James Talarico says campaign raised $2.5 million after Colbert interview controversy
James Talarico says his Senate campaign collected $2.5 million in donations within a day of the controversy surrounding Stephen Colbert’s unaired CBS interview. The dispute centers on FCC equal-time rules and competing interpretations from CBS and Colbert.
The viral spread of the interview online — combined with heightened political attention — underscores how modern campaigns can rapidly convert media controversies into fundraising momentum ahead of upcoming federal disclosure deadlines.
Texas state Rep. James Talarico says the fallout from a disputed late-night interview helped supercharge his U.S. Senate campaign fundraising, with donations totaling $2.5 million in just 24 hours.
The surge followed comments by The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, who alleged that CBS blocked him from airing an interview with Talarico because of concerns tied to the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule. The rule requires broadcasters that give airtime to one political candidate to provide comparable opportunities to other candidates running for the same office.
CBS denied Colbert’s characterization, saying the program was not prohibited from airing the interview. Instead, the network said the show received legal guidance that broadcasting the segment could trigger equal-time obligations involving other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that compliance options were offered. The interview ultimately appeared on YouTube rather than on the CBS broadcast, where it quickly drew millions of views.
Talarico framed the fundraising spike as a public response to perceived limits on political speech. In a statement and social media post, he described the moment as a defense of First Amendment rights and said the 24-hour total marked the largest single-day fundraising haul of his campaign so far.
Federal filings provide broader context for the race. Candidates must disclose fundraising totals to the Federal Election Commission on a quarterly basis, with the next reporting deadline set for April 15. Records from the previous reporting period show Talarico’s campaign had already raised more than $13 million between the launch of his Senate bid in September 2025 and the end of that year.
The controversy traces back to Colbert’s Feb. 16 remarks that network lawyers warned him not to air the interview and discouraged him from discussing the decision publicly. CBS pushed back a day later, reiterating that the show had editorial options that would have satisfied equal-time requirements. Colbert subsequently criticized the network’s statement on air and stood by his original account.
During the interview itself, Talarico — a vocal critic of President Donald Trump — suggested the dispute reflected broader political tensions and argued his campaign could flip Texas in the upcoming Senate race.
The episode highlights the complex intersection of media regulation, campaign politics and digital distribution. While traditional broadcast rules still shape television decisions, viral online exposure can rapidly reshape political momentum — as Talarico’s reported fundraising surge appears to demonstrate.