FCC Chair Brendan Carr Criticises Stephen Colbert Over Interview Dispute
FCC Chair Brendan Carr has clapped back at Stephen Colbert following the late-night host's claims that CBS instructed him not to broadcast an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate. The controversy centres on whether the network's legal guidance constituted a prohibition.
Colbert's Allegations and CBS's Response
During Monday's episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert stated he intended to air an interview with James Talarico, a Texas state representative running for Republican John Cornyn's Senate seat. Colbert asserted his team was "told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast."
CBS has countered this narrative, clarifying that Colbert's team "was not prohibited" from airing the interview. Instead, the network provided legal guidance warning that broadcasting it could trigger the FCC's equal-time rule. This regulation mandates that broadcasters offer equal opportunities to candidates competing for the same public office.
Carr's 'Democrat-on-Democrat Violence' Remark
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, FCC Chair Brendan Carr described the incident as "Democrat-on-Democrat violence." He elaborated, "CBS was very clear that Colbert could run the interview that he wanted with that political candidate. They just said, 'you may have to comply with equal time,' which would have meant potentially giving air time to Jasmine Crockett and another candidate. But instead of doing that, they claimed that they were victims."
Colbert responded to CBS's statement on Tuesday's episode, telling viewers "every word" of the previous night's script had been "approved by CBS's lawyers, who, for the record, approve every script that goes on the air."
The Equal-Time Rule and FCC Enforcement
When Ingraham inquired about the last time the FCC enforced the equal-time rule, Carr noted, "It's been a while, but complying would mean more airtime for more Democrats to say whatever it is that they want." He emphasised the rule's purpose: "The equal time rule at its core is about stopping legacy media from picking winners and losers in elections. It's so that the American people can decide."
Exceptions to the FCC's equal-time rule include "bona fide newscasts," and traditionally, talk shows have been considered exempt. However, the FCC has recently moved to reconsider this exemption. In a public notice published in January, the FCC stated it has "not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption."
Carr's Commitment to Accountability
Carr told Ingraham his agency plans to "hold broadcasters accountable." He asserted, "The days that these legacy media broadcasters get to decide what we can say, what we can think, who we can vote for, are over. I think President Trump played a key role in just smashing the facade that they still get to decide the narrative."
The Independent has reached out to CBS and Colbert's show for further comment on the ongoing dispute.
