry highlight the broader stakes. ABC temporarily sidelined host Jimmy Kimmel following political controversy tied to commentary on his program, illustrating how regulatory pressure, corporate caution, and partisan politics are increasingly intersecting in late-night comedy.
For Colbert, the dispute also unfolds against the backdrop of his show’s impending cancellation. CBS announced last year that The Late Show would end in May, citing financial considerations. Critics, however, have speculated about possible political motivations connected to frequent criticism of President Donald Trump on the program—an idea the network denies. Colbert himself has offered mixed reactions, at times praising his relationship with CBS while also using humor to question the rationale behind the decision.
Despite the friction, Colbert has said he does not seek an adversarial relationship with the network. Still, his unusually direct on-air rebuke signals how strained the partnership has become during the show’s final stretch.
As the finale approaches, the confrontation underscores a shifting environment for late-night television—one shaped by evolving federal rules, corporate sensitivities, and an increasingly polarized political climate. Whether Colbert’s clash with CBS proves to be a singular dispute or a sign of deeper structural change may become clearer only after the curtain falls on one of broadcast television’s most prominent comedy franchises.
During a recent monologue, Colbert sharply criticized CBS after it issued a statement denying that the network prohibited him from airing the segment. The comedian said he was stunned that lawyers released the statement without consulting him and mocked the explanation on air, underscoring growing tensions between the longtime host and the company that has carried his show since 2015.
Colbert maintains that network attorneys warned the planned interview could run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide comparable airtime to competing political candidates. According to Colbert, he was told not only that the interview could not be aired but also that he could not discuss the decision on the program—an instruction he said was unprecedented in more than two decades working in television.
CBS disputes that characterization. The network said Colbert was offered legal guidance indicating the broadcast might trigger equal-time obligations involving other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that alternative compliance options were presented. Instead, the interview ultimately appeared online rather than on the CBS broadcast, quickly drawing millions of views and intensifying the controversy.
The disagreement arrives amid renewed scrutiny of late-night television’s treatment under federal election law. Updated guidance from the Federal Communications Commission has questioned whether entertainment-style talk shows automatically qualify for the longstanding “bona fide news interview” exemption that previously shielded programs from equal-time requirements. FCC chair Brendan Carr has argued networks cannot assume such protection—especially if political content appears overtly partisan—raising uncertainty across the late-night landscape.
Recent tensions elsewhere in the industry highlight the broader stakes. ABC temporarily sidelined host Jimmy Kimmel following political controversy tied to commentary on his program, illustrating how regulatory pressure, corporate caution, and partisan politics are increasingly intersecting in late-night comedy.
For Colbert, the dispute also unfolds against the backdrop of his show’s impending cancellation. CBS announced last year that The Late Show would end in May, citing financial considerations. Critics, however, have speculated about possible political motivations connected to frequent criticism of President Donald Trump on the program—an idea the network denies. Colbert himself has offered mixed reactions, at times praising his relationship with CBS while also using humor to question the rationale behind the decision.
Host Stephen Colbert has publicly challenged CBS after the network denied preventing an interview with Texas lawmaker James Talarico from airing on The Late Show. Colbert says legal warnings tied to the FCC’s equal-time rule forced the segment off broadcast, while CBS insists it merely offered compliance guidance.
The dispute comes as federal regulators question long-standing exemptions for late-night talk shows and as The Late Show approaches its final episode in May. Together, the controversy reflects mounting pressure on late-night television from political scrutiny, regulatory uncertainty, and changing economics in U.S. broadcast media.
Despite the friction, Colbert has said he does not seek an adversarial relationship with the network. Still, his unusually direct on-air rebuke signals how strained the partnership has become during the show’s final stretch.
As the finale approaches, the confrontation underscores a shifting environment for late-night television—one shaped by evolving federal rules, corporate sensitivities, and an increasingly polarized political climate. Whether Colbert’s clash with CBS proves to be a singular dispute or a sign of deeper structural change may become clearer only after the curtain falls on one of broadcast television’s most prominent comedy franchises.
With only a few months remaining before The Late Show goes off the air, host Stephen Colbert has escalated a public clash with CBS, accusing the network of misrepresenting why an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico did not air on the broadcast.
During a recent monologue, Colbert sharply criticized CBS after it issued a statement denying that the network prohibited him from airing the segment. The comedian said he was stunned that lawyers released the statement without consulting him and mocked the explanation on air, underscoring growing tensions between the longtime host and the company that has carried his show since 2015.
Colbert maintains that network attorneys warned the planned interview could run afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide comparable airtime to competing political candidates. According to Colbert, he was told not only that the interview could not be aired but also that he could not discuss the decision on the program—an instruction he said was unprecedented in more than two decades working in television.
CBS disputes that characterization. The network said Colbert was offered legal guidance indicating the broadcast might trigger equal-time obligations involving other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that alternative compliance options were presented. Instead, the interview ultimately appeared online rather than on the CBS broadcast, quickly drawing millions of views and intensifying the controversy.
The disagreement arrives amid renewed scrutiny of late-night television’s treatment under federal election law. Updated guidance from the Federal Communications Commission has questioned whether entertainment-style talk shows automatically qualify for the longstanding “bona fide news interview” exemption that previously shielded programs from equal-time requirements. FCC chair Brendan Carr has argued networks cannot assume such protection—especially if political content appears overtly partisan—raising uncertainty across the late-night landscape.
Recent tensions elsewhere in the industry highlight the broader stakes. ABC temporarily sidelined host Jimmy Kimmel following political controversy tied to commentary on his program, illustrating how regulatory pressure, corporate caution, and partisan politics are increasingly intersecting in late-night comedy.
For Colbert, the dispute also unfolds against the backdrop of his show’s impending cancellation. CBS announced last year that The Late Show would end in May, citing financial considerations. Critics, however, have speculated about possible political motivations connected to frequent criticism of President Donald Trump on the program—an idea the network denies. Colbert himself has offered mixed reactions, at times praising his relationship with CBS while also using humor to question the rationale behind the decision.
Despite the friction, Colbert has said he does not seek an adversarial relationship with the network. Still, his unusually direct on-air rebuke signals how strained the partnership has become during the show’s final stretch.
As the finale approaches, the confrontation underscores a shifting environment for late-night television—one shaped by evolving federal rules, corporate sensitivities, and an increasingly polarized political climate. Whether Colbert’s clash with CBS proves to be a singular dispute or a sign of deeper structural change may become clearer only after the curtain falls on one of broadcast television’s most prominent comedy franchises.